Wire #pinkflag

I like Wire. I like them a lot. I like their theory, their philosophy, and I love their music, even though in some ways it is secondary to their art: music is their medium.

They are one of those bands that has had more influence on other bands than actual success, which, whilst rather sad, does mean that tonight I can go and see them in the small but perfectly formed venue that is the back room of The Continental in Preston.

Accompanied by my gig buddy Artminx, we arrived too late for the support band but early enough to get in a glass of wine and to buy a t-shirt and a book before the band came on stage.

I love the informality of these small gigs: the band on stage setting up their kit, seeing the guitarist in the bar beforehand, the drummer making his way through the crowd clutching his bag of sticks. And then at some point they are all on stage and it becomes apparent the gig is about to begin.

The chaps from Wire are not big on nostalgia (and never have been) so we are treated to mostly recent material with just a handful of older tracks thrown in, including a rather splendid incarnation of 'Drill' early on in the set. And there's no calling out of requests from this crowd consisting mostly of balding men in their forties and fifties: legend has it that Wire will not play any song requested from the audience.

It is, I think, the hottest gig I've ever been to but that doesn't detract from the pleasure of seeing these admirable men, full of energy and lost in their music. Despite the occasional punkiness of the music, there was no mosh pit, just a lot of unselfconscious frugging. (I was unsure whether The Minx would enjoy it but she did.)

In the bar afterwards, I grabbed a handshake with the guitarist, Matthew Simms, and then found myself talking to a chap with a splendid ginger beard who I assumed was another fan but turned out to be the sound engineer, which made for some interesting - if slightly nerdy - conversation.

Every time I go to small gig, I dislike big gigs a bit more. This evening pretty much encapsulated everything I love about small venues, where it's entirely possible to feel completely involved in an event, part of an interaction with the performer(s), rather than just a spectator. It's almost enough to put me off the next gig I'm going to, Sigur Rós at Jodrell Bank. But there's going to be a HUGE telescope at that one!