Feeding My Passion For Transcendence - Twenty Gigs By Low

I like Low. They're my favourite band. I've seen them play live quite a few times. On twenty* glorious, life-affirming occasions to be exact. (*update - December 2015 - it's actually twenty-one now but I haven't got round to writing about the last one yet!)

I was sorting out some old gig tickets earlier in the year when I realised that I had actually managed to keep all of the tickets from these shows. Very pleasing (and quite unusual given that so many gigs these days use e-tickets which don't result in a satisfying visual reminder you can stumble across years later).

I guess the fact that I've been able to see them so many times is essentially explained by their willingness to tour so extensively and generously. They must be one of the most hard-working bands around. The number of gigs could have been higher - I remember a few London shows over various years that took place while I was visiting my wife's family in India (including a special Christmas show at Union Chapel around 2008 I think). 

I've seen them every year since 1999 with the exception of 2009 & 2010 (I'm not sure how I struggled through those dark years). My little boy was born in 2009 but I don't think that is in any way a contributing factor. 

I thought the twenty gigs would make a good blog post. I've summarised them below in terms of how many times I've seen them at each venue. What follows later is a gig-by-gig breakdown including various things like setlists, reviews, photos and random memories. 

I really hope they never stop touring. I'd be sort of lost without them.

Low gig history:

Union Chapel, London x 4
Shepherd's Bush Empire, London x 3
Royal Festival Hall, London x 2
Barbican, London x 2
Sage, Gateshead x 2
Scala, London x 1
KOKO, London x 1
Dingwalls, London x 1
Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne x 1
Junction, Cambridge x 1
Queen's Social Club, Sheffield x 1
Brudenell Social Club, Leeds x 1

Low gig 1: Dingwalls, London - 10th November 1999

Where it all started. I remember hearing John Peel play Immune earlier that year and immediately knowing that this was something special. I moved to London in September 1999 so this gig at Dingwalls in Camden would have been one of my first in the capital (possibly only second to seeing Mogwai at the Kentish Town Forum a few weeks earlier). I can't find a setlist online but it was the Secret Name tour. I think the phrase I'm looking for here is "enough said". Heady days.

Back in those days I used to (slightly sadly) cut out and keep copies of gig reviews - here's the (rather good) NME review of this show by Neil Thomson.

Low gig 2: Union Chapel, London - 10th November 2000

My second Low gig took place exactly a year after the first (one of many weird date-related coincidences that crop up over the twenty gigs). I think this was my first gig at Union Chapel also. These were the shows where tracks from Secret Name took up a significant amount of the setlist. Sigh.

Low gig 3: Shepherd's Bush Empire, London - 22nd March 2001

I found the below setlist online. They started with John Prine! SWOON.

John Prine / Laser Beam / Dinosaur Act / Medicine Magazines / Sunflower / Two-Step / Kind Of Girl / Lust / July / Embrace / Starfire / Closer / In Metal

Encore: Lazy / Will the Night / Same
                             
Low gig 4: Union Chapel, London - 23rd November 2001

I remember feeling that this was one of the greatest gigs I'd ever been to at the time. I found the below setlist online. If I could hear them play Long Way Round The Sea again I would be so happy.

Little Argument With Myself / Dinosaur Act / Sunflower / In The Drugs / Laser Beam / John Prine / Two-Step / Shots And Ladders / Last Night I Dreamt Somebody Loved Me / In Metal / Long Way Around The Sea

Encore: Lordy / Like a Forest / Starfire / Over the Ocean 

Low gig 5: Union Chapel, London - 24th November 2001

Second gig in as many nights at the same venue. I somewhat randomly remember Alan sharing an anecdote about getting his hair cut during the day and generally being very funny. I found the below setlist online. Note the Neil Young cover to open, The Smiths cover towards the end and two Christmas songs in the encore.

Down By The River / Sunflower / In The Drugs / Canada / John Prine / Two-Step / Starfire / Little Argument With Myself / Closer / Last Night I Dreamt that Somebody Loved Me / In Metal

Encore: Dinosaur Act / One Special Gift / Blue Christmas / Lordy / Over The Ocean

Low gig 6: Shepherd's Bush Empire, London - 25th April 2002

I don't have any detail or clear memories on this one but I'm sure it was just magnificent.

Low gig 7: Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne - 6th February 2003

A show dominated by tracks from my favourite Low album (Trust), on my birthday, in my hometown. An unbelievable set of circumstances. I don't think I really appreciated at the time how unique and never-to-be-repeated this was. I went with my wife Shalini, my brother and his girlfriend. I found the below setlist online. Two-Step to finish and a rare outing for Below & Above. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.

Candy Girl / (That's How You Sing) Amazing Grace / Tonight / Time Is The Diamond / Canada / Sunflower / La La La Song / Fearless / John Prine / Below & Above / Lordy

Encore: The Last Snowstorm Of The Year / Two-Step

Low gig 8: Union Chapel, London - 14th February 2003

A Valentine's Day gig back in London eight days after seeing them in Newcastle. I took Shalini along again (such romance, no wonder she married me the following year). 

Low gig 9: Scala, London - 23rd November 2004

Another show on 23rd November (three years to the day since the Union Chapel show). Can't remember a great deal about this one except that Ella Guru supported them and I stood downstairs.

Low gig 10: Royal Festival Hall, London - 18th February 2005

I remember being amazed how Low were now suddenly playing venues of this size. They still felt like my band though. I took Shalini along to her third Low show. I think this was the last show I saw with Zak Sally on bass (before he left to be replaced by Matt Livingston, then current bass player Steve Garrington).

Low gig 11: KOKO, London - 26th July 2006

Things We Lost In The Fire was played in full as part of the ATP Don't Look Back series. I took Shalini again (gig number four for her) and we stood on the highest level inside KOKO against the barrier looking down on the stage.

The concept seems to be dying out but I would love to see them do another full album show someday (Trust or Secret Name please, if at all possible). It would be great to hear them play the likes of Whitetail, Medicine Magazines and Closer live again also.

Low gig 12: Shepherd's Bush Empire, London - 8th May 2007

After standing for the two earlier SBE gigs I progressed up to level one seats for this show. I think I gave Shalini the night off on this occasion. A Drums And Guns heavy set I seem to remember with In Silence being particularly powerful.

Low gig 13: Sage, Gateshead - 18th April 2008

When this show was announced I realised that by a stroke of luck it was on the night before my sister's wedding back in the north east. Tickets were duly purchased. I took my Dad along! He enjoyed it (and said he thought they sounded like Fleetwood Mac).

Low gig 14: Barbican, London - 3rd June 2011

After not seeing them for a full three years I can barely imagine the levels of excitement I was experiencing ahead of this show. I had recently started writing for musicOMH and reviewed the gig here. 

I also got a copy of the setlist from the press desk. A real 'greatest hits' set. 

Low gig 15: Royal Festival Hall, London - 3rd April 2012

I remember feeling particularly swept away after this show. So much so that I bought Trust and Secret Name on sumptuous double gatefold vinyl afterwards. The setlist is below. If pushed, I'd probably choose this as my favourite Low gig. They played Hand So Small!

Nothing But Heart / Try to Sleep / Nightingale / Hand So Small / Witches / Especially Me / Sunflower / Little Argument With Myself / Waiting / Everybody's Song / In The Drugs / Silver Rider / Words / Pissing / Murderer / From Your Place On Sunset

Encore: Shame / Dinosaur Act / $20

Click here to watch a video of the gig made by Peter Liversidge and here for some photos courtesy of TLOBF.

Low gig 16: Sage, Gateshead - 26th April 2013

Back up north to see them at the Sage again. Shalini came along again (gig 5 for her) and we sat in the second row from the front. I bought Drums & Guns and C'Mon on vinyl afterwards. The setlist is below. Note the rare appearance of Secret Name track Soon towards the end.

Plastic Cup / On My Own / Holy Ghost / Clarence White / Monkey / Waiting / Just Make It Stop / Witches / Especially Me / To Our Knees / Mother / Pissing / Words / Canada / Soon / Last Snowstorm Of The Year 

Encore: In Metal / Dinosaur Act / I Hear...Goodnight

Low gig 17: Barbican, London - 30th April 2013

Back to London four days later to see them at the Barbican. I wrote some more words for musicOMH here. The last two lines are two I'm fairly happy with:

Time stands still while emotional thresholds are quietly and gracefully demolished. It's an intoxicating, hypnotic event that never diminishes in power regardless of how many times it is experienced.

WOAH.

The setlist is below. It was great to hear So Blue and Four Score for the first time (these didn't feature in Gateshead).

Plastic Cup / On My Own / Holy Ghost / Clarence White / Monkey / Amethyst / To Our Knees / Just Make It Stop / Last Breath / Four Score / Especially Me / Mother / Pissing / Words / Canada / Soon / So Blue 

Encore: Over the Ocean / In Metal / When I Go Deaf / I Hear...Goodnight

Click here for some more photos courtesy of TLOBF.

Low gig 18: Junction, Cambridge - 14th November 2013

The first standing gig since the 2006 KOKO show (somewhat surprisingly) and my first gig in Cambridge. A fairly tight set of timings both before and after gig (leaving work to rush back home for my son's first parent's evening at school before jumping on a train north). The setlist is below. Some surprises in the form of Majesty/Magic and Dragonfly while they played their cover of Stay by Rihanna in the encore (wow - just listening to this as I type and Mimi's voice just blows me away each time I hear it) . It's always incredible to hear Last Snowstorm Of The Year (slower, gentler and more stripped back tonight) and Murderer. I'm pleased I got to see them finish with I Hear... Goodnight before dashing off to catch the last train back to London.

Words / Majesty/Magic / Canada / Plastic Cup / On My Own / Holy Ghost / Monkey / Waiting / Just Make It Stop / Nothing But Heart / Dragonfly / Pissing / Last Snowstorm Of The Year / Murderer / Especially Me

Encore: Stay / When I Go Deaf / I Hear... Goodnight

Low gig 19: Queen's Social Club, Sheffield - 16th November 2013

This gig will always be remembered as the one where I met Alan at the merchandise desk and had a lovely chat with him. I may have been slightly gushing/embarrassing. We spoke about the tour so far and the different venues they played. He kindly signed a vinyl copy of the Christmas EP (later Steve Garrington added his autograph to it as he was packing away equipment on stage). I may have been a tiny bit drunk and did my usual thing of excessive post-gig tweeting.

INTENSE! INTENSE! INTENSE! #low
— Steven Johnson (@_SPJ_) November 16, 2013

I could watch Mimi play drums for eternity.
— Steven Johnson (@_SPJ_) November 16, 2013

Ah, man. Low were simply amazing in Sheffield tonght!
— Steven Johnson (@_SPJ_) November 16, 2013

Another great show - the setlist is below. The main changes were the appearance on Laser Beam and Walk Into The Sea in the encore (I requested John Prine, Silver Rider and In The Drugs).

Words / Majesty/Magic / Canada / Plastic Cup / On My Own / Holy Ghost / Monkey / Waiting / Just Make It Stop / Nothing But Heart / Dragonfly / Dinosaur Act / Pissing / Murderer / Especially Me

Encore: Stay / Laser Beam / Walk Into The Sea

Low gig 20: Brudenell Social Club, Leeds - 20th November 2013

Show number twenty. Quite a momentous occasion and it was great for it to happen at such a cool little venue. The coach journey up from London was delayed and I had horrible visions of possibly missing some of this but thankfully I arrived in time for support act Barbarossa (who I also saw at Cambridge and Sheffield). Check out his latest album Bloodlines, there's some beautiful songs on it.

Low reworked the set quite a bit for this show, starting with Sandinista while Clarence White, Nightingale and Silver Rider also reappeared in the set. The latter sounded utterly transcendent, particularly after having been omitted for the last four gigs. Words got pushed back in the set but served as a reminder of how pure and distinctive their early albums still sound. Pissing also stood out - it's a real staple of their live shows but tonight was possibly the best version I've heard. In terms of the new songs Holy Ghost sounded as sublime as ever and Waiting showed once again how it really comes into its own in the live environment. Especially Me closed the set as it did in Cambridge and Sheffield. On record it is so pretty and feminine but live the guitars are more dominant yet Mimi's vocals still soar beautifully over the top.

The undoubted highlight however was the super rare version of Two-Step that they played in the encore. It was a classic Low encore moment - the band taking their time to choose which song to play, with Alan and Mimi quietly exchanging a few words. Mimi ruled out In Metal as an option despite a few requests from the crowd and I think Alan started to play When I Go Deaf before cutting it short for Two-Step. Stunning. They don't play it so much these days so this was so special. A genuinely unbelievable way to end my little three day jaunt around the UK following Low.

I wonder how long I'll have to wait for gig number 21?

Leeds setlist:

Sandinista / Plastic Cup / On Your Own / Words / Holy Ghost / Monkey / Clarence White / Waiting / Just Make It Stop / Nothing But Heart / Nightingale / Silver Rider / Pissing / Murderer / Especially Me

Encore: Canada / Two-Step

Laura Cantrell, Union Chapel, 08/05/11

Against all the odds I managed to catch Laura Cantell play a show at Union Chapel last week. I say all the odds as the gig took place just over 24 hours after I got back from a trip to India.

The below review originally appeared on musicOMH. You can see the photographs I took here.

American songstress Laura Cantrell has been relatively quiet in recent years, her last major release being 2005's Humming By The Flowered Vine, an album which witnessed a slight broadening of her musical palette and a fractional toning down of her country stylings. However, new album Kitty Wells Dresses sees her firmly return to country territory. The album is a tribute to country singer Kitty Wells, one of Cantrell's musical heroines. Her show at Union Chapel was ostensibly in support of this album, although ultimately the gig contained a generous selection of material from all of her albums.

She is accompanied onstage by two musicians playing mandolin and guitar. They begin the show with her cover of Trains, Boats And Planes by Burt Bacharach, one of several covers that would feature in the set. The early part of the gig sees her concentrate on songs from her first two albums. The reflective Do You Ever Think Of Me showcases her mellifluent, crystalline vocals and a pared down, lovelorn When The Roses Bloom Again immediately follows.

Queen Of The Coast is preceded by a touching, funny anecdote about John Peel, his patronage still clearly a source of pride and support for her. Indeed, most tracks are afforded detailed introductions, the stories behind the lyrics being shared with the audience. This serves to further enrich the songs and instill even more in the way of authenticity into her music.

The trio of songs played from the new album, It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels, I Don't Claim To Be An Angel and the title track, provide some of the most overt country moments of the show and she also debuts three new, unreleased songs during the course of the evening, one being a result of her ongoing Radio Free Song Club project.

She returns to her back catalogue later in the set, most notably with Don't Break The Heart, with its cautionary lyrics and sensitive musicianship. She also includes a cover of Letters by Lucinda Williams, full of rich storytelling detail. The sweetly melancholic Churches Off The Interstate and quietly defiant Not The Tremblin' Kind close the main set.

For the encore she is unexpectedly joined by a visibly delighted Charlatans frontman and alt-country music fan Tim Burgess, who lends backing vocals to her cover of Love Vigilantes by New Order. The clear, pure vocals of Cantrell and low-slung Mancunian drawl of Burgess may seem an unlikely combination but it is so successful that Cantrell confesses she wishes they had closed the gig with it.

Instead, a plaintive rendering of The Whiskey Makes You Sweeter and a freewheeling Yonder Comes A Freight Train close the show in impressive style, which sees her consolidate her position as one of contemporary country music's leading ladies.

The set list went approximately like this (this does not include two new songs that I didn't catch the names of):

Trains Boats And Planes

Do You Ever Think Of Me

When The Roses Bloom Again

California Rose

Queen Of The Coast

Kitty Wells Dresses

It Wasn't God That Made Honky Tonk Angels

I Don't Claim To Be An Angel

Don't Break The Heart

Can't Wait

Letters

Bees

Churches Off The Interstate

Not The Tremblin' Kind

Love Vigilantes (with Tim Burgess)

The Whiskey Makes You Sweeter

Yonder Comes A Freight Train

Woodpigeon / Laura Gibson / Withered Hand, Union Chapel, 06/05/10

I made a late decision to pick up a ticket to see Canadian indie-rock-pop outfit Woodpigeon at Union Chapel on Thursday night, largely based on hearing (and loving) the track 'Woodpigeon Vs Eagleowl' from their new album 'Die Stadt Muzikanten' (thanks to Word magazine for including it on their April edition CD). The fact that Laura Gibson was supporting and that it was at Union Chapel also helped make my decision.

I hadn't heard anything about the opening support act Withered Hand (a Scottish singer-songwriter called Dan Willson) but he was brilliant, definitely the highlight of the show for me. He kind of inhabits a similar musical territory to Jeffrey Lewis and Daniel Johnston and played a great selection of funny, touching, confessional, lo-fi songs, with shaky, self-deprecating vocals. I loved 'Religious Songs' and especially 'Cornflake' (with its brilliant line of "John Harvey Kellogg doesn't want me for a sunbeam" which lodged itself in my mind for the next few days). He even sounded a little like Neil Young at times, albeit an outsider, anti-folk version. Check out a great live recording of 'Cornflake' here. I'd recommend going to see him play live if you get the opportunity.

I had saw Laura Gibson only a few weeks earlier supporting Port O'Brien at The Borderline and she turned in another confident set of stripped-down alt-folk songs, full of pretty vocals and audience participation.

I really enjoyed Woodpigeon although I do think they sound better on record. Their beautifully crafted, hazy, warm songs remind me of Elliott Smith, Iron & Wine and Sufjan Stevens. Live, their songs sound a little heavier and have a harder edge than the immaculate melodies, strings/brass arrangements and girl-boy harmonies of their records. They are quite an engaging spectacle live - the slightly reserved guys on one side of the stage playing guitars, sporting impressively large beards, while the pretty girls on the other side play keyboards, violin & flute, provide backing vocals and spend most of the set dancing along to the songs. I am very much looking forward to hearing their new album over coming weeks...

Vashti Bunyan, David Kitt & Danny Norbury, Union Chapel, 11/04/10

I have been going to Union Chapel quite a lot lately for the free Daylight Music events organised by the Arctic Circle but evening concerts hosted there really are something else. The dark, discreetly lit Victorian chapel with its beautiful stained glass and gothic arches make for quite a special venue. I experience an undimmed sense of wonder each time I visit. I was there on Sunday evening to see Vashti Bunyan, with support from David Kitt and Danny Norbury.

Danny Norbury opened with an instrumental set of nice solo cello with piano accompaniment from English folk singer Nancy Elizabeth. Later, he uses a laptop to loop the cello to create a layered sound which suggests it to be the sonic equivalent of a fresh, crisp, rural spring morning. I found his music both expressive and involving and within it could detect hints of modern classical luminaries such as Max Richter and Johann Johannsson.

David Kitt played next with a little help from two members of The Magic Numbers. I remember seeing him play a slightly confusing set of heavy, looped electric guitar at 93 Feet East a few years ago but tonight he was back to his usual acoustic-singer-songwriter mode. His soft Irish accent lends songs such as ‘Step Outside In The Morning Light’ a real warmth. He also played a brilliant, quite sensitive, version of ‘Teardrops’ by Womack & Womack. By choosing to re-interpret a song from a different musical genre he shone light on the lyrics to reveal a previously unnoticed meaning and depth. Quite similar to when Tindersticks covered ‘If You’re Looking For A Way Out’ by Odyssey. He closed his set with ‘No Truth In Your Eyes’.

Over recent years I have got to know and love Vashti Bunyan’s music (after having first heard her music on Stuart Maconie’s wonderful Freak Zone show on BBC 6 Music). Tonight she is backed by three young musicians, who amongst them, play acoustic guitar, violin, piano, glockenspiel & flute. Vashti Bunyan plays acoustic guitar all evening. What becomes immediately evident is that she sounds live exactly like she does on record. Her voice is fragile and brittle, the musical arrangements gentle and pastoral. The whole show had an endearing sense of innocence to it and benefitted from the Union Chapel’s intimacy.

She introduces each song and says a little about it, at the same time alluding to certain periods and events of her life. Her lyrical themes of nature, weather, children, love and life appear throughout the set. She plays ‘Rainbow River’ alongside a recorder quartet as a tribute to arranger Robert Kirby who died last year. She divides the set between her three albums and also includes a couple of new songs yet to be recorded.

At one point she seems slightly taken aback by the exuberant cry of “thank you” from an audience member but on the whole seemed to be enjoying the show. While still not a person who appears naturally comfortable on stage she looks like a performer who has successfully overcome any previous nerves or shyness.

For me, the highlight of a brilliant show was the song ‘Wayward’, the last song before the encore. The lyrics and her explanation of what the song was about (being left at home to look after children while her partner is out experiencing life) reveal a sadness that I had never really picked up on before. The line about “wanting to be the one with road dust on my boots” is particularly poignant and the song sounds just beautiful.

I would have loved to have heard ‘Trawlerman’s Song’ (my favourite Vashti song) but it wasn’t to be.

A very special concert. Well done to the Arctic Circle for organising it all!

Vashti Bunyan Set List

Hidden

Diamond Day

Here Before

Train Song

Winter Is Blue

Lately

If In Winter

Against The Sky

Rainbow River

Rose Hip November

Across The Water

Glow Worms

Wishwanderer
I’d Like To Walk Around In Your Mind

Wayward

----

Here
Come Wind Come Rain

Daylight Music, Union Chapel, 03/04/10

I was at the Union Chapel earlier today to see another Daylight Music session, this time featuring artists selected by Manchester label Little Red Rabbit.

First up was five piece Samson & Delilah with their undeviating, pastoral-tinged, contemporary English folk comprising flute, accordion, double bass, guitar and percussion. Second was Kalbakken with their yearning Norwegian folk songs. 

Most impressive however were Last Harbour whose set of dark, shadowy atmospherics coupled with gloriously sombre vocal articulations and emotive strings recalled Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, or possibly even Tindersticks, if they had eschewed their later soulful excursions in favour of a more forbidding path.

Daylight Music, Union Chapel, 06/03/10

After leaving Tate Modern I crossed the Millenium bridge and jumped on a number 4 bus, sat in the front seats upstairs and journeyed through the spacious and visually pleasing streets of Clerkenwell and Angel before finally arriving at Highbury & Islington, where I disembarked and headed towards Union Chapel for the Arctic Circle's Daylight Music event. Hybernation, Marconi Union and Grasscut were playing.

 

 

I only caught the end of Hybernation's set but it sounded nice - beautiful, organic ambient electronica.

Marconi Union played a sublime, captivating instrumental 40 minute set which transported me to some faraway place. The stillness of the sound in parts reminded me of seeing Labradford at the QEH several years ago.

Brighton based duo Grasscut were up next and offered a more song based, varied, left-of-centre sound, mixing samples with electric double bass/cello, guitars and effects. Their set included digitially processed strings, synths and vocals and touched on electronica, glitch, electro and pop, all sitting together quite well.

I will definitely be checking out more of the Daylight Music events. Where else can you sit in a beautiful Gothic church in central London, drinking coffee and listen to engaging music in the early afternoon?

Tindersticks at Union Chapel

Just before Christmas I went to Union Chapel in Islington to see the Tindersticks play a low key show. It was the third time I was seeing them after previously seeing them at the Royal Albert Hall and the Barbican.

Their set was largely made up of the new album ‘The Hungry Saw’ which has some beautiful moments, especially the closer ‘The Turns We Took’. They also played a few older songs (‘Her’, ‘The Not Knowing’, ‘She’s Gone’, ‘Sleepy Song’, ‘Buried Bones’). They also threw in a cover of ‘Kathleen’ by Townes Van Zandt. Stuart mentioned how he had seen Townes play the Union Chapel some time ago. They didn’t have a string section as such, just occasional cello and violin (just as much as the new album requires). Seeing them in full orchestral mode is brilliant but tonight was suitably trimmed down for the smaller venue.

As usual Union Chapel looked great, the coloured lights being projected on to the stage, the tea lights around the balcony, the beautiful striking Gothic arches, the large stained glass window, the two Christmas trees at either side of the chapel…I could go on…

Lambchop at Union Chapel

I guess the fact that I am only blogging about this concert now says a lot about my extremely busy schedule. Anyway, on Tuesday 4th November we went along to the beautiful Union Chapel in Islington to see Lambchop. It was the first time I was seeing Lambchop (although I did manage to catch Kurt Wagner at The Borderline a few months ago - see previous post).

We arrived in good time and managed to get excellent seats upstairs in the balcony, overlooking the stage. They played pretty much everything from their new album OH Ohio which although has some beautiful moments didn't really translate into a brilliant live show. I found myself thinking back to the Kurt Wagner solo show at The Borderline and comparing the two shows. If I am honest I think I enjoyed the solo show more.


'Popeye' remained as pretty as ever and, for me, represented the highlight of the set. They did finish off with a few older songs (including a quick run through 'Up With People') but I left the venue with the feeling that whereas I had enjoyed the show I had not been blown away by it.


I think they would be good contenders for the Don't Look Back series where bands play entire albums in full. Seeing them do 'Nixon' or 'Aw C'Mon/No You C'Mon' would be great (although maybe Kurt's voice may struggle with some of the songs).

Anyway, a visit to Union Chapel is always a great occasion and tonight was no different in that respect. As usual, the chapel was beautifully lit with candles and coloured lighting and the gothic arches were as striking as ever.