My wife detests Deacon Blue. She'll switch stations if one of their songs comes on the radio so I only bought one ticket for this show. It was supposed to be a 2020 Christmas present to myself but then that gig got pushed back, twice.
Usually, prior to a gig, I'll listen to the band's music to familiarise myself with their songs but this one kind of crept up on me. I hadn't kept up to date with the band's latest music and got a surprise when I discovered they'd released a new album, Riding on the Tide of Love last year. I played it on the way in (and back) and liked it a lot.
Tonight, I found a parking space with no problem, entered the venue without fuss (no queue in my line) and even snagged a spot relatively close to the stage in the middle where there were no tall people in front of me. I stood behind two short people so had an uninterrupted view.
The support act, interlopers, came on at 7.30 pm. I'd never heard of them and didn't realise the main man was the guy from The Big Dish until they played their hit, Miss America. I have to admit I found their music a bit soporific, a bit like Marillion on Mogadon. If I'd heard them on the radio, I probably wouldn't be aware of listening until halfway through and even then I'd only be mildly interested. At least they only played for thirty minutes. That's probably doing them a disservice. Their studio recordings may well be wonderful. I did amuse myself when I realised the fifth member of the band, who never turned around and had a strap on his back, was actually the bassist's reflection.
Then, before Deacon Blue launched into their show, at 8.30 pm, the tall people appeared: one woman with an afro, her equally tall partner and another beanpole who pushed in front of them. This was okay though because they were on my right. I still had a super view. Then a group of four overexcited ladies appeared on my left, all full of chat, posing in various group combinations for selfies while slugging downing their drinks. I was momentarily distracted when one of them, the buxom one, decided to use her cleavage as a drinks holder, lodging the tumbler's handle down there to free up her hands for waving and selfie-taking. It was a wondrous sight and from what I could see from her dry T-shirt, despite her weird poses, not a drop was spilt. Quite a feat. During the course of the show, the girls metastasised to infect nearby individuals with their friendliness, putting their arms around strangers and engaging them in conversation. I'm not the kind of bloke that attracts that level of female attention so observed them with amusement. Unfortunately, the group of four only lasted till the end of the main set, departing before the encores because one of them burned out too soon, the alcohol and the dancing leaving her with the dead-eyed stare of death.
By now, the mingling had allowed the tall people to drift in front of me and I was consigned to watching the rest of the gig on the big screen except when I peeked between their necks. Photos had to be snapped with arms extended above my head. The afro lady filmed the end of the show so I did get to watch it on the small screen of her phone.
Deacon Blue shouldn't work as a band but somehow they do. They were never hip, never huge (but had plenty of hits) yet the audience of this nearly sold-out Hydro show retain a strong affection for them. Tonight, I think I figured out why.
Love.
Ricky loves to write well-crafted songs, he loves to tell stories, he loves to perform and he loves playing with his bandmates, especially Lorraine, whom he loves dearly. Tonight, she was as wacky as ever, a free spirit dressed like an escapee from a mental asylum in her long white gown, dancing like she was aff her meds. The vocal harmonies between her and Ricky shouldn't work but they do, giving the band a dynamic that forms its heart.
During their two-and-a-half-hour performance, I did feel some nostalgia for their golden era but this gig was so much more. It was a delight and a pleasure to attend and I loved it.
The only downer came afterwards as I walked alone back to the car with no one to share the experience. Although those four girls from earlier were loud and more interested in themselves than the gig, they at least had each other (and lots of weirdly posed photos to show for it afterwards). I hope they all got home safely.
Ticket Price £45
Service Charge £6.10
Setlist
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