"Easter Theatre" by XTC

from Strong Songs · host Kirk Hamilton

Stage left! It's time for Strong Songs to talk about XTC. Stage right! Now the song is picked, analysis can begin. Stand up! If we listen close, we'll hear some lovely notes...On this episode, Kirk takes the stage alongside "Easter Theatre," the first single off of XTC's 1999 experimental symphono-pop album Apple Venus: Vol. 1. Bring on the bassoons and power up the mellotron; we've got some shapes to stack.Written by: Andy PartridgeProduced by: Haydn Bendall & Nick DaviesAlbum: Apple Venus Vol. 1, 1999 and Instruvenus, 2002Listen/Buy via SongwhipALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:“Senses Working Overtime” by Andy Partridge from English Settlement, 1982“Dear God” by Partridge (eventually) from Skylarking, 1986“Mayor of Simpleton” from Oranges & Lemons, 1989“River of Orchids,” “I’d Like That,” “Greenman,” “Frivolous Tonight,” and “Fruit Nut” by XTC from Apple Venus, Vol. 1, 1999"Easter Theatre (Demo Version)" and "How Easter Theatre Came to Be" released with the UK single, 1999Partridge’s 1999 Guitar Player interviewComplicated Game: Inside the Songs of XTC by Andy Partridge with Todd BernhardtA subsequent behind the song interview published by XTC“Killer Queen” by Freddie Mercury from Sheer Heart Attack, 1974“Chicago” by Sufjan Stevens from Illinoise, 2005“I Will Always Love You” by Dolly Parton as sung by Whitney Houston on The Bodyguard Soundtrack, 1992--------------------MAY 2024 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONSRobyn Metcalfe – Brian Templet – Cesar – Bob Tucker – Corpus Frisky – Ben Barron – Catherine Warner – Damon White – Kaya Woodall – Jay Swartz – Miriam Joy – Sean D. Winnie – Rush – Daniel Hannon-Barry – Christopher Miller – Jamie White – Christopher McConnell – David Mascetti – Joe Laska – Ken Hirsh – Jez – Melanie Andrich – Jenness Gardner – Paul Delaney – Dave Sharpe – Sami Samhuri – Jeremy Dawson – AccessViolation – Andre Bremer – Dave FloreyMAY 2024 HALF-NOTE PATRONSDanielle Kriz – Michael York – Clint McElroy – Mordok’s Vape Pen – Inmar Givoni – Michael Singer – Merv Adrian – Joe Gallo – Lauren Knotts – Dave Kolas – Henry Mindlin – Monica St. Angelo – Stephen Wolkwitz – Suzanne – Rand LeShay – Maxeric Sp – Matthew Jones – Thomas – Anthony Mentz – James McMurry – Ethan Laser – Brian Johan Peter – Chris Remo – Matt Schoenthal – Aaron Wilson – Dent Earl – Carlos Lerner – Misty Haisfield – Abraham Benrubi – Chris Kotarba – Callum Webb – Lynda MacNeil – Dick Morgan – Ben Stein – Susan Green – Grettir Asmundarson – Sean Murphy – Alan Brough – Randal Vegter – Go Birds! – Robert Granat – Dave Malloy – Nick Galloway – Heather J. – John Halpin – Peter Harding – David – John Bauman – Martín Salías – Stu Baker – Steve Martino – Dr. Arthur A. Gray – Carolina – Gary Pierce – Matt Baxter – Luigi Boccia – E. Margaret Warton – Charles McGee – Catherine Clause – Ethan Bauman – KenIsWearingAHat – Jordan Block – Aaron Wade – Jeff Ulm – David Futter – Jamie – Deebs – Portland Eye Care – Carrie Schneider – Richard Sneddon – Doreen Carlson – David McDarby – Wendy Gilchrist – Elliot Rosen – Lisa Turner – Paul Wayper – Bruno Gaeta – Kenneth Jung – Adam Stofsky – Zak Remer – Rishi Sahay – Jeffrey Bean – Jason Reitman – Ailie Fraser – Rob Tsuk – Natalie Mistilis – Josh Singer – Amy Lynn Thornsen – Adam W. – Kelli Brockington – Victoria Yu – Mino Capossela – Steve Paquin – David Joske – Bernard Khoo – Robert Heuer – David Noah – Geraldine Butler – Madeleine Mader – Jason Pratt – Abbie Berg – Doug Belew – Dermot Crowley – Achint Srivastava – Ryan Rairigh – Michael Berman – Linda Duffy – Bonnie Prinsen – Liz Seger – Eoin de Burca – Kevin Potter – M. Shane Borders – Dallas Hockley – Jason Gerry – Nell Morse – Nathan Gouwens – Lauren Reay – Eric Prestemon – Cookies250 – Damian Brady – Angela Livingstone – Diane Hughes – Michael Casner – Lowell Meyer – Stephen Tsoneff – Joshua Hill – Geoff Golden – Pascal Rueger – Randy Souza – Clare Holberton – Diane Turner – Tom Coleman – Dhu Wik – Mel – D. Eric Helm – Jonathan Daniels – Michael Flaherty – Caro Field – Michael Bochner – Naomi Watson – David Cushman – Alexander – Chris K. – Gavin Doig – Sam Fenn – Tanner Morton – AJ Schuster – Jennifer Bush – David Stroud – Brad Callahan – Amanda Furlotti – Andrew Baker – Andrew Fair – L. B. Morse – Bill Thornton – Brian Amoebas – Brett Douville – Jeffrey Olson – Matt Betzel – Nate from Kalamazoo – Melanie Stivers – Richard Toller – Alexander Polson – Earl Lozada – Justin McElroy – Arjun Sharma – James Johnson – Kevin Morrell – Colin Hodo --------------------💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺July 11, 2026 | Portland, ORBuy Tickets Here----LINKS-----💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS!Patreon | One-Time Donation🏠 HOMEPAGE👚 MERCH💬 DISCORD SERVER📬 KIRK'S NEWSLETTER🎸 KIRK'S GEAR & INSTRUMENTS🎶 KIRK'S MUSIC📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA:Instagram | YouTube | Bluesky🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG:Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music🎨 SHOW ART:Tom Deja, Bossman Graphics

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