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THE ENID Union Chapel, London
20 December 2010

Photos by Noel Buckley

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We are congregated tonight at the beautiful surroundings of the Union Chapel Church in North London. An unlikely venue, but one that is perfect for the grandiose music of the Enid to be heard in such a picturesque peaceful environment.

On a cold winter's night which sees even more snow coming from the skies gives the evening a Dickensian Christmassy feel about it.  A glass of mulled wine would've made the perfect aperitif.

Original Enid guitarist Francis Lickerish jovially entertains those gathered with his flute playing music from the times of Queen Elizabeth I and Henry VIII with some 16th Century greensleeves that would impress a certain Mr.Blackmore.

With so many instruments on stage it was hard for The Enid to find their starting positions. Warming us up with 'Spring' from the 'Spell' album, Robert John Godfrey stated he always felt that the 'Spell' was hurried and unfinished and that the new line-up will be working on a new recording of this in the new year.

The return to form 'Journeys End' was heavily featured with a choir of young lads giving an operatic feel. New members Max Read, Jason Ducker and Nicholas Willes are fully fledged members of the Enid in 2010 and their youthful energy, enthusiasm and talented workmanship will ensure that Robert John Godfrey will continue his vision of The Enid long into the decade ahead.

Rewinding some 34 years with segments of 'In The Region Of The Summer Stars' was next with 'Falling Tower' added by the band's insistence to Godfrey and so glad it was as this is one of my personal favourite Enid highlights.  Musical landscapes are echoed in my mind in these lenghty instrumental passages.

With the addition of Francis Lickerish joining the band on stage meant that there were three original members along with drummer Dave Storey.  From 77's 'Aerie Faerie Nonsense' was a re-working of 'Fand' which was to prove to be the spectacle of this evening which included a four man brass section and hidden from view was Sean Montgomery playing on the 16th Century churches pipe organ. With the young choir back on stage meant there was 18 people on stage towards the end.

Surprisingly one of the biggest highlights tonight was the comfort and joy of the Christmas crackers 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman' and 'O Come All Ye Faithful' ending the evening on a glorious warm festive note. I'm sure The Enid could make of the best and cosiest Christmas albums one could wish to hear.

A fan cheekilly shouted out for 'Golden Earrings' for which Robert John Godfrey duly obliged pushing the show past the two hour mark, a song you'll expect to find on a Monty Python DVD with it's geeky British charm.

There is no one else like the Enid and 2011 will be bigger and bolder when the Enid will be playing with the Birmingham Symphonic Orchestra next October.

It's hard to exactly categorize the Enid but I'll leave to the words of Wee Jimmy Krankie to describe tonight's show, it was 'FAND-ABI-DOZI'

Set list : Spring / Space Surfing / Malacandra / Shiva / Falling Tower / The Last Judgement / In The Region Of The Summer Stars / Childe Roland / Fand (Parts I & II).....encores ...God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen / O Come All Ye Faithful / Golden Earrings

Review by Mark Taylor

Photos by Noel Buckley

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