BEATRWTZ - SOUND

Cardiff University November 25^th

Some things never change and although as a band musically, The Charlatans have conquered most styles the live shows are carbon copies of those from back in the day. A hardworking set list of eighteen to twenty songs delivered with such passion and precision that makes it easy to see why The Charlatans are one of the most respected British bands in the industry. All be it a slightly more mature audience there was a decent element of the next generation Charlatans fans that were probably still on all fours when the band released “Some Friendly” back in August of 1990. Tonight’s show to many peoples dismay somehow hasn’t sold out but the extra space only added to the chaos to come, giving everyone that extra yard to get their swerve on like they were sixteen again.

The curtain is pulled to reveal a 1994 style back drop of the bands name like used on the “up to our hips” album, John, Mark, Martin and Tony take the stage to a warm reception and it’s the keys of “Forever” that kick starts one of the most mesmerising live shows to pass through the doors of the main hall in ages. The structure of “Forever” allows the boys to settle in well in preparation for the stage entry of one of the most spell binding front men in music. Tim gets the biggest cheer of the lot and he’s equally as welcoming before taking care of business and completing the stage set up for the evening.

“Blackened Blue Eyes” the tune that was “one of the best to date” from The Charlatans according to Alan McGee followed before the first real cheer of the evening came courtesy of “Can’t Get Out Of Bed”. Tim makes it difficult to watch anyone else in the band other than him, such a stage presence and the ability use all the stage wing to wing and to do so with such commitment is something that makes Tim one of the front men of a generation. A highlight of the evening for me followed in the form an inspiring “Tellin Stories”, by now the temperature levels had increased and the unmistakable groove of “Weirdo” continued to remind the Cardiff audience that The Charlatans are a band that sound just as fresh now as they did sixteen years ago! The Curtis Mayfield inspired falsetto tones of “Love Is The Key” along with “Up At The Lake” was followed by the calm before the storm shaped into the beautiful, “A Man Needs To Be Told”.

The unveiling of a new back drop which read simply “THE CHARLATANS” that stretched from one side of the stage to the other coupled with Tim taking off his jacket signalled it was time to take it up a gear, and what better way do it than with a rendition of the thunderous “One To Another” that quite simply took the roof off! Just when you thought you were safe to celebrate with a cigarette it only took a couple of seconds of John riding his high hats before the penny dropped. The song that has featured on almost every “indie” compilation for the last sixteen years and probably will for the next sixteen, “The Only One I know” left everyone needing a well earned breather. “Try Again Today”, an up tempo “You’re so pretty” to name but a few, and an electric “How High” closed the set for the boys (and the aging audience) to get a well earned break.

The band take to a now very hot and sweaty stage to a huge reception and it’s the enchanting sounds of the Hammond organ that kicks off extra time with the bands first single “Indian Rope”. A much welcomed return of “I Never Want An Easy Life If Me And He Were Ever To Get” (that has apparently put The Charlatans into the Guinness Book of Records, according to their security for longest song title) paves the way for Tim to dig out the mouth organ for “Impossible”. The evening is brought to a euphoric close with the only tune played that doesn’t feature on the singles album, the unmistakeable “Sproston Green”. A gig that saw Tim Burgess from side to side of the stage and even jumping down into the pit from time to time made me think that they may have been enjoying this as much as we were…………….but I doubt it.

by Neil

Set List

Forever

Blackened Blue Eyes

Can’t Get Out Of Bed

Tellin' Stories

Weirdo

My Beautiful friend

Love Is The Key

Up At The Lake

A Man Needs To Be Told

One To Another