From: Mary - maryj@global2000.net
| Finally, finally ... I was Verved in Boston! I'm still
reeling from the experience. To be honest, I'd thought you were all
exaggerating the band's effect just a teeny bit, but NO, you were right on
with the power of the live performance. Woooooooooooooooo. And as if the show weren't enough, it was much fun meeting all the fine list people: Ken, Anne and Jen, who were excellent representatives of the Boston area :-); the madman-in-the-best-sense Devin, whose enthusiasm was more than contagious. May he continue to spread his coolness on future road trips, Verve-related or otherwise; the very fine Ruth and her friends (cousins? I'm sorry, I didn't get to meet them properly). No shortage of enthusiasm from Ruth, either -- go, girl!; Alexis, whom I only met briefly and who was the only one (I think) lucky enough to be blessed by Richard's touch from the stage. Talk about a lucky man!; and Melon and her friends Elizabeth and (I think) Alissa, who were three of the best people you could stand behind at a show --- they were into it, but didn't flail around so much that a shorty like me couldn't see. Wish you all the best -- as well as any other list members I didn't meet up with (Peter Harmon, what happened to you? And jdk?) Yes, yes, I agree with all that the show was far too short, but I was so happy to be in the same room -- finally -- with the band that Richard could have read from the Wigan phone book while the band jammed behind him and I would've been content. And I thought this was a cool quote from Richard (though I'm paraphrasing a bit): "We've just come from New York, where I lost a bit of my soul as well as my voice." Hmmm, cryptic. Another thought: If Richard's going to take his shoes off at these shows, he might want to think about some slip-ons. It was most amusing watching him groove around trying to get that stubborn shoelace undone. Oh, and Simon Jones has got to be one of the coolest dudes on the planet. OK, I'm done now. |
From: Andrew Owen
| Setlist: ROLLING PEOPLE CATCHING THE BUTTERFLY THIS IS MUSIC BSS WEEPING WILLOW TDDW SLIDE AWAY (!!!) SONNET LIFE'S AN OCEAN STORMY CLOUDS/REPRISE -------- ON YOUR OWN (ACOUSTIC, JUST RICHARD) LUCKY MAN HISTORY COME ON Fucking fantastic show! Only notable omissions were New Decade and Man Called Sun. On Your Own was just amazing, so powerful with only Richard. I thought it was the end of the world during Come On; the whole crowd was just in a frenzy. Nick was brilliant throughout, especially on the jams. The only weak point was BSS (the strings sound so fake from the synthesizer). Otherwise, absolutely amazing. |
From: Ken Richie
| 'Twas very nice to meet a few of the list members at
Jillians before the show (you know who you are!!). Sorry if I lost you
during the gig -- I had to get as close to Nick as possible, tho my ears
have paid for it dearly. Hear's a few notes about the gig: * The reefer thang: according to a few people I talked with after the show (names aren't need here!), attempts were made to hand/throw reefer onto the stage, but security did not not let it happen. * Gravity Grave Tease: Before "Come On", Simon Jones played a few notes of the Gravity Grave bass line. Of course everyone went nuts screaming for it, but Come On was played nevertheless (which ISN'T a bad thing!). * set-list: very very happy to hear Slide Away. Richard actually introduced the song as "Here's one from A Storm In Heaven". I found that interesting since, according to the last few shows' set-lists, it seems he had forgot the album even existed! ;) * Own your Own: have always *liked* the song, but it never really hit me as it did last night -- just Richard with his geeetar, solo. He started off apologizing about his voice (sounded FINE to me, Rich!). It was just a great treatment of the song... it really rang true ... a very loud ovation from the crowd after this one!! * COME ON!! : Richard went bonkers once again. Come on motherfuckers, COME ON!! Nick was last to leave the stage. After his last note, he mocked at throwing his guitar into the crowd and smiled (yes! SMILED!!), and then walked off holding two Heinekens above his head. * The sound: I had thought it was incredibly loud ... almost unbearingly loud at times (I'd never thought I'd say that!) Devin had mentioned to me after the show that it was indeed the loudest of the shows he'd seen this week (both NYC, and Atlanta), but he also mentioned the sound last night wasn't as good overall. We still had a blast, tho! * Devin: He is the man! Driving all over the place, still with Chicago and Detroit to go! Just left my place at 8:30 Sun Morning. A truly cool guy. ...As was everybody else I met last night! I mean, How can you love Verve, and NOT be a genuinely good person? |
From: Melon
| hey all! ...still recovering from saturday night, amazing
amazing show. ...front row center, leading the slide away cheers.... i was so thrilled they played slide away, i didn't even notice they left out man called sun until afterwards...that was a bit disappointing... maybe my hearing is already shot from years of concert-going, but i didn't find the show loud at all - not nearly as loud as i expected...my friends disagreed with me though... come on was incredible... it was nice to meet some people...alexis, ken & fam (sorry i didn't really get chat with you!) and let me just agree that devin is a great guy, absolutely hysterical...i hope you all have the pleasure of meeting him. i thought the sound went downhill after sonnet & was particularly not good for life's an ocean and lucky man (dedicated to kate, of course) and history... i also noticed richard mixed up a bit o' history...it was still incredible... on your own was awesome, it made me cry...also it was not actually listed on the set list... although there were a few songs i wish they had played (well, many songs actually, but a few that i expected, i.e. a new decade, man called sun) and i think the sound could have been better, it was still an amazing show...the boys put on a great performance...simon jones was so into it, it was great...and nick even smiled several times! the crowd was also very cool...i don't know if it was boston (usu. i see shows in dc) or that it was 18+ or that vervies are just really damn cool (well, of course this is true!), but everyone was so into it and insane without being invasive upon others...i really appreciated that... |
From: zaheed
| What an amazing show. I didn't meet up with anyone from the group but i kinda wish a had. the people I went with are not real big fans. Anyway I thought this is music, life's an ocean, and on your own were unbelievable. Too bad they didn't play A new decade and I was so glad they played slide away. It was extremely loud though I still don't have full hearing in my right ear but that's the only way to go. Even though I was practically in the front the people around me were not as into it as I thought they would. Richard was really trying to getting everyone going. I went to the Radiohead show in ottawa ontario and people were going crazy. I also wished they had played longer (like everyone that went to the show). |
From: Ruth
| It began by meeting fellow verveheads: Ken and his lovely
wife, Mary and the travellin' man himself - Devin. Had some drinks at
Jillian's for a while, then headed to Avalon to wait for the band. The DJ
wasn't too bad and the slide show was pretty cool. At one point, a video
camera was focused on me while I was just dancin' with myself - if I end up
on their video (but probably not), I'll just die. So, I'm having myself a
wonderful time - drank about 7 glasses of wine and Devin was kind enough to
share his stash with me (thanks dude!) - I was off in my own space. The band came on around 8:15pm, with Richard leading the way wearing a big down jacket. The thing was bigger 'an him! This man is just too twiggy. The stage was very starkly lit and very smokey - a very ethereal set up. Perfect for the music. I knew that when they started their set off with the Rolling People that it was not going to be a similar set than their other shows. Here is the rundown of what they played. The order is all messed up 'cause I didn't pay attention, except for Rolling people which was first, Lucky Man was the first song of the encore, and Come On was the closer. Rolling People Catching The Butterfly Life's An Ocean Bittersweet Symphony (this was not in the encore, played instead very early in the set) Sonnet Weeping Willow This Is Music Slide Away (I was so psyched for this!) Drugs Don't Work On Your Own History Stormy Clouds/Reprise (RA said something here, can't remember what, something like Nick is going to play the reprise - then the rest of the band left the stage) Lucky Man ("This one is for Kate." RA - played solo acoustically) Come On Richard also said something about having shot his voice in New York which, for some reason, I thought to myself "just shut up and play some music." He kept asking us to send up some pot if anyone had any. Security wouldn't let Devin give RA his stash. He also said something like us seeing the best band in the world that night. If anyone remembers what he did say, let me know. RA also seemed to play a lot of guitar during the set. I was a bit surprised and upset by the omission of A New Decade and A Northern Soul. I was really looking forward to those. My biggest complaint of the show is that it went by too damn fast. It was like they came on stage and just as soon they came off. It was around 9:30 when the show ended. I was devastated when I heard Come On, I didn't want the show to end. I was ready to cry. So many people said it was over too quick. It seemed that the band was just whizzing through the songs. Maybe it was because there was not much talk from RA. Maybe it was because of my state of mind. But, I don't think so. My friend and sister were sober, and they said it was over too fast. Oh, well. There's nowt I can do about it. I still loved the show. Somebody shoot the sound guy! The sound was muffled and stuffy at Avalon, too. I know it's not the venue 'cause I've seen numerous shows there and the sound was much better. My thought on this is that, like RA has said before, the Verve's sound is just too big for small venues. If the Ministry of Defense (is that right?) allows them to stage those big outdoor shows next year, they will be massive! I'd love to go see them if they do accomplish this. I just requested my favorite station to play Blue. It sounds so good coming over the radio. Made my day. Now they're playing Karma Police. Life is good. So, that was my first live Verve experience. I don't know if I can say it was the best ever, but they were great and I had a wonderful time. Can't wait to see them again. |
From: Brian Mahnken
| I witnessed "History" in the making in Boston's Avalon
ballroom. The Verve were intense and inspirational. This was my first Verve
show ever and I was not disappointing. Myself along with two friends, one of
whom was a Verve fan and the other was not. We got there early eager to see
madman Richard and his band electrify Boston. Much to our dismay had to wait
a long time for the show to begin. As my friend Andy said, "When they come
on, you won't even remember waiting!" This was no lie because now it could
have been a three hour wait I would not care! "We are Rolling People!" These were the immortal words out of Richard's mouth to start the show. The band broke into this soul rockin' tune. From there I was blown away with the energy and amount of vibe in the crowd. I guess Richard smelled some of the green stuff up in the crowd so he called out,"...pass some of the refer up front..." The way the lights and the use of the movie screen behind Peter the drummer were utilized were brilliant. They dug into each song sounding exactly as they should with Richard's vocals perfect. Simon on bass and Nick on guitar were tight along with each drum beat hitting hard. It was cool when Richard threw an acoustic guitar over his shoulder for "Sonnet" and then by his lonesome on the "Drugs Don't Work." I was enjoying the crowd as well. I have been to some shows where a bunch of meatheads slam dancing because they feel the need to. This crowd was laid back and groovin' with the band. I was center of the crowd on the dance floor part of the club with people all around me respecting each other's space. It was so cool. I kinda lost track of the order to the set list but I do remember groovin' in the crowd while I sang every last word to each song. The list as far as I can remember has these songs on it but like I said I was so blown away, I have probably forgotten or screwed this list up: --snip-- |
Back to full gigs archive
Back to Europe Gigs
Back to North America Gigs