About this episode

Mark Caro interviews XTC guitarist Dave Gregory about the band's live performance and their approach to concerts.

We’re so happy to welcome back to Caropop one of our favorite musicians, XTC guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Dave Gregory. The occasion is the Record Store Day release—and upcoming CD—of XTC’s fast, furious performance on Live Boots: Emerald City, Cherry Hill, New Jersey, 17th April 1981 . In Pt. 1 of this two-parter, Gregory discusses why the band played everything at such breakneck speed and whether he admires or regrets that approach now; what he thinks of the “bootleg” sound quality; how XTC approached concerts differently in the U.S. and U.K.; whether XTC might have lasted longer as a live band if frontman Andy Partridge didn’t throw himself so intensely into each performance; how (or whether) Gregory’s ears survived the tour; which guitars he took on the road; and how the band’s live attack differed on 1982’s abortive English Settlement tour. We also go down a Rickenbacker rabbit hole.

People in this episode

Host: Mark Caro

Guest: Dave Gregory

Topics covered

• XTC
• live performance
• music history
• guitar
• Record Store Day

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: XTC

Books & works: Live Boots: Emerald City, English Settlement

Places: Cherry Hill, New Jersey

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