Just witnessed your
best live gig?..send us a review!
MARILLION
Forum,London 12 September 2004
Bit of a late entry onto my gig schedule as I was only asked to go at the
last minute - glad I did though! The last time I saw Marillion was back in
1988 at the Victoria Hall, Hanley in what would turn out to be Fish’s last
tour with the band. Quiet why I have never seen the Steve Hogarth fronted
Marillion is a mystery to me! I actually like both eras of the band although
the Marillion output after ‘Afraid of Sunlight’ bar the excellent 'Anoraknophobia’ is not often played by myself.
Anyway, the gig had a reasonable crowd and the band had played the same
venue the night before (plus played the Astoria earlier in the summer) and
the crowd was well up for the night. Don’t forget that Marillion are a chart
band again having had two UK top 40 singles earlier this year.
The first half was their new album, ‘Marbles’ that to my shame I hadn’t heard before
tonight but have since bought this morning on the strength of last night’s
gig. Highlights included the radio friendly ‘Angelina’, a superb mellow
number ‘Fantastic Place’ and the uptempo ‘Don’t Hurt Yourself’.
The band are tighter than a gnat’s chuff and sound wise at times they remind you of
post-Waters Pink Floyd and other times you can see where Coldplay or Keane
get their ideas from! Guitarist Steve Rothery plays effortlessly and never
drowns the sound out like some guitarists in a live environment. Vocalist
Steve Hogarth works the crowd well dealing with the hecklers from the
audience (sixteen years since I have seen them live and a few fans still ask
for ‘Grendel’!).
After a brief interval they turn their attention to other albums playing
amongst others ‘Waiting To Happen’ and ‘Between You and Me’. The crowd laps
it up, especially ‘Waiting To Happen’. Encore time finds a rousing version
of ‘The Damage’ and the only song played from the first two Hogarth fronted
albums, ‘Cover My Eyes’. What a superb way to close a great night of music.
Finally got to see Steve Hogarth in the live arena and he doesn’t
disappoint and not a single track from the days when certain large Scotsman
fronted the band -just shows how well the band have adapted and moved on,
taking the fans with them.
Review: Jason Ritchie
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