We've Got 99 Guitars and Not One Of Them's A Problem
Well, maybe not ninety-nine but when four of the six in the band came on stage carrying theirs (including bass), with another half dozen propped up all ready for switching between songs, and at least two changes for each of the eighteen-song set from the hardest working roadies out there (I know they weren’t all used for just one song and then dumped) but that’s a fair amount for one show all the same.
Richard Hawley (and band, who he credits in his very reverent way are as much a part of things as he and his famous name are) kicked off with the three heavy hitting guitarists out front from the start, in a way that made me think in football terms like a 2-3-5 formation - set up for goals and glory, not often seen since the era that their music is at times reminiscent of. Their first few tracks, She Brings The Sunlight, Two For His Heels and Prism In Jeans fittingly also have a real throwback feel to them to match this football analogy – a modern take on a vintage style.
I’d say it took Gig-Antic Stu a while to get over his excitement about the range of guitars on show, but he was still spouting about them on the way home (make, model, estimate value etc etc – he’d do well on an episode of Antique Guitars Roadshow if there ever is such a show). I’m sure even now, he’s still thinking about them as much as, if not more than the gig itself. “Ooh! three telecasters!” was his best guitar-envy shout of the evening.
There was a good variety of styles in the set, real versatility to how they play live (and all louder and more lively than their recorded versions) – from their trademark nod to early rock’n’roll, through (IMO) a Western/Meet-the-devil-at-the-crossroads sounding Standing At The Sky’s Edge, and an almost psychedelic Deep Space, to any number of wall-of-sound hard rocking staples of their back-catalogue.
In his chatting in-between with the crowd, Hawley comes across well – very appreciative of his audience, which is growing significantly from tour to tour. Even though it wasn’t a complete sell out, this gig at the Usher Hall is more than three times the capacity of The Queens Hall where Gig-Antics Stu and I last saw him a couple of years ago. Mention of the upcoming election and political views (as His Lordship did a few weeks back) was well received by the crowd to intro the anthemic Tonight The Streets Are Ours and some recognition for Sheffield, waving his well-travelled sign for Coles Corner got the audience even more onside. He also mentioned in advance he was about to play the quietest song he’d ever written (another great tune), but it did make me think how he managed to get a Glasgow Barrowlands crowd the night before to stay silent for that one.
A three-song encore was cheered back on and during Ocean, looking round at the crowd it was like the audience was hypnotised - so many faces beaming back at the stage, totally lost in the performance. The applause at the end of the set (after a good hour and forty five) was as appreciative and as loud as I can remember hearing. There’s no doubt how much Richard Hawley means to his fans here.
Bumping into quite a few pals and gig-acquaintances after the gig (D-Mac & his better half and Pop-up Malky & Co to name a few), there was total agreement that this show was one of the best seen at the Usher Hall from any band – it wasn’t just there wasn’t a bad note all night, but there every single thing all six of them played was absolutely top notch. Such a tight band with a bold and uplifting sound, they’ll be tough to beat for anyone who was there (or anywhere else on this tour I’d bet).
He still as a dozen shows left to do this tour and I’d highly recommend if you can get a ticket, Open Up Your Door and get along to one of these wonderful examples of what live music is all about.
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