From: Peter Harmon
| The first and only time I saw Verve play was in Saratoga Springs, NY on the second stage of the Lollapollooza tour. It was just after their "A Storm in Heaven" album. The most remarkable thing about this show was the clear skies... which quickly darkened when Verve took the stage. A decidedly bland "A Man Called Sun" began the gig. By the time the band got to "Slide Away," before which Richard asked for some movement from the crowd, the low clouds were brimming. "Slide Away" began, and, as if the music were some kind of heavenly summons, the skies opened. It wasn't just rain; it was that mutant rain, huge, heavy drops that stung if they smacked your face. Richard was going mental at this point, obviously playing up the fact that Verve had seemingly induced the steaming torrents. The stage manager was waving vigourously to the crowd that the band would have to stop. He approached Richard and motioned for him to quit but the mad bastard with his eyes fixed on the sky, shook his head out of control. The crowd were in a frenzy by this point; it was obvious to everyone present that they were witnessing an event that would print a feeling in their memory. Curtains closed as the band eventually had to stop. They returned after the rain and began the rest of their set with "Blue." |
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