Richard Ashcroft has a deep thought at their first New York show in years (photo: ryandombal)
Finally, I get around to reviewing this show two weeks after the fact. The simple truth is, the show was like taking a time machine back to 1997 when a college buddy first turned me on to Urban Hymns. Richard Ashcroft and the band look and sound just like they did 10 years ago. I was taken back several times during the show at how good Ashcroft sounded. I was standing pretty close to the stage, near the left PA and I couldn’t see him wearing an ear monitor. Perhaps it was tiny and wireless but the guy can still rock the vocals.
Another obvious observation: everyone there was my age…or older. Ashcroft made references to coming to play New York for the first time when they were 21. Something tells me they were a lot like the younger musicians I meet these days: punk douchebags. But their talent has carried them through some superb material, a long break-up/hiatus all to return in 2008 to make a boat load of money from the reunion tour and, oh, record a new album.
Believe it or not, the two new songs performed were some of my favorites of the evening. It’s not their same sound but more their psychadelic-rock view of today’s indie-rock music. Although a cool song on its own, expect a slammin’ dance remix of Love is Pain to be hitting the bars and clubs later this year.
The rest of the show, as Ashcroft remarked, proved the break didn’t make them any less psychedelic. My only complaint is that they didn’t play Blue - my favorite song by the band. It also didn’t help that I lost hearing my in left ear for a couple of days (I’m sure some of it is never coming back) but that wasn’t their fault. I maybe getting to that age where earplugs are a good idea.
New Decade
Sonnet
This Is Music
Space In Time
Life’s An Ocean
Already There
Weeping Willow
Sit and Wonder (new)
The Rolling People
Gravity Grave
Drugs Don’t Work
Lucky Man
Come On
History
Bittersweet Symphony
Love Is Pain (new)
