Fodderstompf Reviews |

Public Image Ltd:
ALiFE 2009
Birmingham, 02 Academy, December 15th

For additional info see CD Discography

Concert Live
Instant live 4 CD (digi-pack)

Tracks:
1. The Rabbit Song (intro)
2. Public image
3. Careering
4. This is Not a Love Song
5. Poptones
6. Albatross
7. Tie me to the length of that
8. The Suit
9. Death Disco
10. Four Enclosed Walls
11. Psychopath
12. Disappointed
13. Warrior
14. USLS1
15. Banging the Door
16. Bags
17. Memories
18. Annalisa
19. Religion
20. Sun
21. Rise
22. Open Up

Running Time: 125 mins (approx)

review by Mick C, May 2011
© 2011 Fodderstompf.com / Mick C

Concept: For those unfamiliar with the process, it works thus; the pre-ordered discs are burned as soon as PiL finish the main set, so that by the time the encores have been played the discs are packaged and ready to be picked up at the exit by the paying punter (providing he hasn't forgotten his receipt!) The encores are thereafter available to download from the internet, thus completing the recording.

The Recording: Well, of course this was PiL's first gig for 17 years, a fact Lydon points out right at the beginning. Recorded by the Concert Live crew, it is of course a perfect soundboard and completely flawless. The quality simply cannot be argued with. Thankfully there is even a good level of crowd noise ( there's nothing worse than a soundboard with no noticeable audience noise!)

Lydon is very rough with the flu but puts in an admirable performance nevertheless. It's also interesting to see how effortlessly Lu & Bruce slip back into the live PiL format - as if they'd never been gone! And of course Scott Firth (who perhaps had the biggest challenge ahead of him with everyone ready to compare him against Wobble) and it must be said that he doesn't betray any nerves and delivers those bass lines like only a professional musician can. Truly faultless!

It's a very good thing that Concert Live recorded and released these historic gigs, preserving them forever in the best possible quality. Good call John!

Packaging: The presentation of the set is really top notch and thankfully hasn't just been thrown together. The discs come housed in a old style "digipak book" which folds out. Each "panel" that folds out shows a different band member hard at work in the studio. The front cover graphic is the familiar backdrop as used at the live shows.

Extra content: As a bonus there is a photo gallery of rehearsal images as well as a video interview with Lydon. Although interesting, for me these had more of a novelty value and do not seem to be something that I would access multiple times. They're a nice wee bonus but it's the live gig that's the real meat of this package!

Leeds, 02 Academy, December 16th

Concert Live
Instant live 4 CD (digi-pack)

Running Time: 124 mins (approx)

review by Mick C, May 2011
© 2011 Fodderstompf.com / Mick C

The Recording: PiL's first gig in Leeds since 1983, 26 years previous. The band perform extremely well tonight, probably having been inspired by the success in Birmingham the night before.

The Leeds crowd seem to be very reticent to begin with although they gradually sort themselves out and begin to react a bit more. Again Lydon is suffering from the flu, but it certainly doesn't stop him in the slightest.

I must say that the way the band segue one song into another on these recording is top class as it doesn't allow the tempo to be lost or the mood broken.

Again, recorded by the Concert Live crew the quality is second to none! Quite impeccable.

Packaging: The packaging is identical for each release, the only difference being the change of venue information.

Extra content: The extra content is the same on each release.

Public Image Ltd: ALiFE 2009 Birmingham, 02 Academy, December 15th

Leeds, 02 Academy, December 16th

Public Image Ltd:
ALiFE 2009
Birmingham, 02 Academy, December 15th