From: Rolling Stone
| They say hindsight is 20/20, and the Verve have learned
that lesson in spades. For a band that was nearly unheard of in America just
over a year ago, setting out on a stadium jaunt around the U.S. was a tad
too ambitious, if not downright foolish. The Verve's music doesn't even
really belong in arenas, popularity notwithstanding. It's much too
orchestral, too subtle, too cerebral. Moreover, the band has only had one
hit in America. Bands with one hit don't play places like the
19,000-capacity Arrowhead Pond, but somehow it was one of the few venues on
the Verve's tour that was not downsized due to poor ticket sales and the
loss of original tour supporters Massive Attack. Despite this cloud hanging
over the band, lead singer Richard Ashcroft proved the optimist on this
evening, no doubt preferring to consider the Pond half- full, not half-empty
like the rest of us. Donning a fishing cap, khaki trousers and a white island shirt, Ashcroft swaggered proudly onto the giant stage -- setting the tone for a night when, despite an uncertain future and the indefinite loss of guitarist Nick McCabe, the Verve would shine. The show began like a pleasant, paralyzing drug trip, as "Space and Time" bounced off the arena's walls with beautiful, psychedelic grace. Although the lack of McCabe's guitar genius was a sizable gap in the band's sound, temporary additions B.J. Cole (pedal-steel guitar) and percussionist Steve Sidelnyk helped fill out the sound admirably. Bassist Simon Jones and guitarist/keyboardist Simon Tong, along with drummer Peter Salisbury, rounded out the wounded lineup. McCabe's absence did open an otherwise closed door for Ashcroft, grounding the singer and forcing him to step forward with just an acoustic guitar on the painfully brilliant "The Drugs Don't Work," the effulgent "See You in the Next One (Have a Good Time)" and the aching B-side "So Sister" (which features the magical line "I wrote your name in dust on a truck as it rolled out of town/just in case my love for you might be found"). Despite the obvious beauty of it all, the songs, along with the accompanying kaleidoscope of trippy lights and acid-test visuals, would have turned a magnificent moment at the Pond into a mind-altering epiphany at a smaller, more manageable venue. On the other end of the spectrum, "Come On," with its thunderous baseline, and "Weeping Willow," with its weightless, wah wah guitar trip, burst forth as the only two songs actually fit for a venue this size. That didn't stop Ashcroft, however, who wallowed in his own brilliance before "Lucky Man" by visibly lighting up a joint and ranting about rock & roll being a hard life and needing the joint to get through it. When the band finally launched into "Bittersweet Symphony," the irony was lost in the moment. The Rolling Stones may take the credit for the song's gorgeous riff, but the Verve are the ones smoking to it -- half-baked or not. |
From: Andrea Reyna
| Friday, August 14 the greatest band in the world graced
the stage at the Pond in Anaheim, California. The magic of the evening began
even before they stepped on stage. The show opener was a DJ with a slide
show of pictures of the band, and quotes from various songs. And then with
no announcement the opening chords of "Space and Time" told us we are in for
the night of our lives. Richard sang his heart out from the opening notes of
that song to the last "sex and silence" of the set closer "Bitter Sweet
Symphony". Even though the lack of McCabe dampened Richard's ability to move around the stage since had to play guitar most of the time, he still went crazy. Even shaking his ass around, making the women scream more. Not to mention he played and flowed on the keyboards as well. Sadly, few people in the audience knew any of their songs besides "Symphony". It was most evident when I was the only one who yelled when the band started a heart wrenching version of their masterpiece "History". Packing an additional punch were the equally eloquent "The Drugs Don't Work" sung extra low, and "One Your Own". At the end of the song Richard showed that he has moved on by putting emphasis on the line "I'm coming in on my own" and even smiling as he sang that. Out of everything the two knee shattering highlights were two couplets of their most melancholy songs. First came "One Day" and "Velvet Morning" delivered with an intensity that only The Verve could muster. Then when you thought you heard it all Richard through himself at the mercy of the audience by going at it alone as the rest of the band went away. Picture just Him and his guitar in a massive arena. It was the closest to heaven I'll ever be. He then started with "See You in the Next One", and then with even greater dramatic subtlety "So Sister". The lyrics went down to the inner most regions of my soul. The set may have been brief running at just over an hour. But it left you wore out, not to mention how the band must have felt. Most of "Urban Hymns" was played with only the a fore mentioned songs not off the record. To those who appreciate brilliant music, it would have been greedy to ask for more. We need not be worried about Richard, well at least not too much. He has gained some weight, making himself look a lot healthier, and his voice is as great as ever. |
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