Wire don't use a drum machine, Robert Gotobed just sounds like that, using only snare, hi-hat, and bass drum.

@1 Ordinarily true, but not true for at least those two records (Ideal Copy and Manscape). That's a drum machine at work there -- unmistakable sound.

I'm with you on this, but over the years a lot of their later output grew on me. I'd even say "Ahead" from Ideal Copy eventually became one of my favorite songs by them ("one of my favorite" means it's probably my 30th favorite). Excited to see'em Friday in my town, I assume they're heading your way as well.

@myself - Oh uh derp, that would be TONIGHT in Seattle.

I admit I'm a dyed-in-the-wool Wire fan, having jumped on board with The Ideal Copy, but even so I don't think you give that middle period enough credit. Their electro-experiments are as haunting and beautiful as anything from that decade. And "A Bell is a Cup..." is a freaking great pop album - incredibly catchy melodies fused with utter weirdness. If nothing else give that one a few more listens and then tell me you don't hear something really special.

I loved Pink Flag so much it hurt. You are bringing me back man

you had the same reaction i did to the 80s stuff when it came out. and i could be your dad. or your daddy. your choice.

Emily, I'm curious what you think of Document & Eyewitness and all the various solo & side stuff (like Dome) from the early 80s. That stuff is completely underrated IMHO.

I got to see Wire on their comeback tour with The Ex-Lion Tamers doing the entirety of "Pink Flag" in order. As #1 described, Gotobed managed to do all the drum machine beats live with just a snare, kick and high hat. They again only used white lights. It was glorious.

I love early-classic Wire (my band covered "12XU" and my favorite is "Map Ref.41°N 93°W") but "The Ideal Copy" was exactly what I wanted to listen to in 1987. Everyone says "Oh, that's when they wanted to be New Order"--but it's not really. It fits into a particular post-punk /dance oriented rock thing that was happening then--from "Nighttime"-era Killing Joke to "Darklands"-era The Jesus and Mary Chain.

"Ahead" was the blue print for the sound I wanted for the second band I was in), "Madman's Honey" is nearly as beautiful as "Kidney Bingos". I like "Over Theirs"...and there's other stuff, weird like "Feed Me"...or slightly twisted pop like "The Point of Collapse", "Cheeking Tongues" or "Ambitious"... None of it, really, sounds like New Order.

And while I don't immediately pick out "The Ideal Copy" as my first choice when I go to listen to a particular Wire album...given the choice of any of the first three albums, or the compilation from those albums ("On Returning") or "The A-List" which is a "best of" for their 1985-1990 output, I often choose "The A-List"...as that takes me to "In Vivo" and their 120 Minutes era hit "Eardrum Buzz".

But as much as I love classic-era Wire and comeback-era Wire, I haven't felt compelled to dive into their third-era stuff. I think I might own "Red Barked Trees" (disappointing) and I've had "Ultimate Send" and "Object 47" in my "saved for later" queue for a long time.

Sounds like I've got some catching up to do.

So how was the show last night? Anyone?

It was a good show. As far as I know, they played one old classic song all night, Brazil. Their new album sounds pretty good live. I enjoyed the new songs more than I thought I would. I saw them at Neumos in 2013 where they did the Pink Flag orchestra thing. First time I saw them was with Ex-Lion Tamers playing entire Pink Flag album. I think that was 1985.

I talked to Robert Grey out front on the sidewalk before the show for about ten minutes and he was polite as could be and took a photo with me. Graham was nearby having a smoke with Kim Thayil. Colin was inside drinking beers with the people. Just nice, weird guys.

@11 - Went Friday in San Francisco and had a similar experience. They are indeed nice, but weird men—as I'd have suspected. Good show, sounded great, but I probably knew a total of 5 songs. It was almost a work of art in and of itself the way they danced around their classics.