November 13th 2019 – Southampton Engine Rooms
Supported by: Will Purdue
Aren’t concert tickets sh*t online! Much prefer an old fashioned ticket. Emailed to your inbox will never be the same as arriving by post. Mind you, I don’t miss queuing around the block at box offices.
A cold, wet and windy Southampton night. A bit of a rush to get there, so by the time I reached Southampton, bought a Macdonalds and parked up, it was time to go to the venue. The Engine Rooms is the same venue I saw the Bunnymen at just over 3 years ago and a great venue it is.
It’s an industrial building on a Southampton industrial estate. Yards away are some of the biggest cruise ships (can you hear its tender frame).
Will Purdue
Will Purdue seemed a strange choice for a support act. An alternative-folk guitarist and singer backed by a cellist, interesting.
He was quite and moody and dark singer with tones of Nick Cave in the lyrics which gave the songs a somber, yet melodic feel. Wasn’t expecting much but the sound that came from these guys was fascinating and worth a listen.
Echo and the Bunnymen
As I’m writing this blog I’m seeing roughly how many times I’ve seen bands. These boys will be one of the most returned to bands. I just love how a concert builds with them. Mac pretty much stands there, as does Will. There’s only a small interaction with the crowd, but that aloofness adds to the mesmerising show.
What I enjoy about a Bunnymen concert is the way it build through the set. A show starts slow and by the end you’re dancing (well, moving around quite a bit).
Will Sergeant is the brains and musical talent on guitar. But Ian Maculloch is the hero song writer and singer. I would love to see these guys one day with a full orchestra.
Will continues to play fantastic guitar effortlessly, he is an unsung hero of the riffs, up there with the greatest. One minute you are hearing swirling melodies and then vicious chords. Always with a low key stage presence that is Will’s trademark.
Mac is also quite a low key stage presence, but such a confident vocalist, that when he moves around stage, he captures your attention. What is a slow smooth walk, can’t help to feel like a confident swagger.
The audience adores him and the band. Although our average age is, well, way above average now, there are plenty of students here as well.
Straight on stage and into old favourites like Going Up, Bedbugs and Ballyhoo are simply greats. On to Rescue was fantastic.
I love that “Nothing Ever Lasts Forever” often morphs into Lou Reed’s “Walk on the Wild Side” and tonight was no exception. Tonight, an added extra as it also morphs into “In The Midnight Hour” – wonderful.
Next the big hits and of course “Do It Clean” which is now a regular tune in the set. The set finished with the calming “Ocean Rain” to finish off yet another great night with the boys.
This tour was off the back of last years greatest hits album, The Stars, The Oceans & The Moon. All the songs played were from the compilation. Another great show from the boys.
Big shout out for the rest of the band, Nick Kilroe (drums), Jez Wing (keyboards), Gordy Goudie (guitar) and Steve Brannan (bass).
Set List
- Going Up
- Bedbugs and Ballyhoo
- Rescue
- All That Jazz
- Never Stop
- Over the Wall
- The Somnambulist
- Villiers Terrace / Roadhouse Blues
- Nothing Lasts Forever / Walk on the Wild Side / In the Midnight Hour
- Seven Seas
- Rust
- Bring On the Dancing Horses
- The Killing Moon
- The Cutter
- Encore: Lips Like Sugar, Do It Clean / Ocean Rain
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