Wire: The Scottish Play: 2004

In the Shakespeare tragedy referenced by the Scottish Play DVD's title, Macbeth compares life to the work of a performer who "struts and frets his hour upon the stage," ultimately amounting to "sound and fury, signifying nothing." Wire's April 2004 performance at Glasgow's Tramway Theatre might not grapple with metaphysical issues, but there's much strutting and fretting and plenty of sound and fury. When the band resumed live activity in 2000, it did so with surprisingly assaultive gusto. Tom Gidley's concert film captures that aspect of latter-day Wire: four angry not-so-young men in heavy metal dancefloor mode, charging through a set of largely recent material with an intensity and urgency rivaling their sound circa Pink Flag. After the barrage of tracks like "Comet" and "Spent," the chugging "I Don't Understand" offers a momentary respite, then the band proceeds to torch some of its oldest numbers, eventually signing off with a rough-edged makeover of "Pink Flag." Rather than offer a flat, one-dimensional concert film, Gidley's cameras focus in on the bandmembers' individual labors. A sweaty Graham Lewis throttles his bass while Colin Newman dances around like someone at the office Christmas party after a few too many drinks. By contrast, drummer Robert Grey is a picture of focus. The odd man out is Bruce Gilbert, standing almost in the wings; although he gives the impression of never having seen a guitar before, he adds a crucial layer of noise, often without seeming to move his hands. The DVD also contains footage from a 2003 event at London's Barbican: four songs from the Read & Burn EPs showcase Es Devlin's Samuel Beckett-meets-Spinal Tap set design, which places the bandmembers in separate boxes lined across the stage. The Scottish Play is an excellent document of a band refusing to age gracefully. [Also included is a CD of the Tramway gig.]