Regular Facelift readers will know that, although I’ve seen the current Gong more times than I could shake a stick at, I always try and catch them in new settings – it adds to the sense of uniqueness which this band seem to thrive on. Tonight’s gig continues that trend: firstly it’s in a community centre a short hop over the moors in Shipley, just outside Bradford. But secondly, sadly, it’s one of a series of gigs which Gong are undertaking shorn of their lead man, Kavus Torabi, unfortunately waylaid by a critical family illness. How would the band’s pared down four-piece shape up?
More immediately though, a rather unexpected treat. Catching up with Jonny at the merch stall, talking about the imminent ‘Encore Un Fois’ Gong gathering (get your tickets here) I found myself being inexorably drawn towards the music from across the foyer. It sounded somewhat Gong like, twiddly, jumpy and not a little adventurous. At closer quarters it revealed itself to be utterly compelling: this was the youthful Legs on Wheels, a Manchester-based band: 2 guitars, a bass, keyboards and a rather fine jazz drummer. Gong’s Fabio Golfetti caught me watching them, he’d thought they’d be up my street, a little Canterburyesque in his opinion, he’d also mentioned Gentle Giant. Personally I was hearing the Wizards, the Cardiacs, a little Rush, even Magic Bus. Making a mockery of conventional time signatures they flitted between, they racked up any number of genres en route. The lead singer is theatrical, compelling and difficult to take one’s eyes off. The keyboard player later told me they delighted in evading categorisation. And they certainly succeeded there. I’ve rarely heard such a reception for a support act, and it was well merited: the band are supporting Gong on a number of dates, and apparently originally had their name suggested by Daevid Allen himself! I bought their two albums on the spot and may report back, particularly as it turns out that the lead guitarist lives a few hundred yards away from me!
So how would Gong fare in their reduced line-up? The first thing to say is that all of those appearing on stage are all bandleaders in their own right. They’re also all multi-faceted: Fabio is capable of switching between 3 different guitar roles: his peerless glissando guitar playing which provides so much of the texture for the current Gong band, his bubbling Hillageesque guitar work, and the fluid lead lines which underpin many of the current compositions. Ian East is a talented saxophonist who will provide as much virtuosity as space allows him – he also stepped up as the ‘spare’ 4th vocalist to maintain those stunning multi-part harmonies (and led on ‘Stars in Heaven’); Dave Sturt revelled in the extra sonic space afforded him tonight on bass, a hint of his yet untapped talents for Gong as captured by one of his other projects This Celestial Engine; we already know Cheb Nettles as a frantic, omnipresent drummer and fine backing vocalist: tonight he and Fabio stepped up as lead vocalists as the nature of tracks dictated: Fabio with his slightly ethereal voice as fans of Violeta de Outono will recognise; Cheb, from behind his drum kit taking on some of the more undulating of Kavus’s lead lines.
It was very good: the band missed out a little on the chaos, the cacophony, and the charisma that the band exhibit when Kavus is on stage, a little of the punchiness, and much of the startling crisp riffing. But they gained some warmth, a little jazziness and an imperceptible sense of space. We’re lucky to have a line-up so flexible, professional and talented to keep the vibe going so seamlessly.
Highlights were the upbeat ‘Eternal Wheel’ getting the gig off to such a joyous start. The wild arabesque implorations of Ian East’s sax on ‘Dream of Mine’. A rather free ‘Sawtooth Wake’ with the combination of Ian’s sax and the glissando guitar making a nod towards ‘Isle of Everywhere’. The new middle section of encore ‘You Can’t Kill Me’ where the band appear to morph into free jazz, before apparent quotes from ‘Inner Temple’ gloriously drag it back to the main riff. Cheb Nettles making the first stage announcement (nobody knew he could speak!). And the subtle but on-the-money bass solo from Dave Sturt which preceded a particularly wild ‘Master Builder’ with Legs on Wheels’ lead singer cavorting at the front of the audience. All is well with Gong and all who sail in her. We wish Kavus well but rest assured the band is in safe hands until he returns…
A couple more UK gigs before the band take a short break. There are loads more gigs in Europe from the end of October:
28/09/2026 – Chinnery’s, Southend
29/09/2026 – The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
