20th September 2021
The Bridgewater Hall Manchester UK
Even with the craving for live music after our 18 month interlude, filling an iconic venue to near full capacity on a Monday night is some achievement. This 18 month hiatus is however a drop in the ocean for Glasgow’s country rockers Del Amitri who have filled the majestic Bridgewater Hall in Manchester tonight. In fact, although the band have played, it’s nearly 20 years since original members, singer and bass player Justin Currie and guitarist Iain Harvie have toured a new album. With an added guitarist, drummer, keyboard player and percussionist, tonight was about much more than simply promoting their latest album Fatal Mistakes though. It was a celebration of a decades long, musical legacy from a great band desperate to be back playing again.
In a sea of blue lights, opening song “When You Were Young” from Del Amitri’s biggest album Change Everything, is a perfect way to start the evening. The line “So look into the mirror do you recognise someone, is it who you always hoped you would become?” taking on more relevance for me tonight for some reason. New songs “Musicians and Beer” and “All Hail Blind Love”, from the aforementioned Fatal Mistakes, are next up and received with unsurprising delight by the crowd. Quite a few people I spoke to said it was their first gig for a very long time and it showed, they were ecstatic. The classic “Always the Last to Know” followed and was driven by Jim McDermott’s drumming and not for the first time, Iain’s prowling of the stage, jumping in and contributing beautiful harmonies to Justin’s vocals.
The outstanding “Not Where It’s At” and “Kiss This Thing Goodbye” from 1989’s Waking Hours continued the frenetic tempo with the crowd in the stalls all standing and the rest of the near 1,800 audience clapping and enthusiastically singing along. “You’d better sit down” says denim clad Justin, before laughingly mentioning that the band couldn’t continue at that pace all night.
Purposely slowing the pace down we were treated to the chilled, Laurel Canyon infused folk of “Mother Nature’s Writing” and the stunningly performed new song “Mockingbird, Copy Me Now”. A close call, but my favourite song of the night due to its combination of harmonies, Nick Drake finger pickin’ guitar and accordion. “Driving With the Brakes On” and “Move Away Jimmy Blue” completed a majestic run of songs sonically more conducive to the sound of the Hallé Orchestra, whose home this is, than the upbeat opening numbers.
“Manchester’s changed since the last time we played here about 15 years ago” mentioned Justin before beginning “Close Your Eyes and Think of England”, a keyboard driven track from Fatal Mistakes. By now Justin was swapping bass guitar with acoustic and Iain, resplendent in a dapper 3-piece suit was exchanging his guitars effortlessly between the classic and latest songs. “Roll To Me”, “You Can’t Go Back”, “Here and Now”, “Tell Her This” and “Lonely” bring the set near to its conclusion. I’ve got to add, “Here and Now” was outstanding, a Memphis bar song if ever I heard one with a soul-lifting middle eight and harmonies to match. The set does come to an end with the crowd swathed in yellow and green lights on their feet clapping and singing along to “Spit in the Rain” and “Stone Cold Sober”.
The crowd obviously wanted more and the band obligingly returned to a dimly lit stage for an encore which began with a sparse and stunningly sung rendition of “Empty”. I’m not sure if I’ve heard Justin sing a better vocal to be honest, a haunting vocal reminiscent of David Sylvian through my 80’s influenced ears. Another new song, the vocal harmony and dirty southern guitar driven “I’m So Scared of Dying” proceeds “Nothing Ever Happens”, their biggest single. A hit which brought back some great memories from my Manchester youth. The hairs on the back of my neck standing up when the sound and vocal went up a notch for the line “Angry from Manchester”. A close choice for my song of the night it’s got to be said.
“Be My Downfall” with Iain’s beautiful harmonies again complementing both, the accordion and Justin’s vocals stunningly ends the night. The whole crowd joining in on a final chorus was a perfect way to end an exceptional evening. It was certainly so good to see an ecstatic, enthusiastic crowd and also a band at the height of their powers who looked glad to be back. A band not just looking to the past, but one whose new material is as good, if not better than their million selling records of their past 41 years together. Barrowlands you’re in for a treat.
DEL AMITRI SET LIST
1. ) When you were young
2.) Musicians and Beer
3.) All Hail Blind Love
4.) Always The Last To Know
5.) Not Where Its At
6.) Kiss This Thing Goodbye
7.) Mother Nature Writing
8.) Mockingbird Copy Me Now
9.) Driving With The Brakes On
10.) Move Away Jimmy Blue
11.) Close Your Eyes And Think Of England
12.) Roll To ME
13.) You Can’t go Back
14.) Here Now
15.) Tell Her This
16.) Lonely
17.) Spit In The rain
18.) Stone Cold sober
ENCORE
19.) Empty
20.) I’m So Scared Of Dying
21.) Nothing Ever Happens
22.) Be My Downfall
FOLLOW DEL AMITRI
I’ve loved music since forever. Graphic designer, photographer and artist at painted.papillon.smile (www.ppsdesign.co.uk)
