The Vichy Government - gigs

After it had taken in Scotland, we joined The Feline Dream's winter tour for two Irish shows in its home strait. This first show was a runaway artistic triumph. However, Derry's populace stayed across the road, where bedwetting heroes The Frames were recording a live album. The three people in attendance were all fans from Belfast. The live debut of our homage to The Prisoner, Portmeirion, was interrupted when Andrew's mum rang him up.

As a warm-up show for our appearance in the Limelight with The Feline Dream, we were unveiled to the people of Northern Ireland at cult night Valid Pop, curated by Gareth Mulvenna and Ciaran McNamee. Posters (which were mostly torn down by the Socialist Workers' Party) featured the corpse of Mussolini draped over that of his mistress, with a staff driven through their guts. Live debut of Secretarial Elite. Intro music: Luke Haines, Discomania

This low-profile show was organised by cretinous emo mogul Simon Baker, and saw us play support to Creation/shoegazing heroes The Telescopes on their disastrous reunion. Jamie attempted to liven things up by walking next door to buy a round of drinks halfway through one song. Also on the bill were laughable schoolboy Numanoids Sugoi Knight.

Vichy's London debut took place in Camden's synthpop mecca The Fan Club. The Ulstercentric bill also featured The Feline Dream and was completed by headliners Riviera, soon to be signed by Duran Duran pianist Nick Rhodes. The Protestant Work Ethic II and our cover of Young Girl received live debuts. Flyers featured Prisoner star Leo McKern, who had just passed away, and promised "the Brett Andersons strung up with the guts of the Jarvis Cockers".

On the eve of Jamie's graduation, Vichy returned to support necrophile girl group The Lollies at this R*E*P*E*A*T evening, armed with two new pieces- pop hit Rivers Of Your Blood and ethereal instrumental The Protestant Work Ethic I. Intro music: Stevie Wonder, Ma Cherie Amour

On Mayday, The Vichy Government strode out into the public eye for the first time at this RetroElectro special, and played before a crowd of intrigued locals and bemused A&R scouts there to see the headlining Um. Both Andrew and Jamie were amongst the DJs that followed. Our inaugural set list was: I Control Discourse/Orange Disorder/Make Love To The Camera/Shoulder To Shoulder/Arranged Marriages/Spitting/The Blue Danube Waltz.

Vichy marked their return to The Fan Club by opening with new epic, Death On The Instalment-Plan. The flyers showed Churchill, Stalin and Roosevelt sitting on a bench with the legend "Lonely? Frustrated? In need of a regime change?" and we were joined by Romeo Pizza Delivery, Cocoelectrik and keen physics students Trademark. Intro music: The Carpenters, We've Only Just Begun