I’ve had to wait a while but Christ was it worth it. Johnny et al descended on Brixton last night, “the best venue in the world” as quite rightly described by JB himself. I hadn’t got my hopes up too much for a breath taking performance, but I should have done. In my opinion this was one of THE best Razorlight gigs I have been to (and as many of you know I’ve been to a fair few).
Started off with a simple backdrop of the red curtain and a few strategically hung light bulbs. Simple stage set, also looking pretty budget...the band came on and flung themselves straight in to Golden Touch and the crowd orchestrated the backing vocals. Johnny in black jeans, white shirt and black blazer, a side step from the infamous white number he wore for so many years. A sign of maturity? I reckon so. A good one though. (Or word to V’s cousin (their stylist)). Then as if the gig was just for me, the broke out in to (my second favourite track of theirs) Dalston. Genius. Johnny skipped around the stage like a little puppy- you could tell he was excited to be here.
After newbie Burberry Blue Eyes and “new fan classic” In the Morning, the lead thanked us for coming and he waltzed off stage with Andy and Carl. Bjorn hung around playing a solo rift or two. We knew what was up next through. Suddenly the curtains parted and the full stage was revealed. Panels of mirror/lights hung scattered throughout the air. There were still elements of their old stage set though- the lamps/roses/old school piano. It was a nice touch which made me feel I had come to see my family play or something.
Johnny, in my eyes, was on top form. If you haven’t seen the band before (as I’m sure thousands of my fellow gig goers hadn’t) you were in for a real treat, I’m just glad they delivered- although I didn’t expect them not to. Did i? He was really theatrical, which makes a difference to when I saw them at this venue four years ago. He was really singing for the audience rather than for himself (this is how he used to come across all those years ago). I like it though. Saying thanks to the crowd at the end of the gig is also a rarity so to have it two or three times throughout made it that bit more special.
In the past, they had always finished on Somewhere Else and I was interested to see if they were sticking to this or ripping it up for something new. Nah, I was right, course they finished with it. I’ve only listened to Slipway Fires a couple of times, I have my favourites and the ones I think are shit (sorry). Johnny performed a handful of solo numbers, on the piano, Andy on background ‘noise’. Not something I want to see more of as they have their classics in my eyes but it did show Johnny off as this turned (kind of)wholesome man. I like it. No, shut up, I LOVE it.
I couldn’t have written a better set list myself. The fact it had Up all Night and In the City in there just made it for me. (Quite distorted) Set list was:
Golden Touch – Dalston – Burberry blue eyes – In the Morning- In The City – Fall to pieces – Vice – America – Hostage of Love – North London Trash – Stumble and Fall – Can’t stop this feeling – Tabloid Lover – Wire to Wire (loads of stuff in between) Somewhere Else
Just to add – I HATE new fans. I mean I’m glad they like the music but it really gets on my wick when people come down, call themselves fans, think they own the space you’re standing in and then have no idea what over half the set list is... I guess that’s what happens though. You find a ‘new’ band, support them all the way, really pine for them to make it big and then when they do you get a host of bastard “fans”.
I’ve got your backs though kids.
(and thanks to son and Brad for sharing the moment, until next year) x
Started off with a simple backdrop of the red curtain and a few strategically hung light bulbs. Simple stage set, also looking pretty budget...the band came on and flung themselves straight in to Golden Touch and the crowd orchestrated the backing vocals. Johnny in black jeans, white shirt and black blazer, a side step from the infamous white number he wore for so many years. A sign of maturity? I reckon so. A good one though. (Or word to V’s cousin (their stylist)). Then as if the gig was just for me, the broke out in to (my second favourite track of theirs) Dalston. Genius. Johnny skipped around the stage like a little puppy- you could tell he was excited to be here.
After newbie Burberry Blue Eyes and “new fan classic” In the Morning, the lead thanked us for coming and he waltzed off stage with Andy and Carl. Bjorn hung around playing a solo rift or two. We knew what was up next through. Suddenly the curtains parted and the full stage was revealed. Panels of mirror/lights hung scattered throughout the air. There were still elements of their old stage set though- the lamps/roses/old school piano. It was a nice touch which made me feel I had come to see my family play or something.
Johnny, in my eyes, was on top form. If you haven’t seen the band before (as I’m sure thousands of my fellow gig goers hadn’t) you were in for a real treat, I’m just glad they delivered- although I didn’t expect them not to. Did i? He was really theatrical, which makes a difference to when I saw them at this venue four years ago. He was really singing for the audience rather than for himself (this is how he used to come across all those years ago). I like it though. Saying thanks to the crowd at the end of the gig is also a rarity so to have it two or three times throughout made it that bit more special.
In the past, they had always finished on Somewhere Else and I was interested to see if they were sticking to this or ripping it up for something new. Nah, I was right, course they finished with it. I’ve only listened to Slipway Fires a couple of times, I have my favourites and the ones I think are shit (sorry). Johnny performed a handful of solo numbers, on the piano, Andy on background ‘noise’. Not something I want to see more of as they have their classics in my eyes but it did show Johnny off as this turned (kind of)wholesome man. I like it. No, shut up, I LOVE it.
I couldn’t have written a better set list myself. The fact it had Up all Night and In the City in there just made it for me. (Quite distorted) Set list was:
Golden Touch – Dalston – Burberry blue eyes – In the Morning- In The City – Fall to pieces – Vice – America – Hostage of Love – North London Trash – Stumble and Fall – Can’t stop this feeling – Tabloid Lover – Wire to Wire (loads of stuff in between) Somewhere Else
Just to add – I HATE new fans. I mean I’m glad they like the music but it really gets on my wick when people come down, call themselves fans, think they own the space you’re standing in and then have no idea what over half the set list is... I guess that’s what happens though. You find a ‘new’ band, support them all the way, really pine for them to make it big and then when they do you get a host of bastard “fans”.
I’ve got your backs though kids.
(and thanks to son and Brad for sharing the moment, until next year) x
1 comment:
Nice to hear there were some proper fans there.
Thanks for the set list... helped me write my review on likesounds.com. Cheers, Ashley.
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