So....didn't get to see all three Hafler Trio gigs, but got there on Thursday. What happened? Well, there was a video screen with the sea on it, very like Coil's live visual, over this from time to time was projected an OHP on which Mr MacKenzie wrote off-the-cuff monologues about memory, several gentlemen in bowler hats and frock-coats, with perspex masks that made them look like Bacon paintings stumbled through the audience with magnifying glasses on poles, and shone torches through them as if looking for some lost treasure in the dark. H30 and a fabulous blonde called Lulu, who happens to be a film-maker/actress, in a big wig and a pink dress would make periodic announcements about the purpose of the next scene to be enacted, then move on...on Sunday there was also a figure in a coccoon type of outfit, taken from Samuel Beckett's film Quad, which was shown during the H30 film night, as was a 5.1 surround manipulated film of Annie Sprinkle during the Masturbatorium performance. Also shown, 2 John Lacey films, an extract from "Meetings with Remarkable Men", an animation called "Ubu Roi" by Geoff Dunbar, from 1979, which contains a loudly exclaimed "Kill The King". Several historical surrealist/dada films were shown, by Ernst, Dali, Man Ray, Richter, René Clair...there was a problem with the Tommy Cooper clips so we didn't get to see them... The last gig ended with a pantomime horse snaking through the audience and space which was divided up by walls of fabric, as the whole cast of the gigs followed after it in slow motion, in an obvious homage to "Ghosts Before Breakfast" and several other films. A man in a top-hat and pinc-nez sold Hafler goodies, including all the recent limited CD's and vinyl, and several very limited DVD's, of which I managed to snag 3. Didn't see anyone buy a Hafler umbrella ... Apparently there shall be another H30 event, possibly over 3 days, at the Steiner Theatre during the August bank holidays, but its not actually organised yet.. Bruce Gilbert and Richard D. James went to the last gig, but I dont think the aphex bloke stayed. Bruce seemed to enjoy himself.... It was the maddest thing I've seen at a live event, ever.....any NWW fans who could have gone but didn't should kick themselves now, as they would have experienced the only Dada salon held this century so far, no guns, but some plate smashing served a similar purpose....

       

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