the FALL + 17 May 1981 + Vera, Groningen, The Netherlands

Fit and Working Again, Fantastic Life, and New Face in Hell were apparently broadcast on the radio and the recording circulates under various guises and often with songs from other gigs (e.g. there's one that includes Hip Priest and I'm Into C.B., which are from Glasgow 1 April 1982, not Vera 17 May 1981).

Dannyno found the VARA radio listing in this database and a review of the gig, which more or less translates to:

The Fall: Masters in Free Expression

Event: Gig by the English group The Fall; Instrumentation: Marc Riley, guitar and keys; Mark E. Smith, vocals; Steve Hanley, bass; Graic Scanlan [sic- Craig] Scanlon], guitar; Karl Burns, drums. Support act: Aigretjes, Rags. Place: Vera, Groningen. Audience: 300.

The mood at the performance of the English group, The Fall last night in Vera in Groningen, did not falter from the first note. The presence of VARA radio and VPRO television and a receptive audience of "connoisseurs" created an atmosphere that turned out to be very inspiring for the five from Ma[n]chester.

The Fall is the brainchild of poet and singer Mark E. Smith. This enfant terrible of English pop, who outside of music is often arrogantly provocative [the Dutch phrase here, literally apparently meaning “kicking against sore legs” figuratively suggests hitting someone where it already hurts], is also a very striking personality on stage. As an overwrought schoolmaster or rather preacher, he preaches simplicity, honesty and sincerity. The Fall is the last refuge in pop music overflowing with clichés and conventions.

Anti-stars with limited musical baggage, keeping their eyes on the floor while playing one or two chords for minutes on end. Simple, but bursting with energy, dry, raw and above all unpolished and inaccessible. “Refined” is a word The Fall doesn't know. Still, in its own way the band is disciplined and tight. Organized chaos, for which there is no frame of reference, but in which sometimes there is some affinity with the music of Velvet Underground.

The repertoire played during the hour and 45-minute performance was sourced mainly from the six-track EP Slates and the album Grotesque. In addition, there was room for three new songs, two of which had the probable titles: Hip Priest and Fantastic Life. In this last piece, as well as in the encore No Xmas for John Quays, Mark E. Smith shone with hysterical and neurotic guitar.

Smith's vocals were more understandable last night than we are used to from the group's very poorly recorded albums. Nevertheless, they remained completely incomprehensible, partly because the texts had undergone some changes here and there. The Fall offers its audience a jigsaw puzzle, from which Mark E. Smith deliberately omits some pieces. By fitting in those missing pieces yourself, an image is created that is different for everyone, yet equally magnificent.

By MAX PALFENIER

Dan also found an amusing anecdote about The Fall's return to The Netherlands for the Vera gig in this article about the club:
“The English group The Fall, for example, were to perform in Vera. Because this performance did not fit into the Dutch tour, the performance had to take place between the Belgian and the German tour. In England, they had assumed that Groningen was located in Germany, so it hadn’t been accounted for. Keep in mind that extra travel documents had to be requested! To cross the border you need visas, documents with details about the car, owner and chartering.

The result was in any case that The Fall’s equipment was not allowed to enter the Netherlands. When you hear this - as was the case - around noon, it is not easy to arrange something for nine in the evening.

By the way, The Fall gave a perfect concert on borrowed equipment."