Bush – The English Fire Tour 2000

February 27th 2000 – Rock City, Nottingham

Supported by: Cyclefly

Can’t find this ticket, but this was my introduction to Bush live. I’d not seen them live yet, but loved the three albums to date, Sixteen Stone (1994), Razorblade Suitcase (1996), The Science of Things (1999)

This was another trip to Nottingham, where all the good bands were now going and by-passing Leicester. Very annoying in one way, but great venues to visit in another.

Cyclefly

I wasn’t paying attention fully as we were standing by the bar (no sh*t), but I vaguely remember them being ok, a bit Bush/Placebo like, but nothing struck me or made me want to pay much attention (something that I’d like to apologise to many support band for was my lack of bothering! it was a very bad trait of mine and probably cost me a few good bands along the way)

Bush

Gavin Rossdale (lead vocals & rhythm guitar), Nigel Pulsford (lead guitar), Robin Goodridge (drums), Dave Parsons (bass)

The Science of Things was released in late 1999, so this was the tour to hear it live for the first time. Straight into the album with “The Disease of the Dancing Cats”.

This is a fantastic opening riff and starts the night on a high with swirly guitars and Gavin Rossdale’s gravelly voice on top form. This led straight into the classy Machinehead from the first album and the air guitars and pogo dancers were out in force.

This was a high octane gig, with flowing guitars and drums. Bush had been more successful up to now in America in the wake of Nirvana, but were breaking into the UK (albeit, with the tongue in cheek tour name subtitle of “Britains Biggest Band in America”).

The mosh pit was in full flow during Everything Zen before slowing down with “Mouth” and “Letting the Cables Sleep”…we didn’t really want the slow ones, so the moshing started again with “Insect Kin”.

The Science of Things generally, was a change of style for Bush. Less guitar and quite a bit more of an electronic sound, it was still good, they could get away with for me off the back of the first two albums, but you could sense a direction change coming.

Rock City always had a great feel. A smallish dark venue (painted black inside) with great acoustics, loved by bands and crowds alike. You could be involved in the mosh or stand out of the way, whatever suited. For us? It was usually a bit of both!

Traditionally the best is towards the end and “Glycerine” and “Swallowed” are slow ones worth waiting for. A great gig, maybe a few too many slow ones, but we left wanting more.

Set List

• The Disease of the Dancing Cats
• Machinehead
• Warm Machine
• Greedy Fly
• English Fire
• Jesus Online
• Everything Zen
• Mouth
• Letting the Cables Sleep
• Insect Kin
• Comedown
• Encore: Glycerine, Prizefighter, Swallowed, Little Things