Bing Bong

Gong & the Steve Hillage band, Exeter Lemon Grove

Exeter University I remember you well, well that's not quite true as they'd expanded the university considerably in the 11 years since I left. Arriving too early at the venue we were given a pre show treat by way of a loud and lengthy sound check...which was nice. The Steve Hillage band were first to perform, a real treat for a Hillage fan such as myself and something I didn't think I'd ever experience; after Hillage moved into top shelf dance with system 7. From the start you couldn't mistake that Hillage guitar sound, rich and off worldly, gliss to bliss with Miquette twiddling her knobs to perfect effect, while Mike Howlett expertly plucked the bass. It wasn't a long set but every note was pure gold combined with a good choice of tracks including favourites like the 'Salmon Song' making the set memorable.

After a short break the members of Gong, one by one, availed themselves of the stage. Hillage, back on board after leaving Gong in 1975, and other Gong members Gilli Smyth, Miquette Giraudy, Mike Howlett, Chris Taylor and Theo Travis trooped on stage building to the appearance on stage of Daevid Allen adorned in a pair of groovy pyjamas and the hat and trappings of a wizard. And so it began. The set well chosen, with both old and new track seamlessly joined in one long stream of Gong consciousness and the sound was note perfect; leading to smiles all round, on stage and off. Daevid had couple of costume changes climaxing in a strange white Elvis style suit decorated in Cd's and topped with what looked like a cross between a white curly quiff and a rooster crest morphing into a bizarre pixie hat. All the musicians played their parts perfectly creating a very memorable evening, Mike Howlett particularly rocked on bass.

We left the show with our Gong itch well and truly satisfied and made our way back to the camper, from where we proceeded towards Dartmoor and our home for the night. The roads are narrow and rarely straight, requiring constant concentration but finally we rose up on to the high moor, where as tradition would decree, it began to rain. Still, we were in a camper so no biggy. Parking up in a pull off next to small brook we chilled for a while with a couple of Jagers before retiring for the night.