The Academy Manchester, UK (Aug/11/1997)

From: Chris Morland

The Verve were godlike in Manchester.

I would have liked to have gone to Sheffield, the very first gig back... ...but last night was amazing anyway. Opening with A New Decade, Slide Away and This Is Music just totally took the piss, absolutely untouchable.

Apart from Drugs Don't Work and Bittersweet Symphony they only played one ‘new’ song (was it Rollin’ People a track from a while back?). They were so up for the gig, what a buzz they created. Half way though Slide Away I got a bit of a lump in my throat, I was there watching The Verve, I never thought it would happen again, if Nick hadn’t of rejoined there was no way they could have played all the old stuff, moments like these would have been gone forever.

Setlist (from PMckee6398@aol.com):
A New Decade
Slide Away
Life's An Ocean
A Northern Soul
On Your Own
Drugs Don't Work
This Is Music
Man Called Sun
Rolling People
Gragity Grave
Stormy Clouds

encore-
Bittersweet Symphony
History

 

From: Stephen McNamee

I don't really know how to express the emotions I was going through before the band came on. Having only really got into them after they released "History", I didn't think I would ever have the chance to ever see the band I loved live. The music that they produced was undoubtedly some of the best work ever.

So, when the reformation happened, I was over the moon. When the tour details were announced, I rushed down straight away and got tickets. When nobody else wanted to come (fools!) I decided to go on my own anyway.

What followed was the best concert that I have EVER been to (I've been to over 100). The atmosphere created by the relatively small venue, the explosion and sheer elation as the first songs kicked in, just blew me away.

Richard seemed as though he was indestructible and the band played as if they were untouchable.... over here (England) the talk is of how Oasis are the best band ever.... not any more. The Verve are the band for disenchanted, the disenfranchised who want more to the lyrics than "She's electric, she's in a family full of eccentrics". Bow down, for the world is about to find the greatest band ever.

Note: the new album (Urban Hymns) already is a fantastic album, bit of a grower I think, as I still prefer Northern Soul, but the highlight has to be "Come On". Sheer majesty.

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