Irish cult singer/songwriter GAVIN FRIDAY made a name for himself as the melodramatic spearhead of new art wave outfit Virgin Prunes (1977-1986). Afterward he started his own creative journey.
Last year he released his 5th LP, named Ecce Homo his first one in 13 years. An enlivening electro-pop record, still frequently playing, with single The Church Of Love as one of the many highlights.
Last Tuesday Friday came to my hometown of Ghent (Belgium) to entertain a packed venue, mostly former Virgin Prunes fans. He performed Ecce Homo almost in full, with a couple of Virgin Prunes classics in between. It was a 90 minutes long trancey dance event, only interrupted by Friday‘s expressions of joy between songs (which, at times slowed down the concert’s spellbound flow).
His catholic upbringing and Ireland‘s God-fearing past still haunts him and his work. Religion as an oppressive tool to control people is still boggling his mind and triggers him to cast out his demons, on record and on stage, which caused a kind of spiritual ambiance that worked as a magnet for all of us. With his glittery appearance, he filled the whole house. With his disco bangers he increased the temperature, time and time again.
At 65, Friday still knows perfectly well how to enamour his
audience and give them a memorable night. Thank you.
SETLIST
Lovesubzero
Ecce Homo
The Church of Love
Stations of the Cross
Apologia
Lady Esquire
Amaranthus (Loves Lies Bleeding)
Lamento Sandpaper Lullaby
(Virgin Prunes song) Caucasian Walk
(Virgin Prunes song) King of Trash
When the World Was Young
Encores: When the World Was Young (Reprise) Cabarotica Daze Angel
Band: NOTHINGHEADS Who: Formed in 2020, this trio quickly became a mainstay in the London
DIY live music scene, along with the likes of Mcluscksy and Japanese Television.
They make dissonant grooves drawing influence from Post Punk & Psych/Doom.
Irish art-pop artist GAVIN FRIDAY was the flamboyant and theatrical
spearhead of new art wave act Virgin Prunes (1977-1986). Afterward
he followed his own artistic path.
On 25th October Friday has his 5th longplayer, baptized Ecce Homo out, his first in 13 years. Pre-order info here.
Press info: There are love songs and fight songs, reflections on loss
and reveries of nostalgia, anthems for solidarity and excoriations of the
powerful. Friday thinks it’s the most honest album he’s ever made; it is
also his most riveting.
Photo credit: Barry McCall
Following the superb lead single/title track Ecce Homo we get a more intimate piece.
STATIONS OF THE CROSS leans more into gothic, ballad territory with ambulating industrial rhythms, pensive horns, and palpitating synth work. Thematically, it is a tormented love song, centred around a relationship caught in a vicious circle. The
song is dedicated to the late great Sinead O’Connor, who was a friend of Friday.
Band: BABY SCHILLACI Who: Welsh alt-act producing a raw, unfiltered sound. Rooted in post-punk
and noise, the band’s aggressive yet intricately layered compositions evoke
comparisons to seminal acts like Mclusky, At the Drive-In, and Fugazi.
Track: BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA
From their upcoming debut album
‘The Soundtrack’ out next week.
A barbed slice of mayhew. Think Sonic Youth going forth
and back, and finishing with a flabbergasting finale.
Band: BLACK DOLDRUMS Who: British synth-pop-Goth trio, with key
members Kevin Gibbard and Sophie Landers.
Track: SUMMER BREEZE
Song from their their second longplayer In Limerence which lands on October 18.
No, this is not a New Order song but it could easily be one, actually a stellar one.
It’s a pure synth-pop pearl for all seasons. Uplifting, heart-warming, and gratifying.
The high-octane rock ‘n’ roll explosion tells the darkly humorous and gripping tale of a woman who has taken drastic measures against a deceitful lover. Noanne ventures into uncharted emotional territory, portraying a dramatic shift from dependence to outright animosity—and beyond.
Band: SOME REMAIN Who: Young punk gunslingers
from Ireland.
Track: DEATH DEFYING STUNTS
The first taken from an upcoming EP
slated for release early 2025.
Not only does it defy death, it pretty much defies description as it takes you on a glorious and wild ride through early UK punk (Read About Seymour – Swell Maps) and surf rock (Miserlou – Dick Dale) with some Dr Feelgood and The Cribs thrown in for good measure.
“A hectic party tune that leaves you feeling like you’ve
just landed a sick kickflip over a tank of sharks.”
CC have that uplifting drive of the Levellers and the eurythmic catchinesss of Mumford & Sons. Wash Away The Day is a brisk pop tune going forth and back, from
low-key to vivacious and back, while ardent harmonies and energetic violins complete
the swirling sonic picture.
Band: SOFT SKIES INC Who: Philadelphia-based identical-twin duo and longtime musical confidants Ryan and Martin Rex, their shared sonic compass draws a straight line from the
classic alternative of their youth to the modern alternative and dream-pop of
today.
A song of hope, riding those tender waves of nostalgia, understanding that a loss of innocence comes with age but that we emerge from the other side with newfound perspective and awareness.
Melodic guitar pop at its Sebadoh best. Uptempo shoe-slacker-gaze
spiced with scintalling synths and ethereal vocals. Start dreaming in
overdrive. Right here.
Nicks: I wrote this song a few months after Roe v Wade was overturned. It seemed like overnight, people were saying ‘what can we, as a collective force, do about this…’ For me,
it was to write a song. It took a while because I was on the road. Then early one morning I was watching the news on TV and a certain newscaster said something that felt like she was talking to me ~ explaining what the loss of Roe v Wade would come to mean. I wrote the song the next morning and recorded it that night.”
A vehement pro-reproductive rights anthem that
overwhelms on the chorus. Nicks‘s impressive voice
lights in the middle.
The first composition of the Goth icons’ upcoming 14th LP, their first
in 16 years, titled Songs Of A Lost World. It’ll drop on planet Earth on
November 1st.
Alone is an almost 7-minute funeral march, a slowly progressing lament, layered with mourning synths. Smith only starts singing halfway and augments the sombre atmosphere all the way through. After a couple of spins the songs keeps on coming back to haunt you. Sonic cure for restless minds.
Band: JOHNNY MARR AND THE HEALERS Who: Short-lived (2001-2004) Johnny Marr project
after he left The Smiths.
Track: THE WAY THAT IT WAS
Previoulsy unreleased song from the deluxe
reissue (released last week) of their one and
only album, named Boomslang.
A sweet 18-carat pop diamond with a melancholic resonance and impassioned
and affecting Marr vocals. No idea why this gripping reverie was hidden for so long,
but happy that my ears can enjoy it today. The Way That It Was wouldn’t have been
out of place on The Verve’s 1997 classic ‘Urban Hymns‘.
Irish cult singer/songwriter made a name for himself as flamboyant spearhead of
new art wave outfit Virgin Prunes (1977-1986). Afterward he started his own creative
journey.
On 25th October Friday has his 5th LP, baptized ECCE HOMO
out, his first one in 13 years. Pre-order info here.
Press info: There are love songs and fight songs, reflections on loss and reveries of nostalgia, anthems for solidarity and excoriations of the powerful. Friday thinks it’s
the most honest album he’s ever made; it is also his most riveting.
Friday has been teasing, for some months now, the album with mysterious posts written in Ogham – an ancient runic language that was used in Ireland and parts of the UK between the 5th and 9th centuries.
The first preview song is the title track. A pulsing, pulverizing menace, its streaks of
florid noise and walls of hard-edged rhythms squaring up against enemies of inclusion
and liberty as Friday throws the words of Pontius Pilate back at our persecutors, promising
to “Fight fire with fire / We can walk on water” over warped gospel harmonies.
It’s a stunning, monumental piece of mythical Goth music that grabs you by the throat when the riveting chorus kicks in. An instant classic. An astonishing symphony. Welcome back.
