From: Craig
| The Atlanta show was great. The crowd seemed
well-informed -- they were digging "A Man called Sun" as well as "Bitter
Sweet Symphony." The guitar player had some technical problems early on and
he seemed a bit down about it all throughout the show (although that may be
his usual stage demeanor) The key board player/second guitarist was really
cool. Sometimes he just sat down and banged two tambourines together. It was amazing to watch Richard Ashcroft pick up an acoustic guitar and play the ballads right after moving about the stage with such high energy. He seemed to avoid some high notes -- probably saving his voice for NY and LA, but there was passion in all the songs. "Rolling People" was incredible -- great light show. The show ender was "Come On" and was fantastic. These are my opinions about the performance. Other's may have received different vibes. And I'm sure other people will post the set list. |
From: Laura
| the weather had been intense all day, lightning at times,
threatening, and then sunny gorgeous.....a storm in Atlanta,
folks....perfect for the verve's first US tour date in two years....nature
was talking to us.... Devin came by my place before the show.......he gave me my trp shirt and we talked about verve for a long time, about what it meant to us, etc. we headed downtown towards buckhead around 3, listening to Hultsfred 94, it was the coolest thing because it started pouring and the highway was misty but then the sun came out and we were listening to the sun, the sea.....yesterday was just one huge metaphor...... as we were driving towards buckhead, we saw this giant bus and we followed it and when it stopped, I got out and pounded on the door.... the driver told me that verve was in the Roxy doing a soundcheck...so we went inside. oh my god, I heard a northern soul and I got to my knees and listened to it.....some security guard said are you with the verve and I said yes, she told me that I wasn't and asked me to leave at that moment christopher, who is the band's photographer, he did the black and white photo on UH came out and I walked right up to him and started talking to him, so she couldn't toss me...I told him that verve had been my life for the last little while, he told me that I needed to get out more often... Devin had brought a bag with 10 trp shirts for the band and we gave it to them with a card that had two joints in it too Chris thought it was cool and he promised he would give it to the band... we met up with Cole, Gavin, and misty at the Hampton inn.....it was so cool to meet some devoted fans like them....people willing to go across the country to see the verve......you guys rock...... we smoked, drank, walked around Atlanta for a little while and douglas met up with us too before the show.... we took the hotel shuttle over to the roxy, these guys were in the shuttle and we told them that we were going to see verve, they said, oh, I've heard of the verve pipe...we started messing with them, saying, oh yeah, verve pipe is just so much better, we are all going to be at that show too....HA! the Atlanta show was made mostly of verve fans, very few BSS-heads, so to speak....the doors opened at 7 and there were probably 50 people inside waiting..... I hung around near were all of the band people were going in and out, I guess I was making a nuisance of myself, but it paid off folks....Cole made this really cool glass hand that he brought to give to the band and he wanted to give it to them, but security was being a bitch....so I waited and waited, I saw Kate Radley leaving and I stopped her and I said, you're Kate Radley aren't you? my friend needs a little help, he made this gift for the band...so Cole explained his situation and she took the statue....she said that we could speak to the band afterward, she said ok, Cole and Laura, Cole and Laura..... I still hung around though, talked with Pete, their producer/stage manager or something....I begged him to give me a copy of the setlist, he said just to be at the front after the show and he would do that, he was a man of his words my friends..... I was up very close to the front and eventually got to the very front.... oh yeah, I met enoc, eric wagner, and some other listees too, very cool people, sorry I didn't get to talk with you more, I was kinda flipping out... here is the set list A NEW DECADE SLIDE AWAY THIS IS MUSIC LIFE'S AN OCEAN ON YOUR OWN THE DRUGS DON'T WORK A NORTHERN SOUL MAN CALLED SUN SONNET ROLLING PEOPLE STORMY CLOUDS --------- BSS HISTORY LUCKY MAN COME ON it was like the a northern soul tour....I admit, I had been neglecting ANS for a little while, but I can't even begin to describe how the show was for me, my first time ever seeing the verve live, I remembered all of those songs, all of the people, places, and events I associated with those songs....to hear slide away, ahhhhh, shivers, I was so happy to hear something from ASIH....I was crying during on your own because that is where it all began for me, I remembered how that was my first verve song I ever heard, how the band has been my mouthpiece for my soul, expressing things in ways that I can't express myself in, how much the music has meant to me.... i was yelling at nick Mc Cabe, I started the nick Mc Cabe appreciation cheers, he was happy for that, I think....that he really meant a lot to us and that he came back to make the verve happen again... oh yeah, that was me, floating in the air at times courtesy of douglas, so if I was ever blocking your view at times, sorry.... a northern soul was very intense....great....I admit I am a sonnet basher, but it is so different live, it is not as cheesy sounding live as it is on UH.....they kind of did the stormy clouds reprise after stormy clouds..... one of the things I noticed was that Richard Ashcroft didn't interact with the crowd that much....essentially, the set list was the same as hammersmith except for sonnet and lucky man and lucky man was added I am sure because of the single's release..... i can't even begin to describe how great the show was.....very intense, the crowd for the most part were verve fans, so it was a good atmosphere.... we had hoped that they would have kept playing but we were pretty much pushed out after the show....Pete the manager guy was true to his word, he put the set list directly in my hand over everybody else who was grabbing for it....it was nick's.... I went around to the back in hopes of talking to the band....I was threatened to be arrested if I didn't move to the other side, I told her "one way to go".....she said, yeah, that will be the way you are going to go...she didn't get it, obviously.... there were autographe seekers waiting around for awhile, but eventually they left....a few of us diehards stayed around. I was there for 2 hours in the cold and rain. I got my set list autographed, but I didn't really get to talk to the band. the band minus Richard came off the bus and went into the Roxy, nick acknowledged me as the crazy who was like Nick Mc Cabe is the verve, I shook his hand.... thes kids from South Carolina stole nick's bag with his clothes in it, so nick will be pretty pissed I think for the rest of the trip.... all in all, my life has been changed forever. thanks to the band for putting out real music, for all of the people that came to Atlanta, for all of the people who waited in hopes of talking with the band. you all made it a very special day for me..... |
From: Captnswing@aol.com
| They played an amazing show. The slideshow before the concert was great. A lot of old photo sessions and random messages. No opening band though. They were giving free stickers if you bought a shirt(20 bucks). Richard came out before the show to escort his girlfriend to the VIP booth. he was wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt. The band was on the best, but the sound guy was awful. The show still turned out great, but someone should be fired for that. The band seemed excited, both Rich and Simon booth rasied their hands in celebration several times. For those of you who can't catch this tour, I talked with Simon after the show and he said they'd be back early next year for a 30 date North American tour (that include a few dates in Canada) All in all a great show. Richard had fried his voice by the end as he was giving it his all. You are all in for a amazing show! |
From: Jacob Hunter
| Well I saw my first Verve show after waiting two years. IT WAS Great. Richard stalked the stage at times, and seemed to be off in his own world other times. The band played together wonderfully and the crowd was really into the band. I was so pumped and was finally happy to see a band that I consider to be the best in recent years. It seems they are sticking to the same set list at all their shows. anybody know why? well anybody that can see them go it was great. By the way they sold out the venue, hopefully they will be around for a long time. |
From: Devin
| I'll leave most discussion about Atlanta to the others,
but there are a few things I'd like to share from my journey... I've never experienced a vibe like the one in Atlanta this weekend. It really was something the likes of which I've never seen, in a few ways even. First, it was great meeting and talking to a bunch of truly good folks, you know who you are. I'm very glad to have had the chance to hang with all you before, during, and after the show. I was so floored to actually find myself suddenly right smack in the midst of it all. The show itself was a really unique happening as well. This is the first time I have ever personally witnessed rock and roll music bring people to tears (not just a few mind you). If you were there you'll know why. I can fully understand why they're only doing 12 shows at a stretch right now. I don't see how you could reproduce that type of intensity on a continual basis for any extended period. Even though the set list is the same for now, the music is unreal. Let me just say that the climax of "Lucky Man" was one of the greatest concert moments ever for me, simply amazing. Anyone else have that track on repeat today? One more thing I've never personally seen at a gig before: show ends, lights come on, PA music starts up, and no one's going anywhere. Everyone just stood there, not able to accept that the show was over, somehow thinking there just had to be more. Once security prodded everyone out, without saying a thing at least 100-200 people made their way to the back of the Roxy by the band's bus, simply unwilling to depart without one final encore to the band, who finally came out and deservingly ate up the zealous applause. As the faithful cheered, the Verve raised their arms in victory as they strutted towards the bus, having successfully flattened Atlanta and having taken absolutely no prisoners along the way. Most were satisfied at that point, though a few did stick around for autographs and whatnot. What a night, the events speak loudly without saying a thing. A personal highlight: Laura found someone (Brandon, ultra dude with wicked Verve vinyl collection being autographed) with a Rolling People tee that was autographed by Richard Ashcroft - #4 blue ringer for those keeping track. As Laura mentioned, we gave the first 10 shirts to a photo guy Sat afternoon, and someone with the entourage gave it to Brandon before or after the show. Lucky fan indeed. Anyone who can should try to check out at least one show on this tour, that goes without saying. |
From: Cole
| well, I'm back to my redundantly mundane day job, and all
I can think about is the vibe that continues to run thru my brain. this
weekend, and Saturday night was all about great things: great people road
trippin' fer a great cause, in a great city, at a great venue, with the sole
purpose of creating a great vibe with a GREAT! fucking band. the odd weather
was poetic, and only helped to elevate the greatness to a higher level.
amidst the stormy clouds and grey skies, laughter was plenty, and all smiles
free (but you could get a real big smile with stickers). that *look* was
around,.... you know, the "I know why your here, and I'm here fer the same
glorious event"-look. we even had "a storm in heaven" on the plane ride from
SF to atlanta! gavin and I peered out the windows to see a blanket of cloud
lit up by randoms flics of nature's big-ass bic. and it was glorious; a
light show to precede the one at the Roxy. it's wonderful to know that there are people who are willing to do things that most peeps(those who can't understand passion and zest for doin what you believe in, no matter what the costs) would consider wasteful.....what I consider wasteful is spending all your time and hard earned money, not using it to truly follow your OWN heart. there were people who came from different cities, and all walks of life to witness a *moment* in time where history was made. karma, smiles and the occasional tears were flowin' heavy. it was very inspiring, and I'm sure the verve felt it. they played the longest set I've ever heard them play, and they were stoked the whole way thru(except nick, when his stuff was buggin' early on). it was very communal, as I met lots of peeps that had that common love for art. I was reading a great (there's that werd again:) book called "einstien's dreams" by alan lightman, on the plane, and it truly spoke the words of verve....it's all about livin'.....L-I-V-I-N!!!! (laugh now, devin ;) and that passion for life; whatever "life" means to you, was the binding groove that brought most of the crowd to the Roxy. it was pure beauty; to be there as the lights came on and NO ONE left....to see Peter's face scrunch up as he was about to burst with happiness (more or less) while he pounded out the jams....to see si's fist and opened mouth screaming loud and pround as he saw the power he and his mates had over our souls at that *moment*.....having people I've never met before give me things they knew I would cherish, and knowing that I was doing my part to make that happen for others, too.....Richard screaming without a mic, standing, arms up high, on Peter's drum monitor during "come on". all in all, perhaps the greatest bout of "livin" I've done in a weekend. i know that was long, but it's the condensed verve-sion of everything I was thinking (that the mushrooms didn't erase) about my experience of the first live gig in America from a band that called it quits a long 27 months ago. a big highlighted chapter in my book of stories, indeed. one bummer; the kids who stole nick's stuff. however nice they were, that shit just wasn't right. and I wish that i got to say goodbye to douglas (hope you made it home safe bro), and also,i didn't meet up with captnswing and Ryan Collins (who I hear is a wild one; if you and your friends and me and my friends got together.....chaos theory would have to take human form;) lastly, there were a few peeps that I know of that should have been there: john ricci, ajay sharma, and the ever wondrous gina.....that vibe was meant for you. |
From: Gavin
| As Cole mentioned in his review the vibes were with us in
the flight over from San Francisco- there was a storm in heaven that night
as we flew above the electrical storm on the way to Atlanta. The Roxy was
the perfect size place to see Verve -they said it held 1300 but it looked a
lot more like 900-1000 capacity. The Roxy is an old art-deco movie theatre
that has been converted to a live music venue in Atlanta's Buckhead
district-very cool. We milled around the hotel talking to Verve fans before the show- it was especially cool for me to finally meet Devin W. from Ohio who I have been friends with via telephone for almost two years now...... after spending time with the Verve fans I went to an early dinner at a Barbeque place across from the Roxy, I finished eating and went out to have a smoke- there were some roadies for the band eating there and I struck up a conversation with the soundman- I asked him how everything was going-- he told me that Verve would be back to the states in the spring for another headlining tour... As I was finishing my conversation with him I saw the band getting off the bus , I cut across the parking lot and I guess nobody saw them so I walked up alone to Pete, Nick Mc Cabe, and the two Simons'- I just said right on- they turned and said hello- I told them I flew out from San Fran to see the opening night and Simon Jones said "thanks a lot man" and shook my hand -Nick nodded his head and smiled- what gents- very cool indeed. The show was amazing!!! The set list was the same as the summer shows with the addition of lucky man....it was easily the best performance of the 3 times I have seen them play live....The pre-show was great with 2 screens showing slides of the Band and various other images, the DJ was great- he played a great set of Funkadelic, T.Never Knows, and 2 CAN SONGS!!! The Verve have a full blown production crew this time with their own sound and lighting crew- the lights were fantastic!! The show was amazing everyone was just screaming when they came on, Richard did many of his "come on's!!!" Best song of the night was Rolling People, for me..... We heard that Richard had a touch of flu, but you could not tell....... |
From: Enoc
| The Atlanta gig was simply unforgetable. I should
probably leave it at that, but I know there might be a few interested people
out there, so here goes. At first, I was not sure about the vibe, but when I ran into Laura and Devin and their friends, I really sensed a major vervelove vibe. That, in itself, was very invigorating and made me that much more pumped for the concert. After standing up front for a while before the show, I decided to sit on the front row of the balcony, in the middle, so that Richard and I would be facing each other dead center. I had this idea that the music would be perfectly "surround" and that I would exchange my triumpant vibe with Richard at least a few times in the show. I remember one moment in particular when he looked up and saw me standing there, everyone else sitting down. I wished the others would stand up, but to no avail. I eventually sat down after the first four songs, since I was apparently not going to get people to see it my way. Highlights were definitely lucky man, stormy clouds / reprise, and come on. All the rest were brilliant, but I am pissed that the sound guy really prevented the show from being perfect. He should be fired. Simon's bass guitar just did not have the depth and presense it should have had, especially on A Man Called Sun. I stayed after the concert and managed to shake hands with Pete, Nick, and Simon Jones. Everything was worth it. And I have to say that Atlanta is very beautiful when it is not raining. I wish it could have lasted longer. Strange thing, I find myself listening to ASIH more now that I have seen them live for the first time in 4 years (2nd time overall). |
From: Joanna
| most of it has already been said, but I'll contribute
mine: after a bizarre day of meeting fans in little five points and seeing flyposters for the show all over town, chaunacey, colin and I got there at about 9pm...I wish we had gotten there earlier to get in the front, but thanks to douglas ('you're from texas? where? what does vmg.co.uk mean to you?' :P) I ended up there eventually...the whole experience was a bit overwhelming, since I'd been waiting four years to see them, so when we finally got inside the roxy I had to stave off tears of happiness...it was truly great to finally hear and see them live, although I handily agree, the roxy sound man should be SHOT. best songs imo were rolling people, life's an ocean, and come on...potboilers all. I couldn't help but be a bit disappointed with the loud crowd response to ddw and sonnet and the almost complete lack of ASIH songs (the ones that got me into verve), and the inclusion of 'lucky man' made it really evident that this is a 'business' tour. but it was still worth the plane ticket. :) afterwards by the tour bus it was great to spread more vervelove (we met some guys who *drove* from dallas at wax'n'facts in little five points and they hung around longer than we did), Laura, douglas, cole, etc. and Simon waved at me like the cute little awestruck kid he is. :) I would have liked to have been really off my rocker psychedelically speaking for this gig, but that's what the tour early next year is for! (and an aside - if you go to a gig and can't remember any of it because of how fucked up your are, maybe you should reevaluate your priorities. :) ) and a word of advice to those seeing them on the rest of this tour - especially if you've never seen them live, get there early and get to the front, it's a much more enjoyable experience than being squashed a few rows back. and I say this even though when I got up there I had my eyes closed most of the time anyway! :) anyway, vervelove and all that |
From: Danny
| I arrived at the venue (The Roxy) about 1 1/2 hours
before the show and the doors were already opened! They had slide shows of
Verve images, live shots, lyrics, etc, running continuously until the show
started....the audience was being immersed in their world and anticipation
was thick, this being the 1st US date since 1995!! I was about 3 people back
from the barrier during the wait...center and a little to the left....NO
OPENING BAND!! The equipment seemed to be meticulously set for an amazing
show....about that time Richard walks across the back of the stage to speak
to a tech and is immediately greeted with shreiks and claps.....as he walks
off stage he has his arm around a dark haired girl...Kate Radley of
Spiritualized if I'm not mistaken!! I hear they are an item ..... Within about 15 minutes ... the lights go out and the screen behind the stage is illuminated by a beautiful green light, which allows only sillouettes of the band to be seen as they walk on (cool effect!)...Richard approaches the mike and says "This is A New Decade"...and they sound great!! The press was so fierce that I was forced into the 2nd row of people and had a great view throughout!! After they did Slide Away, they launched into a set comprised of almost every track on A Northern Soul , about 1/2 the new record, and A Man Called Sun...the early stuff was lacking, sadly, but they were spine tingling!!! The ballads were beautiful (Sonnet, TDDW, On Your Own) and the rockers were very strong...I was in Heaven despite being crushd, sweating profusely, and trying to stay out of the elbow space of some crazies!! I noticed throughout, but esp during the 3song encore, that the gig (or segments of it) were being professionally filmed!!! And I will surely be clearly visible front and center during the footage filmed from behind the drumkit!! Would you be shocked to see me in a Verve film!! I'd be thrilled!!!!!! So keep an eye out for any live clips shown there in the next months!! I almost got the setlist but a silly girl ripped it from me hands...the bitch!...and then would not even let me see it...her response? "I'm selfish!!" Oh well....Got a great shirt ,too (forest green with orange logo)....a great show!!! |
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