From: Christian Rollinson
| Well that's the best gig I'll ever see. The atmosphere at
the start was unbelievable. Everyone else will fill you in with the set list
as I'm shit at remembering, but the whole set was played so tight that it
could have come off a tape, and Richards voice was fuckin' class. Was he up
for it? He was like a fuckin' man possessed. The emotion in his voice gave
you goose pimples. The highlight for me was History. Richard strapped on his
guitar and off he went. I had tears in my eyes, his singing so powerful. BSS
was a great version, as was man called sun, and as for the set closer, the
groove was as good as gravity grave. What a fuckin' night. I don't think
anything will ever come close to last night... ..spoiled only by the wankers who kept pushing past me, if you go to a gig, watch the fuckers and don't walk about, and if you need a piss, well piss yourselves, the verve are worth it I'm sure. I also had fuckin' alcohol poisoning from 12 hours of drinking so I went straight after the gig, so did any of you meet the band? A mate of mine tried getting backstage. |
From: Geoff
| The Leadmill gig was pretty good. I know that I should be
raving on and on about it, but the truth is in my opinion the best is still
to come. They seemed a bit rusty and the sound wasn't that great. History,
This is Music and On Your Own were my favorites. I can't remember the full
set list, but they started with A New Decade, Slide away, This is Music,
Life's an Ocean and then On your Own. They played for an hour and 20 minutes. I wish they'd played longer. Sorry to sound so much on a downer. It was good. Honest!! But it definitely seemed as though they were only occasionally playing at 100%. Richard's voice sounded great. Had a great time before the gig at the Howard. |
From: Tim Rowbottom
| > Well that's the best gig I'll ever see. I can definitely second that. The Manics are my favorite band in the world and I've seen them six times, but nothing that they could do could match what I saw on Saturday night. I've never seen a band so up for a gig in my life! They basically came on and went apeshit. As far as the set-list goes, they mostly played stuff from ANS (A New Decade, This Is Music, On Your Own, Northern Soul, Life's An Ocean, Stormy Clouds and History). As far as I can remember, they only played "Slide Away" from ASIH, but I might be wrong. I think that they played four new songs, including BSS and TDDW, one of which was "Sonnet". I didn't catch the name of the other. The moment that made my night, however, was when they played "A Man Called Sun". I didn't expect it at all despite the fact that I was shouting for it from the beginning. The only downside was the severe lack of "Gravity Grave". Oh yeah, and it was bloody hot! Sorry if I've missed any tracks out, but I'm sure I'll be corrected if I have. Bloody astounding stuff. As far as support goes, there wasn't any, only DJs. Mind you, as the guy on the merchandising stall said, anything that they put on would be a bit too much of a contrast. The venue was superb - we arrived early and spent about an hour playing on the Playstations in the Cafe Bar in the Leadmill! I agree with the guy who said that the sound wasn't too good, but it didn't make that much of a difference. There wasn't an awful lot of on stage banter as it were, just Richard giving it the usual "Come on mother-fuckers!" histrionics at the beginning. During the first song (A New Decade) I could also see Richard distinctly mouthing the words "I was born for this" with his eyes closed, whilst he kept mouthing "this is real music" during "Slide Away". I can't really think of 'owt else to say, although I'm absolutely positive that I saw Kate from Spiritualized there. See ya later! |
From: Jason Brown
| What a Gig !!!!! Must be the best I've ever been to. I picked up the track listing from the mixing desk and it reads as follows : A New Decade Slide Away This is Music Life's an Ocean On Your Own Drugs Don't Work A Northern Soul Man Called Sun Sonnet Rolling People (Top Tune) Stormy Clouds ----------------------- Bittersweet History Come on /G/G (That's what it says, so it looks like they were supposed to do Gravity Grave. I don't know what you lot think, but I reckon that Richard was just to tired to do any more. He had put so much into the set. Anyway It was still the BEST !!!! |
From: Stuart Paterson
| What can I say ? What can I fucking say ? They were absolutely immense, the best, off the scale. RA is a fuckin madman and the best front man around, what a voice, he was running around the stage screaming at the crowd arms outstretched, he looked so fucking happy, even Nick gave the clenched fist salute, smiles all over the world.... I am sitting at my desk at work with a big fucking grin just thinking about it. They opened with A New Decade, Slide Away, This Is Music (absolutely phenomenal ) after that its all a bit awry, I know they played Sonnet, Stormy Clouds, A Northern Soul, A Man Called Sun, Drugs Don't Work, Rolling People (from the new album - spoketh the God), and probably some more. I know they played these songs cos its imprinted on my brain but I'm not sure I can remember it ! The encore was an absolutely cracking version of BSS then tear jerkingly good History then to finish an incredible Come On, absolute bedlam, RA was tremendous, he whipped the crowd up until everyone was screaming and shouting it was just mindblowing. Someone wanted to know Simons role in all this well correct me if I'm wrong but Simon played keyboards, guitar and tambourines alternately obviously, hes not quite that good. He played keys on BSS and history I think, I'm sorry but my attention was elsewhere, about Pluto I reckon..... Final word - shit T-shirts good rip offs outside, oh and who the fuck are oasis ?????????? |
From: Matt Hayes
| suppose it's about time I thought of something to say
about Saturday. you don't see that every day do you? I was fucked. got to the howard at about 5:30 and didn't feel like talking to anyone so I sat on my own for a while and got a bit drunk. then went over the road to some cafe-bar or other and had a sandwich and drank some more. then me and the bloke I was with went for a some 'funny fags' in a car park (looking back we should have smoked them in the venue like everyone else; hindsight is always 20:20) and then on to the leadmill. drank some more and got pissed off with waiting. room started spinning. decided the only cure was more alcohol, went to bar, some bloke asked me if I was buying some feelings, I said 'from a vending machine', chatted to him for a bit about how every one was on the same vibe (or something?) got more pissed off with waiting in that fucking hot room. stood nearish the stage, so did 15,000 other people, one person started screaming so did everyone else, this went on for half an hour, band came on. got excited so did everyone else. broke a promise I made to myself about four years ago never to try and survive 'down the front' at a gig again. remembered why I made it in the first place lasted 'till the end of 'slide away' tried to get out (too old at 20) - took ages stood about half way back and smiled a lot. wached the gig and amazingly I could see everything from nick to Simon (tong) stood at the back when they finished absolutely fucked. loads of people spoke to me which was really nice, and one girl hugged me! ace! which just reinforced my opinions that you really do know where you are with verve-folk and the only women that attract my attention these days are 'verve-chicks' (no offence intended with the use of the word 'chicks') went outside, lay on the ground felt like shit, tried to walk couldn't. got back to the car, slept, drove back to Leeds, slept, slept, slept, come to work, slept. wow, gig reviews without mentioning the actual gig and in diabolical English, I should write for the NME. I would write about the gig but I don't want to think about it since work is such a comedown. well been there done that bought the t-shirt - white radio on black (as worn by Simon) |
From: Ben Rowe
| Yes....I finally seen 'em.....and what a fucking gig,
pardon my French!! I got there late, so I missed the list meets at Howard
and The Globe (but bumped into 3 of them at the end!)....there was no
support, but they worked up the atmosphere like true professionals. They
were suppposed to be on at 9.30....they didn't appear. The crowd were
chanting 'Come On'...obviously a verve chant now!.....9.45pm...the roadies
came on and soundchecked the gear for the umteenth time.....the crowd were
now definitely gagging (!) for it. 9.55pm....lights went down....small white
back projections of the verve logo spin on the back wall.......they're on
their way...10pm.....Jonsey comes on first shouting 'come on', by which time
the crowd are hysteric!! Then Tong, Pete and Nick come on followed by RA
himself.....what a moment.......despite cheering, I had to reflect on the
sheer size of the moment....their first comeback gig...my first Verve
gig....THE music....the ONLY music...and then in kicked A New Decade
followed by This Is Music and a few others and then he announced Sonnet as a
song we hadn't heard, but will do! A few of the numbers had four guitars
(including sonnet) which only amplied the verve sound. BSS was the first
encore song and they finished on Come On. No Gravity Grave, She's A Superstar, So Sister. History was brilliant as it was the first live performance of it ever. BSS was a little sticky and the strings (via the keyboards) needed to be a lot louder. But if you see them in the future, no doubt this will be a real corker. It was a out of this world experience, but I'm sure previous Verve giggers might have found it a tad under par in places. A little rusty and nervous, possibly, but they tore the place apart. I'm off to the Wolverhampton gig on Wednesday which I imagine is bigger than the Leadmill. This isn't the best review, and I'm sure that others who are doing more of the dates will fill you in with the proper details, but for those of you who weren't there, you missed out on a piece of history, a RA himself kept shouting!! I'll mail another review-ette on Thursday and then I'll be signing off for a while, until my new email account in Leeds finally opens. So until then......Verve on and enjoy the gigs and the reviews!! Best Moment: The whole lot Best Song: Rolling People/A New Decade MVP: Pete....my favorite member as no-one else seems to talk about him and I wish I could play drums like him! (not that I play 'em anyway.....maybe one day!). He's the backbone of the band!! |
From: Jason Drewett
| apologies for not getting this up before but I've only
just got back. four days, very little sleep and fuckin' top music. sheffield
was the best gig I have ever been to. not afraid to admit I was in tears.
the whole day had a brilliant vibe to it. respect goes to all who sat
outside in the blazing sun for the afternoon queueing for the 150 tickets on
the door (top marks to the group who turned up at 9:00am...that is
dedication). the atmosphere in the queue was a real group spirit, taking
turns nipping to the pub and all that. the atmosphere in the gig itself was
electric. when the band came the cheer was incredible. Simon Jones was right
up on it shouting "come on" at the crowd like he was gonna take 'em all on
in a fight. then it gets hazy, just a wash of music, color and emotion.
(apologies if this is losing the track a bit, need some sleep). set list from sheffield (and manc) was as follows... ---setlist edited--- the whole set lasted 1 hour 25 minutes, but seemed to stretch on for ever. they played exactly the same set at manchester, except for the encore where they only played BSS and history. talked to a guy at manc who had been in glasgow night before and as far as I can figure it was the same set there, again finishing on history (bonus sheffield track!) not so much a review, more just a bit of info. I'll try to put something better together in the next couple of days. |
From: Taylor JM
| apologies haven't had chance to lob my two penneth across
the pond for those gagging to hear more about gigs... work etc etc well reviews have more or less conveyed the atmosphere pretty accurately for me.... hi to howard/globe people... place did go fucking mental... I too only stuck it down front till end of slide......too much effort standing up (and I am 6'3 or something), so timed it pretty well I reckon for retreat, but couldn't keep away.....I noticed before at v gigs, people don't seem to move with the groove as much as I expect 'em too?? anyway....kinda of partially agreed with the suggestion that they maybe weren't quite at peak playing wise, but Richard voice was amazing, nick was tremendous, and I am *really* looking forward to Thursday's gig, its kinda weird, but knowing just how the experience again of seing them, is, just over 2 years since the last one, well, I'm lost for words really. it was special - any minor musical flaws, were barely noticable, and really to be honest didn't bother me....the atmosphere .....well what can you say.... the energy of the band and Richard carried it all through, and up. highlights were numerous, I thought stormy clouds was utterly brilliant - don't think that got mentioned too much previously.....as has been said, people do tend to dislike latter stage of ANS a little more, and I guess without being concious of it, I *was* maybe the same. The big thing about sheffield to me is how it has snatched up to a peak how I feel about ANS. I initally didn't like it as much as ASIH, just didn't get it 100 per cent, loved it dearly, but it never *really* settled. NOW it has. hearing the stuff live, when I know it really well, well its my current favorite album again. it really has hit home more than it ever did. I think there isn't ANS song I haven't been singing round home or work since Saturday. I thought the t-shirts were, well mixed. a few really really dull ones, but what I got I really like - I got it black v neck t shirt, it also came in round neck, both styles in black and white, and has on it a grainy picture of the roland space echo effects box, with "the creative answer the verve" in pretty small writing on the top of the middle of the box..... well I think its rather nice - I won't try and describe what the space echo does, its name does kind of give it away - I'm sure there are those more qualified to give a technical explanation....but I'll try if anybody asks, or better still my flatmate has used one I think, so can quote a description if reqired. yeah and who are this oasis band that every body keeps mentioning??? |
From: David
| Just thought I'd let you know that I saw the gig on
Saturday, and it was fantastic.. the Verve are better than ever. A friend of
mine was working for the venue moving gear in and out, and apparently the
band were shitting themselves t the prospect of playing live again. When
they came on though, the atmosphere was amazing. Richard was more manic than
ever, working himself and the crowd up. Off mic, he was shouting at the
crowd over and over, "I'm the man.. tell me I'm the man". Even though the PA
was ear-splittingly loud, the first song (A New Decade) was almost drowned
out by cheering. It was pretty hysterical. Of the new material, they played the two singles as well as Sonnet and two others I didn't catch the name of. The played stuff right back to Man Called Sun too. The highpoint for me was Stormy Clouds which segued into Reprise. I don't know if they've played this live before, but it sounded phenomenal - with Richard swaying in rock-star crucifixion pose, eyes closed. Then they went off leaving the guitars giving off mindbending feedback for a few minutes only to return for really rocking versions of Bittersweet Symphony and History, ending on an epic new track (the last song on the new album I suspect). It's a shame that's probably the last time I'll get to see them in such an intimate venue (surely they're heading for superstardom now? In Europe, at least), but it definitely felt like being in the right place at the right time - a stunning show. Anyone with tickets to see The Verve soon: Be excited. |
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