A review from 5D Music & Theatre writer Maria Robertson.
Photos by J N Photography Aberdeen: https://ashotinthedark.weebly.com/
The Waterboys are supported on this tour by The Deep Blue, an indie pop band from Manchester; although apparently the four band members are from the four different countries of the UK. They played a great set of their own material, with one song called Chance including a section of a Fleetwood Mac song, which worked very well. Their songs are about things that matter to them, so one called Insomniac is about Georgia worrying too much, at goodness knows what, to sleep properly. Some of the songs are about the trials of being a woman in the modern day, not feeling safe walking home at night. They have a fun sound and obviously are having lots of fun playing together, although the drummer had previously been in a heavy metal band in Wales which is quite a jump from what she is doing now!
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In a very lovely move this “support band” also appears throughout the set of the Waterboys themselves, with the girls acting as backing singers for some of the songs. This is a lovely way to incorporate them into the show a bit more than just letting them warm up the audience. Even if you are one of those people that comes too late to see the support, you still get to experience a bit of their glory alongside the main act.
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The Waterboys play a very long set, which is fabulous. They start with a few songs including the popular How Long Will I Love You, after which one enamoured fan yells out “f***ing brilliant” and Mike Scott responds “thank you”. He tells us about his first time in Aberdeen back in 1972 when he was just 13 and his Mum was attending summer school at the University of Aberdeen. He reminisces about playing the puggies at the beach amusements, and the song Sea Side Shuffle being number 1. This Is The Sea receives a standing ovation, which is unusual mid set, but definitely justified.
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Next the band takes us on a journey through “Life, Death and Dennis Hopper”, their latest album. It is funny to see this show so soon after chatting to Ken of the Bluebells about the concept of fangirling or fanboying over a famous person. Basically the Waterboys’ latest album follows the actor’s career, which they have said mirrors the path of popular culture through that time. The production was fabulous with movie clips and photos sprinkled throughout the songs. A very unusual tribute to a household name, who presumably Mike is quite a fanboy of, hence the album.
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It is not the whole album played but the songs are almost in the order of the album starting at Live in the Moment, through songs including The Tourist, Hopper’s On Top, Letter From An Unknown Girlfriend, 10 Years Gone, Golf They Say and finishing with very moving footage of Mike visiting Dennis’ grave. Mike talks us through the actor’s career, such as with the song Blues for Terry Southern who did not get paid for writing Easy Rider, it is all quite an education as well as being pleasing to our ears. Whilst this section of the show is happening there is some art work on stage with the band, including Mona Lisa in an Andy Warhol style on the back of James Hallawell’s keyboard. This is removed once the Hopper journey is over and it is back to the band’s older material.
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The set itself was very simple with some coloured uplighters at the back of the stage but then for certain songs there was video footage played across the entire back screen which was very effective, the band members and their instruments were the main focus as they so greatly deserved to be.
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Don’t Bang The Drum has a massive crescendo, the music just taking over all your senses as only live music can. Throughout the evening there are wonderful moments when the two keyboard players, Brother Paul and James seem to be competing with each other, a duel of the keys across the stage. They finally come together playing one keyboard and I find myself holding my breath wanting the moment to last forever.
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The applause and whoops as the band leave the stage is almost overwhelming, and continues for the entire time they are off the stage, until the much wanted encore starts. Finally we are treated to The Whole of The Moon, including Barny Fletcher, who is then given the stage for a moving tribute to his Mum called Wasted Sunset. Last, but definitely not least, is the song I have been waiting for and everyone is brought back on stage for the grand finale of Fisherman’s Blues. What a tremendous end to an amazing performance.
Further information: https://www.mikescottwaterboys.com/
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Maria Robertson is the Chief Music & Theatre Writer for the 5D Pop Culture Website and provides reviews & coverage of local Aberdeen music & theatre gigs. She’s an experienced writer for numerous sources and is a self-confessed live gig addict ever since seeing The Counting Crows at the Barrowlands in 1994.
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