This one was for the wife—not that I was complaining. Neil Hannon has a deft talent for penning exquisite songs. The concert hall was an excellent venue for him, too, with the acoustics enhancing the clarity of his voice and the band's sound.
The support act, a Lancashire trio called Studio Electrophonique, didn't inspire visually, so it allowed me the opportunity to rest my eyes while listening to their pleasant though downbeat songs. The singer was funny in a self-deprecating manner, which lightened the mood.
For such a small guy, Neil has a beguiling presence. Tonight, he is playful, quirky, casually funny, and, possibly, tipsy, as he holds us in this throng for two hours, with songs old and new. His singing voice is clear, his lyrics eloquent, and his band plays so well.
It was a lovely evening.
Well, apart from this irritation:
The notice at the entrance to the hall said 'No Cameras or Recording Equipment', and usually, the staff are strict about enforcing this. Not tonight. I became increasingly more infuriated as the same people raised their cameras above their heads again and again to snap pictures or film snippets of every song. It was not that they blocked my view—they didn't. It was the fact that they were doing it while I wasn't. I could feel my wife's disapproving glare at even the slightest indication I would take out my phone.
Eventually, when Neil requested that everyone stand up, I felt comfortable enough to grab a few snaps, but the picture quality ended up poor. Afterwards, my wife commented on my evident tension. I pointed out that it wasn't just the people with their phones. It was also the people beside me putting their pint tumblers on the balcony's ledge. Every time they wanted a drink, they had to lean forward in front of me to reach their pint, then do so again to put it back. Why couldn't they just hold them? She defended their actions, saying it didn't bother her.
Which is why she dislikes going to gigs with me—well, one of the reasons.
I know I need to chill more.
Get back to a state of contentment.
Or just rock the fuck out tonight at Those Damn Crows!
Achilles
The Last Time I Saw the Old Man
When the Lights Go Out All Over Europe
Rainy Sunday Afternoon
Norman and Norma
I Want You
Bang Goes the Knighthood
Generation Sex
At the Indie Disco
Neapolitan Girl
The Plough
Mar-a-Lago by the Sea (Preceded by Neil making cocktails for the band)
The Happy Goth
A Lady of a Certain Age
Our Mutual Friend
The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter
Other People
Something for the Weekend
Becoming More Like Alfie
Absent Friends
National Express
Songs of Love
Invisible Thread
Tonight We Fly
Ticket Price: £47.50 x2 = £95.00 plus Per Item Fees £5.95 x2 & £1.50 Facility Charge x2 = £14.90 plus Handling Fee £2.75 = total £112.65 from Gigs in Scotland (Presale) (Ticketmaster).
No comments:
Post a Comment