Idlewild

Idlewild

Dec 22

HOPE IS IMPORTANT

Where: O2 ABC
When: 20 December 2017
Support: Scribe Pederson and Owl John

One of the best gigs I have ever attended was Idlewild at the Hammersmith Palais in 2007 and so was very excited about this evening and while this show did not quite hit the 2007 heights I was not disappointed. This was the second of two shows at the ABC to commemorate the 15th Anniversary of The Remote Part, although that album would provide less than half the set.

As soon as the band appeared on stage the crowd were shouting their out their love and then, as the band ripped into ‘Little Discourage’, energetically embraced the music – the front third of the venue dissolving into a mad, happy mosh pit that lasted until the final encore. Roddy Womble was, as usual, the embodiment of relaxed hip cool – hand in pocket as he casually threw off his vocals. Even though he said he could no longer hit the higher notes his delivery more than compensated for this. The rest of the band – Rob Jones (gui/bvoc), Andrew Mitchell (gui/bvoc), Lucci Rossi (keys/gui/bvoc) and Colin Newton (dr) – were also on great form, positively responding to the energy coming from the audience.

They started with five songs from 100 Broken Windows before then launching into the inspiration for the show – The Remote Part played in full and in order. The band then left the stage before returning for another nine or ten songs from their various albums. It was in this part of the show that the old band members guitarist Allan Stewart and bassist Bob Fairfoull popped up on several songs to add to the sense of occasion.

It was a great, ecstatic live show – a hugely enjoyable early Christmas present.

Band page

Sample video