Narc. Magazine Online
Reliably informed
Damian Robinson enjoys a masterful show from a true showman
Image by George Driver
Following some strong support by The Royston Club, and a 1972-Olympic-inspired DJ warm up set, Richard Ashcroft strolls on stage to a sold out Arena crowd. A sharp 1-2 punch of Weeping Willow and Space And Time kicks thing off in Urban Hymns style, though it’s third song Music Is Power which sends the show into orbit – Dicky, still trim and youthfully energetic, digs deep into his psyche to deliver strongly on an extended version of the solo hit, complete with a five-piece string section, two backing vocalists, and some comprehensive electric guitar solos. Keen to point out that everything is coming off the stage live, Song For The Lovers maintains Ashcroft’s high as he conducts his musicians through gesture and a forceful vocal performance – proving that when he’s in this spirt he’s unmatchable.
Elongating songs where he sees fit, preaching to the crowd, and forcing lightning to strike, Ashcroft is in complete control – a master craftsman – and by 30 minutes in we’ve only just finished the fourth song. The rest of the 90 minute set follows just as strongly, we get one new song (Lover), three more solo tunes (Break The Colour is superb), and six more from The Verve (including the four ‘big ones’ from Urban Hymns). He says it himself towards the end, but when you match up his back catalogue with his live showmanship, Ashcroft really is as good as you can get.
