Brixton Academy
London, UK
January 16 & 17, 1998
Well, what can I say? Was it any good? Was it crap? Who are The Rolling People?
Read on......
The vibe was all set, and the anticipation was mounting....we left nice and early to ensure arrival at Brixton in good time.
Hit The Beehive at approx. 6.45 and the place was packed out, but anyway, managed to meet up with Steve and co. (nice one mate!) and headed up to the Academy at 8.15 to be greeted by one hell of a queue.
Eventually got through the Hare Krishna and E sellers, got the beers in and established ourselves down the front and got engrossed in Wayne's set which was pretty wild - some nice jazz grooves, but it was very hard to keep up with the slide show - different one either side of the stage - well confusing!
Wayne left and as the stage darkened there was some reaction from the crowd as The Verve took to the stage at approx 9.10 almost immediately as Wayne left, and what was the first song? Well, it was a fucking loud noise, that's for sure! I knew that Verve were loud, but this was ear blistering. The sound was a total mess, just one loud, ear blistering dirge. Despite the eardrum buzz (© Wire), we could just make out Richards words and it was A Northern Soul - our journey had commenced...
Thankfully, after this, I think the sound evened out and the crowd began to get lost in the music....or so I thought...there were a few of us (Rolling People) getting well into it, but there were plenty of lifeless souls too.
Richard and Jonesy in particular were in fine form egging on the crowd with chants and gestures of "Come On", but Nick looked a bit pissed off all night, couldn't quite see Pete or Tongy's reactions though.
17 January 1998
14 January 1998
Fan Review: Apollo 1998
Labels:
fan reviews,
urban hymns
Apollo
Manchester, UK
January 14, 1998
The first thing that hit me as I walked into the bar at The Apollo last night was the complete diversity of the people that were there. At the august comeback gigs it was mostly a trendy indie type crowd or people 'in the know', so last night was a complete shock. Everyone and anyone was there...so we take our seats, listen to a few of Wayne's tunes and wait...the lights go down, the screen at the back shows 12,11,10 counting down just like the old films used to. One by one The Verve appear and I'm waiting for everyone to jump out of their seats and hail our heroes..but no-one moves. *BOOM BOOM* It's 'The Rolling People', maybe everyone will get up now that one of the best songs from UH is starting up, but no...no-one moves. So what I initially thought would be a good idea (get a seat, have a good view, my own space to dance without knobheads bumping into me every other second) is turning into a nightmare...I'm left bobbing in my seat while the vast majority around me are not even moving! Not even tapping their feet, or nodding their heads to the beat...'This is THE VERVE, you're not watching a film!!' I'm thinking...(so the advice to anyone going to Brixton who has a seat - unless the crowd is vastly different, blag your way into the standing bit - just say you've lost your ticket to the bloke by the door, its worked before for me at the academy)...
So anyway, back to the gig...'Catching the Butterfly' was next and then an ear deafening, mad 'This is Music'...then the surprise of the night...the next song started and I was trying to work out what it was, thinking maybe it was a new song but then "In a Neon Wilderness..." and it was excellent...really eerie and a bit scary...a film was shown on the screen...looked like the streets of New York at night...excellent..then without a break, straight into 'Weeping Willow', another rasper.
I may be mixing up the order from now on, but 'Sonnet' was definitely played then 'The Drugs...' to great applause, and everyone was singing along. Then 'A Northern Soul' and according to Richard "another lost gem" 'History'. Then 'A Man Called Sun' - someone threw a pair of flip flops onto the stage at this point, so Richard put them on saying that they were a perfect fit! A great version of 'Life's an Ocean' followed with Nick in full effect. Then another highlight for me - a brilliant, different, extended version of 'Bittersweet Symphony'. Unlike previous gigs, the strings were right up front (I think this is due to them being on tape whereas Tong played them before...he just plays the background stuff (The Stones bit to anyone who's heard the sample)). The song seemed to end then start up again and I couldn't help thinking that this version is gonna slay the States when they tour there next.
Then 'Stormy Clouds', I think, to close the set - no 'Reprise' though.
For the encore, Richard came on alone and did a great 'Space and Time' - his guitar playing was excellent, and he was smiling all the way through as he sang "Oh can you just tell me it's alright" and the whole place sang back "It's alright!!"...then the others came back on for 'On Your Own' and 'Lucky Man'. Then the shows closer, 'Come On'...it was so loud, the band seemed to lose the song amidst the noise, then what sounded like the last few bars of the song, turned out to be a prelude to this mad jam at the end...it was almost like a reprise of 'Come On'...by this point Richard was on the drum riser (it looked as though he was hitting the cymbals with his chin!)...then loads of screams of 'Come On!' and it was over. (Nick could barely bring himself to raise his arm at the end in salute, before he sneaked off around the back - not sure if he enjoyed it...).
It was a good gig, some of the songs were amazing..but sitting down added nothing to it...sometimes it was almost like watching someone else's party...everyone down in the standing bit going mad...but it was never going to have the same excitement as the comeback gigs anyway. I'll be standing at Brixton on Friday...
Set list from what I can remember:
1. Rolling People
2. Catching the Butterfly
3. This is Music
4. Neon Wilderness
5. Weeping Willow
6. Sonnet
7. TDDW
8. ANS
9. History
10. Man called Sun
11. Life's an Ocean
12. BSS
13. Stormy Clouds
-encore
14. Space and Time
15. On your Own
16. Lucky Man
17. Come on + jam
and still no 'Gravity Grave!
Cheers for staying with me!
Manchester, UK
January 14, 1998
The first thing that hit me as I walked into the bar at The Apollo last night was the complete diversity of the people that were there. At the august comeback gigs it was mostly a trendy indie type crowd or people 'in the know', so last night was a complete shock. Everyone and anyone was there...so we take our seats, listen to a few of Wayne's tunes and wait...the lights go down, the screen at the back shows 12,11,10 counting down just like the old films used to. One by one The Verve appear and I'm waiting for everyone to jump out of their seats and hail our heroes..but no-one moves. *BOOM BOOM* It's 'The Rolling People', maybe everyone will get up now that one of the best songs from UH is starting up, but no...no-one moves. So what I initially thought would be a good idea (get a seat, have a good view, my own space to dance without knobheads bumping into me every other second) is turning into a nightmare...I'm left bobbing in my seat while the vast majority around me are not even moving! Not even tapping their feet, or nodding their heads to the beat...'This is THE VERVE, you're not watching a film!!' I'm thinking...(so the advice to anyone going to Brixton who has a seat - unless the crowd is vastly different, blag your way into the standing bit - just say you've lost your ticket to the bloke by the door, its worked before for me at the academy)...
So anyway, back to the gig...'Catching the Butterfly' was next and then an ear deafening, mad 'This is Music'...then the surprise of the night...the next song started and I was trying to work out what it was, thinking maybe it was a new song but then "In a Neon Wilderness..." and it was excellent...really eerie and a bit scary...a film was shown on the screen...looked like the streets of New York at night...excellent..then without a break, straight into 'Weeping Willow', another rasper.
I may be mixing up the order from now on, but 'Sonnet' was definitely played then 'The Drugs...' to great applause, and everyone was singing along. Then 'A Northern Soul' and according to Richard "another lost gem" 'History'. Then 'A Man Called Sun' - someone threw a pair of flip flops onto the stage at this point, so Richard put them on saying that they were a perfect fit! A great version of 'Life's an Ocean' followed with Nick in full effect. Then another highlight for me - a brilliant, different, extended version of 'Bittersweet Symphony'. Unlike previous gigs, the strings were right up front (I think this is due to them being on tape whereas Tong played them before...he just plays the background stuff (The Stones bit to anyone who's heard the sample)). The song seemed to end then start up again and I couldn't help thinking that this version is gonna slay the States when they tour there next.
Then 'Stormy Clouds', I think, to close the set - no 'Reprise' though.
For the encore, Richard came on alone and did a great 'Space and Time' - his guitar playing was excellent, and he was smiling all the way through as he sang "Oh can you just tell me it's alright" and the whole place sang back "It's alright!!"...then the others came back on for 'On Your Own' and 'Lucky Man'. Then the shows closer, 'Come On'...it was so loud, the band seemed to lose the song amidst the noise, then what sounded like the last few bars of the song, turned out to be a prelude to this mad jam at the end...it was almost like a reprise of 'Come On'...by this point Richard was on the drum riser (it looked as though he was hitting the cymbals with his chin!)...then loads of screams of 'Come On!' and it was over. (Nick could barely bring himself to raise his arm at the end in salute, before he sneaked off around the back - not sure if he enjoyed it...).
It was a good gig, some of the songs were amazing..but sitting down added nothing to it...sometimes it was almost like watching someone else's party...everyone down in the standing bit going mad...but it was never going to have the same excitement as the comeback gigs anyway. I'll be standing at Brixton on Friday...
Set list from what I can remember:
1. Rolling People
2. Catching the Butterfly
3. This is Music
4. Neon Wilderness
5. Weeping Willow
6. Sonnet
7. TDDW
8. ANS
9. History
10. Man called Sun
11. Life's an Ocean
12. BSS
13. Stormy Clouds
-encore
14. Space and Time
15. On your Own
16. Lucky Man
17. Come on + jam
and still no 'Gravity Grave!
Cheers for staying with me!
- Source: Verve-Tribute: A tribute to what was website
- Review by Neil
01 January 1998
The News of the World - We're Not for Teenyboppers
Labels:
article,
urban hymns
Jane Preston talks to the very grown-up Richard Ashcroft, frontman of chart-toppers The Verve
HOW DID YOU FEEL WHEN THE DRUG'S DON'T WORK WENT TO #1 IN THE CHARTS?
I suppose I was thrilled, which I was, but it worried me because I never wanted to appeal to young kids. Our music isn't innocent or superficial and I don't like to think of all those kids listening to some of our darker tracks.
HAVE YOU ALWAYS DREAMT OF TOPPING THE CHARTS?
Since I was a kid, I've wanted to be in the best rock 'n' roll band in the world. But I wouldn't be here now if my father hadn't died. Death makes you re-evaluate life. I was 11 and while the other kids played with Action Man, I was questioning life. I decided I was never going to be locked into a predictable existence. From that moment, I felt it was set in stone that when I left school, I'd be in a band and would make it.
YOU WERE A CHILD FOOTBALL PRODIGY. HOW COME YOU DIDN'T FOLLOW IT UP?
I played for the school team and went to Bobby Charlton's Soccer School. I lived for football and Manchester United, but I lost interest. They wanted us to play the grid system, but I just wanted to be George Best.
HOW DID THE BAND GET TOGETHER?
Peter Salisbury, Simon Jones, Simon Tong and I went to Upholland High School in Wigan. We met Nick McCabe at Winstanley Sixth Form College and we used to play in the college practice room. We played some gigs in London and signed to Hut Records.
WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE VERVE SPLIT UP IN 1995?
It just all got too mad. The major dispute was between me and Nick. Quite often in bands you have a duel going on - look at Liam and Noel. Nick and I were as volatile as you can be without violence.
IT TOOK TWO YEARS TO GET BACK TOGETHER. DID YOU MISS IT?
Once you're not happy with something in your life, there's no point in living it any more. Splitting up the band felt awful, because it could have been the best time of our life. But it wasn't. I know today that I did the right thing. We wouldn't be here now if we hadn't split.
THE VERVE AND OASIS TOURED TOGETHER - HOW DID YOU GET ON?
We had some great times, some mad times. In Sweden, Noel and I got caught breaking into a church in the middle of the night. We'd run out of booze and we thought we might find some communion wine. It was really stupid.
HOW MUCH OF A DEBT DO YOU OWE TO NOEL GALLAGHER FOR GIVING YOU CONSTANT PLUGS?
It was great Noel supported us. He's a good mate. But I don't owe him anything - I'd do the same if I'd been in his position.
WHY DO YOU DANCE BAREFOOT ON A PERSIAN RUG WHEN ON STAGE?
I got a fancy for it when we were on tour supporting The Black Crowes. Their lead singer Chris Robinson inspired me to do it.
WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE VERVE?
We've put in a proposal to the Ministry Of Defence to use some abandoned airfields and dry-docks to put on some massive shows later this year.
HOW DID YOU FEEL WHEN THE DRUG'S DON'T WORK WENT TO #1 IN THE CHARTS?
I suppose I was thrilled, which I was, but it worried me because I never wanted to appeal to young kids. Our music isn't innocent or superficial and I don't like to think of all those kids listening to some of our darker tracks.
HAVE YOU ALWAYS DREAMT OF TOPPING THE CHARTS?
Since I was a kid, I've wanted to be in the best rock 'n' roll band in the world. But I wouldn't be here now if my father hadn't died. Death makes you re-evaluate life. I was 11 and while the other kids played with Action Man, I was questioning life. I decided I was never going to be locked into a predictable existence. From that moment, I felt it was set in stone that when I left school, I'd be in a band and would make it.
YOU WERE A CHILD FOOTBALL PRODIGY. HOW COME YOU DIDN'T FOLLOW IT UP?
I played for the school team and went to Bobby Charlton's Soccer School. I lived for football and Manchester United, but I lost interest. They wanted us to play the grid system, but I just wanted to be George Best.
HOW DID THE BAND GET TOGETHER?
Peter Salisbury, Simon Jones, Simon Tong and I went to Upholland High School in Wigan. We met Nick McCabe at Winstanley Sixth Form College and we used to play in the college practice room. We played some gigs in London and signed to Hut Records.
WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE VERVE SPLIT UP IN 1995?
It just all got too mad. The major dispute was between me and Nick. Quite often in bands you have a duel going on - look at Liam and Noel. Nick and I were as volatile as you can be without violence.
IT TOOK TWO YEARS TO GET BACK TOGETHER. DID YOU MISS IT?
Once you're not happy with something in your life, there's no point in living it any more. Splitting up the band felt awful, because it could have been the best time of our life. But it wasn't. I know today that I did the right thing. We wouldn't be here now if we hadn't split.
THE VERVE AND OASIS TOURED TOGETHER - HOW DID YOU GET ON?
We had some great times, some mad times. In Sweden, Noel and I got caught breaking into a church in the middle of the night. We'd run out of booze and we thought we might find some communion wine. It was really stupid.
HOW MUCH OF A DEBT DO YOU OWE TO NOEL GALLAGHER FOR GIVING YOU CONSTANT PLUGS?
It was great Noel supported us. He's a good mate. But I don't owe him anything - I'd do the same if I'd been in his position.
WHY DO YOU DANCE BAREFOOT ON A PERSIAN RUG WHEN ON STAGE?
I got a fancy for it when we were on tour supporting The Black Crowes. Their lead singer Chris Robinson inspired me to do it.
WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE VERVE?
We've put in a proposal to the Ministry Of Defence to use some abandoned airfields and dry-docks to put on some massive shows later this year.
- The News of the World, We're Not for Teenyboppers, January 1998
- Written by Jane Preston
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