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Review by Jack Foley |
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The Charlatans, Finsbury Park - Saturday, July 6, 2002
THERE was a point, midway through The Charlatans support set, when Tim
Burgess stopped, looked at the crowd, and declared 'it's not easy being up
here, supporting Oasis'. The guy need not have worried, for 'The Charlies'
(as they are affectionately termed by some fans), blew the Gallagher brothers
away on Saturday.
This was the second time I have seen Oasis undermined by their support (the
first time was by Verve, at Earl's Court), so Burgess and co can take heart
from the fact that they provided the day's main event.
Showcasing a setlist comprised of their greatest hits mixed with tracks from
the latest album, Wonderland, The Charlatans
provided the perfect example of how to play for the masses - interacting with
the crowd on a regular basis, playing up their favourites, introducing musical
loops and variations into their music and displaying why, after so long, they
are still so highly regarded.
Gary Crowley was perfectly justified when he introduced the band as 'giving
new meaning to the term, support act'.
Opening up with a blistering version of the single, Love Is The Key,
The Charlatans then proceeded to blast out a whole host of classics, from
Weirdo and Tellin' Stories, right through to A Man Needs
To Be Told and How High. And while they may only have been support,
the reaction from the crowd - which contained many Charlatans T-shirts - was
close to euphoric.
People sang along, they danced (and they tossed more bottles), but you could
watch comfortably, sing-along without drowning out the music or the vocals
and, generally, have a good time - albeit aware of the next alcohol-laden
soaking from another flying cup or bottle.
With Wonderland, The Charlatans achieved what Oasis have so far failed to
do - experimented without ever losing sight of their musical roots. Little
wonder, then, that the album (one of last year's finest) was critically-acclaimed.
Shame, though, that it failed to sell as many copies as had been hoped.
Ask Burgess the reason for this, though, and he will blame the record company.
He maintains the wrong singles were taken from it and, upon introducing You're
So Pretty - We're So Pretty, delivered a perfect sideways swipe at their
expense. "The track was supposed to have been a single, but never got
released. But that's record companies for you," he said.
Musically, the band is so solid, while vocally (since the new album) they
are also incredibly diverse. Burgess seems to have conquered the vocal demands
of Wonderland and is very assured in delivering the high tones needed. Even
when they faltered (slightly!), however, he was rescued by his colleagues,
with the drum 'n' bass finale of A Man Needs To Be Told given a rousing
display by drummer Jon Brookes.
Other favourites included Judas, North Country Boy, Just Lookin' and
One To Another, while the harmonica-led Impossible - one the
band's finest moments - was, quite simply, sublime. And just when you thought
it couldn't get any better, the band delivered a blistering version of their
favourite concert-closer, Sproston Green - a track which never fails
to send the crowd delirious. The trick was repeated here, to quite memorable
effect.
They may only have been on-stage for just over an hour, but in those 60-plus
minutes, The Charlatans delivered the kind of set which defines greatness.
Make sure you catch them when they next tour, or better yet, get hold of a
copy of the forthcoming live album, Live
It Like You Love It. You are sure to love it.
BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB - Spreading their love to the masses
ONE of the emerging bands of the moment displayed why they are so highly rated
(and tipped) at Finsbury on Saturday. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club rocked and
look destined for great things.
Guitar-driven, aggressive and very, very loud, the band (which takes its name
from the Marlon Brando classic, The Wild One), hail from San Francisco and
go about their business with a relaxed confidence reserved for only the biggest
names.
The size of the event did not seem to phase them and they provided the perfect
warm-up to the evening's main two events, even having the confidence to play
their greatest hits early, before closing with tracks from the album.
It was not that much of a susprise to hear Spread Your Love early,
as they wanted to get the crowd on-side early, yet to hear Love Burns
(their biggest and best single) straight afterwards was a surprise, and evidence
of a band which clearly has confidence in its own material.
Love Burns was the track of the set-list, a really good anthem, yet there
was more to suggest that this is a band worth watching in future. On the strength
of this showing, BRMC's self-titled debut album is well worth seeking out.
RELATED STORIES: Click here for
a review of the Oasis concert...
Click here for a review of Wonderland...
WHAT DO YOU THINK? Were you there? Do you agree/disagree? Send your
comments to indielondon@yahoo.co.uk
OTHER CHARLATANS LINKS ON INDIE: The Charlatans rock Southampton. Click
here....
Charlatans at The Astoria. Click here...