Live at the Astoria, 1998

FALL Live At The Astoria. 1998 Review: In the hallowed halls of the Astoria, where legends are made and dreams are shattered, The Fall took to the stage in 1998 for a live performance that can only be described as, well, VERY Fall-like. Mark E. Smith, the enigmatic frontman of the band, was in rare form that night, slurring his way through lyrics with the grace of a drunken sailor on roller skates. But oh, what a glorious mess it was. The songs veered from punk to post-punk to something that can only be described as "Mark E. Smith's fever dream" with reckless abandon. The band played with a ferocity that can only come from years of being both beloved and reviled in equal measure. The guitars wailed, the drums thundered, and the audience was left in a state of awe and confusion. Highlights of the night included a chaotic version of "Touch Sensitive" that bordered on cacophony, a blistering rendition of "Mr. Pharmacist" that left the crowd in a state of delirium, and a 20-minute freestyle rant from Smith that left everyone wondering if he was speaking in tongues or just making it up as he went along. In short, FALL Live At The Astoria. 1998 is a document of a band at the height of their powers, letting loose and giving zero fucks. It's messy, it's loud, it's unhinged - and it's absolutely glorious. 8.7/10.