Mainly because I'm lazy but also due to the fact that i would be repeating my self a lot.. I'm gunna do both Frank dates in one entry.
The opening support for both dates came from Crazy Arm. A punk band from the UK, both nights they were full of energy and impressed the crowd. Opening slot at an academy gig has gotta be hard with people arriving as your playing. But they managed and did a great job. Ending on a song with, the second support act, Chuck Ragan. Their singing voices been complete opposite, this could of been a mess yet it seemed to flow brilliantly. Good job, crowd warmed up for Chuck.
For many years Chuck Ragan was the front man of a great punk band called Hot Water Music. In a similar way to Frank Turners change in heart, Chuck also went from punk rock to folk. More specifically southern America folk. The rest of his 'band' didn't help this feeling. With a double bassist looking like simply a 'hick' and a violinist with a massive hair/beard mix, difficult to see where one starts and one ends mixed with the gruff 40 fags an hour voice of the Lost character look-a-like of Chuck... It felt like Texas had invaded our ear drums. Never the less, he was great. He was thankful to frank, he bid thanks to his wife, his friends Alkaline Trio and teased the crowd with news of a collaboration with Brain from The Gaslight Anthem. He was a stand up guy. Music wise for me at both gigs his performance of 'The Boat' was the highlight of his set. Mainly because its the one i know the best.
Ah..... Frank Turner. So many lyrics of yours help me through day to day problems. It helps me give advise. It helps me take advise. No matter what mood I am in... Frank Turner can be heard. So two days of Frank for me is two days of heaven.
This tour is a weird one... October saw the 'Poetry Of The Deed' tour (which was amazing) but this one was simply titled 'Always On Tour, Tour'.. so i didn't know what to expect set list wise. I wasn't disappointed. At both venues the crowd was warmed up with songs from Frightened Rabbit and Bob Dylan playing through the speaker system. For them the lights to drop. The FTHC logo projected onto the large white screen behind the drum kit and the indistinguishable sound of Franks guitar playing the first few chords of 'Photosynthesis'... stunning. Every single person in both venues sang every word. And he loved it. He went on then to play 'Try This At Home' followed by 'Once We Were Anarchists'. TTAH was a fantastic second song that had everyone dancing about. OWWA was perfect for the long term fans (being off the first album)and gave this sense of knowing and commitment, for him to recognise this was a fan favorite it showed he knew his roots. At both Manchester and Leeds he played the songs would expect. But been a 21 song set at both venues he swapped and changed the order and a couple of songs. In Manchester, to my utter shock, he played 'Hold Your Tongue', off the First 3 Years album (a gathering of rarities, b sides and alternative recordings) this was not expected. It was stunning. Him solo on stage preforming this truly separated the fans from the one album lovers. Following this with a beautiful version of 'Jet Lag'.... I was gobsmacked. In Leeds he played 'Dan's Song' but for a twist got a member of the public on stage to do the harmonica solo. Luckily the girl who went up knew the words to the song, had some sense of rhythm and had enough balls to get the crowd clapping and the lot. He followed this with 'Casanova Lament'. One of my favorite Frank songs. This was getting too much. A pinnacle moment in this song was just before the first chorus he looks up at the crowd and smiles. Heartwarming stuff. At both gigs he played all the fan favorites that rang the venues with passionate sing along such as 'The Real Damage', 'I Knew Prufrock', 'Take You Home' and of course 'Ballad Of Me & My Friends' which had the thousands of fans shouting "AND WE'RE DEFIANTLY GOING TO HELL!" ... as always (11Th and 12Th time for me) a stunning spectacle that fills me up to the point of tears. I love Frank Turner and this is the reason why. The reason thousands do.
The Manchester gig was on Paddy's day. Frank had already stated he doesn't like Guinness at the beginning of the gig but does enjoy a Jameson's. When he came back on for the encore he said 'What day are we celebrating today then? Wednesday?' ... I wasn't having that so i chucked my green paddy's day hat on stage (suitably decorated with the Frank Turner logo).... he picked it up!!! Someone else then threw one on stage. He looked at mine and laughed. Shouted Chuck on stage and simply said 'Which one do you want? I'll wear one if you do?'. I was praying chuck took the other one sop frank would wear mine! He did! but then to 'chuck' (excuse the pun) it into the crowd. Then snatching mine/franks and doing the same... ugh, knob. Aw well, frank had hold of it. Good times.
At the Manchester gig for the encore he came back on to play a duet with Chuck Ragen which he simply called 'Revival Song' which he told the tale of him and Chuck on the Revival tour in the US. At both venues he closed the show with 'St Christopher' and probably his biggest hit (in terms of lime light) 'The Road' which seemed a perfect end with the venues both ringing with 'I face the horizon everywhere I go,
I face the horizon the horizon is my home' as the band left the stage and the fans left with grins and smiles all around.
Moments of the gigs - Manchester was either Ballad or Hold Your Tongue. Leeds was Casanova Lament.. Amazing. (http://www.youtube.com/user/JimBobBTVS?feature=mhw4#p/a/u/0/6osylh2H2Hg)
I realised after the gig over all the times I've seen him there is only one song i haven't seen him play that i would want to. 'Thatcher Fucked The Kids'. Maybe one day.
HE HAD FAKE T SHIRTS FOR SALE OUTSIDE! Shockingly... he is that big. Following him from practically nothing, this was a nice sight if anything. Although i write this (very late) in the knowledge that he is also on the FIRST announcement for Leeds Fest... That's a massive deal.
Got some more of these things to write, but these gigs, this week... was mind blowing. Same again soon i hope.
Peace
x
No comments:
Post a Comment