(2) Basil (5:44)

[superval99]

Thanks, dmg and Jbaent for the pictures.    The ones of the bridges lit up at night are really atmospheric, especially so as the weather was a bit murky.   

[Jules]

It was a indeed very short trip, the next day I went to Liverpool to the next MK concert that tour and I took a bus very very early, funnily I took a picture of my clock at 5.15.a.m. while waiting for the bus!

[Jules]

Did any of you that travelled last tour to NEwcastle saw where this plaque is?

[superval99]

Did any of you that travelled last tour to NEwcastle saw where this plaque is?

http://www.newcastlegateshead.com/things-to-do/local-heroes

[Jules]

Did any of you that travelled last tour to NEwcastle saw where this plaque is?

http://www.newcastlegateshead.com/things-to-do/local-heroes

It says:

The plaques are laid along the stretch of pavement from Baltic Square to the Swing Bridge. Across the river, they continue along the Quayside to the Gateshead Millennium Bridge

So they are at the Gateshead part of the quayside, isn´t it?

Anyone went there? it´s a must, LOL

[superval99]

Did any of you that travelled last tour to NEwcastle saw where this plaque is?

http://www.newcastlegateshead.com/things-to-do/local-heroes

It says:

The plaques are laid along the stretch of pavement from Baltic Square to the Swing Bridge. Across the river, they continue along the Quayside to the Gateshead Millennium Bridge

So they are at the Gateshead part of the quayside, isn´t it?

Anyone went there? it´s a must, LOL

I was in Newcastle for the Tracker concert last year and crossed over The Millennium Bridge to the Baltic on the Gateshead side. I was also there in February this year for Transatlantic Sessions at the Sage, but I didn't notice anything on the pavement - my mind must have been somewhere else!    It was dark when we were there for the TS concert, though.   I will have a look next time!   

[dmg]

Did any of you that travelled last tour to NEwcastle saw where this plaque is?

http://www.newcastlegateshead.com/things-to-do/local-heroes

It says:

The plaques are laid along the stretch of pavement from Baltic Square to the Swing Bridge. Across the river, they continue along the Quayside to the Gateshead Millennium Bridge

So they are at the Gateshead part of the quayside, isn´t it?

Anyone went there? it´s a must, LOL

There are lots of them.  I saw them on the Newcastle side between:

Swing Bridge:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/davids_leicas/17424441254/in/album-72157653261284626/

and

Gateshead Millennium Bridge:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/davids_leicas/17905580410/in/album-72157653261284626/

The one for Mark wasn't there last time I was in Newcastle but I saw the one for Ant and Dec!  Funny they received one before Mark...

[3Strats]

Does anyones knows which BLACK CHURCH is MK talking about in the "Basil" lyrics?

I has always suspected it was the St Nicholas Cathedral, because is close to the Black Gate, but there are other churchs that are of importance in Newcastle, I recall seeing some quite nice and when you search for Black Church in internet you find nothing...

I don't know Newcastle well enough to say which of the churches it was, but I recall when I used to visit the City with my parents in the 60's & 70's a lot of the buildings, incuding a church in that area and the castle keep, were literally black with pollution from soot & industry. many of them have been sand blasted clean since those days. When I first heard  Beryl I assumed that was what Mark was referring to. 

[Justme]

I don't know Newcastle well enough to say which of the churches it was, but I recall when I used to visit the City with my parents in the 60's & 70's a lot of the buildings, incuding a church in that area and the castle keep, were literally black with pollution from soot & industry. many of them have been sand blasted clean since those days. 

I tend to think that this is the explanation. Basil is such a beautiful piece of music. Even when Basil "raises" his voice and wants to "Put the poems in sacks and bury me here with the hacks" the voice of MK is still soft. Time has forgiving and conciliable aspects, too. Those guitar licks appear with taste and understatement. Not one note too much.

Btw., to me the people in Newcastle were the most friendly and welcoming human beings I came across for awhile. One lad was even quite surprised, that tourists visit his city. I took a picture for a chinese girl in Chinatown and soon we were involved in a great and friendly bit of smalltalk with a Geordie.

[Lis]

I also love Basil -- one of my top three favorites from the outstanding Tracker collection.  I was just listening to Basil a couple of days ago, when I was struck by the beauty of the last fadeout harmony.  For me, it evokes something between a train whistle and a candle being blown out.  Or a last breath.   

I was also struck by the incredibly friendly and interesting people I met in Newcastle.  Of all cities in the UK, this has been my favorite (based on the natural beauty of the city, the archictecture, and the especially warm people I met there). 

[superval99]

Tracker is now definitely my favourite MK solo album and I listen to it most days, sometimes several times - in fact I find it's becoming addictive!    It is so soothing, especially at the end of the day and Basil is one of my favourite songs from the album with its beautiful guitar licks.   

[Jules]

I´ve never been to the CITY HALL to attend a MK song and I failed to remember to go there just to see the building when I went to Newcastle... any of you took pictures of it, by the outside, inside etc?

[ElinaFinn]

Tracker is now definitely my favourite MK solo album and I listen to it most days, sometimes several times - in fact I find it's becoming addictive!    It is so soothing, especially at the end of the day and Basil is one of my favourite songs from the album with its beautiful guitar licks.   

My thoughts exactly, Superval! I will never tire of Tracker.

[dmg]

I was also struck by the incredibly friendly and interesting people I met in Newcastle.  Of all cities in the UK, this has been my favorite (based on the natural beauty of the city, the archictecture, and the especially warm people I met there).

Ah, but you haven't been to Cumbernauld yet!

[Lis]

No -- not yet! 

I had to look up Cumbernauld, and realized that it is rather close to Sterling (where I have spent about a week in the mid-80's visiting a very good friend).  Great city!!!