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If we were sure of what to expect from Rory Gallagher, then the opposite was the case for Phil Manzanera's band, a motley crew that included Phil's old Roxy bosom buddy Brian Eno, on keyboards guitar and vocals. The band, surprisingly tight, played material that spanned the solo projects of both Manzanera and Eno who thrived in his apparent role as director of the whole operation. There was nothing ethereal about their set, a fine performance that mixed the spontaneity of straight rock with the undeniable virtuosity in the ranks (Manzanera and Eno's skills are acknowledged but bass-player Bill MacCormick deserves more attention). They charmed us all at the conclusion with their raunchy version of "You Really Got Me". Check 'em out.
Simon Kinnersley, Bath & West Ev. Chronicle
The most exhilarating and challenging performance of the festival came from the newly formed Brian Eno, Phil Manzanera unnamed band.. With a line · up that included such accomplished performers as Francis Monkman (keyboards), Simon Phillips (drums) and Bill MacCormick on bass, they delivered some music of stunning proportions..... ....Featuring material from Eno's Taking 'Tiger Mountain By Strategy' and 'Here Come The Warm Jets', and Manzanera's more recent 'Diamond Head', the set was chequered with fearsome guitar runs and powerful alnd melodic rhythms, while Eno added his fascinating and unique treatments. One hopes this project is to be developed.
Mo Geller, NME
Billed as special guests, Phil Manzanera with Eno, Francis Monkman, Lloyd Watson, Bill MacCormick and Simon Phillips - under the collective tag 801 - took the stage for the most interesting and adventurous music for the day. For a too, too short three quarters of an hour they hit peak after peak. Bright jazzy guitar runs, jaggedly staccato or sweetly mellifluous, powerhouse drumming, dazzling individual work, overwhelming unison and really rocking harder than anyone else the whole day. A couple of numbers from "Diamond Head" and from Eno's "Taking Tiger Mountain By Strategy", "You Really Got Me" and they were gone.
John Peel, Sounds
From here we moved on to what was, for me the musical highpoint of the weekend, the set played by Phil Manzanera, Eno et al. In these days, when predictability is prized above all other things, these musicians are a rare breed indeed. One looks forward doesn't one, to the LP which is rumoured to have been recorded by the same team at a London concert last Friday.
Hugh Fielder, Sounds
Queen Elizabeth Hall
WATCH OUT, here they come. Just a minute . . . Oh hell, they've gone. You've just missed the Phil Manzanera Band unless you caught them at the Reading Festival or at their 'farewell' performance at the Queen Elizabeth Hall last Friday. Which is a pity because the combination of Phil and his old Roxy playmate Eno together with Lloyd Watson on slide guitar, Francis Monk on keyboards, Bill MacCormick on bass and Simon Phillips on drums, gave an object lesson on just how refreshing rock and roll can be when you haven't got image or status to live up to.
Any suspicions that this was just going to be a jolly jam session were dispelled right from the start. You don't get as musically tight as they were without a lot of hard work. And the obvious enjoyment the band got from playing together was soon reciprocated by the audience. After the introduction, 'Lagrima' (from Phil's 'Diamond Head' album), the band moved into a roaring adaptation of Lennon and McCartney's 'Tomorrow Never Knows' which gave band and crowd alike something to chew on.
It was with the instrumental 'Sol Caliente' that the individual characteristics of the band started to come through. MacCormick and Phillips drove the piece forward just inside the speed limit as Manzanera eased into overdrive above them. Eno pottered around his keyboards in relaxed fashion and occasionally added some wordless vocals. Real lyrics were forthcoming in the next number, 'Wrongrong' (from the 'Quiet Sun' album') where Eno's naked-sounding voice (with no echo or resonance on the microphone) contrasted with some flowing slide work from Lloyd Watson.
Audience appreciation was growing steadily and reached a peak on Manzanera's own 'Diamond Head' where the simple descending theme, with Phil merging the notes to an almost continuous wail, was pursued relentlessly to a powerful climax. Distortion problems prevented Phil's solo on Eno's 'Baby's On Fire' from coming through distinctly but Eno's voice had by now lost all its early reticence and the rest of the band bubbled away enthusiastically .
Clarity returned with the distinctive riff of 'Miss Shapiro' which later gave way to the even more distinctive strains of the Kinks' 'You Really Got Me' and despite some appallingly distracting lighting effects the band showed most punk groups exactly where they should get off. They'd only been on stage an hour and the hall management wanted everyone out by 10 pm so they just had time for one encore - 'Third Uncle' which Eno introduced as "the fastest song ever written".
Much of the evening's success stemmed from the fact that the band stuck to playing rock music (albeit of a somewhat sophisticated variety) and were never tempted to delve into other areas. The concert was recorded and hopefully the ensuing live album may prompt Manzanera to give the band another run during Roxy's sabbatical. It would be a shame if such natural ebullient went to waste.
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