Elbow are one of the last great British bands. The Manchester five-piece have been writing and recording together for the best part of eighteen years, yet only recently have they received any significant critical acclaim. Their career has had its ups and downs, including a narrowly missed gong for their debut album ‘Asleep At The Back’ and being dropped by their record label in 2005. Their latest studio album ‘The seldom seen Kid’ earned them the prestigious Mercury Music Prize and they recently walked away from the Brits with the Best British Group award. This gentle rise to fame has kept their feet on the ground and afforded them the freedom to make the music they want to make with their modesty fully intact.
The band is warmly welcomed onstage by an ecstatic crowd who, unsurprisingly, seem to know every word to every song. From the thunderous opening of ‘Starlings’ to the rapturous encore of ‘One Day Like This’, there’s nothing quite like a capacity crowd singing in unison. It’s great to hear them playing some early material as well, with classics like ‘Any Day Now’ and the exquisitely lush ‘New Born’ getting huge reactions. It’s difficult to imagine a more fitting venue for tonight’s performance than the Brighton Dome, the grandeur surroundings serving to complement the epic melody and subtle beauty of Guy Garvey’s lyrics.
The group’s front man, a poet first and a singer second, has the crowd eating from the palm of his hand from start to finish. There’s a benevolence about him, an everyman quality that puts the whole audience at ease. His soft, husky vocals paint nostalgic and emotive pictures whilst his comedic banter paints a grin on every face.
Elbow are a band to be cherished. Their music is uplifting, invigorating and emotionally stirring. In fact I defy any man or woman to listen to ‘Switching Off’ and not be moved. The couple in front of me have the right idea; they haven’t stopped hugging since the opening song. That’s what Elbow are all about. I strongly suggest you buy a copy of the new album and experience it for yourself.
Words by James Watts
Photography by Ian Greenland
