Ash - with support from The Crimea - Live Review
Ash
With support from The Crimea
Proceedings were opened by Davey McManus and his four partners in crime collectively known as The Crimea who dazzled, dazed and confused the waiting crowd with their indie punk madness. McManus has been hailed as a modern day Lewis Carroll and it is true that his lyrics do at times defy belief, such as in set highlight ‘Girl Just’ as with infectious melodies and Davey’s coarse and authoritative vocals they deliver the cutting lyrics;
"If you wanna see my happy side
better tell me that my girl just died, girl just died."
Just as cutting and raw, is the newly returned Ash, teenagers soundtrack to the 90s, and a band whose songs trigger memories in rock and chart fans alike. Tonight, however, Ash are no longer the soundtrack to school and summer jobs, but on stage walks a raw looking band took to the stage, with an air of confidence, and raw appearance, more provocative than previous shows. What matters is the music, and Ash not only dress differently, but are heavier, having had a complete overhaul of image. The question was, what would the fans think, despite growing up with the band, they have followed them through and through, perhaps now is the time to recognise that fans also mature, and Ash manage to welcome this, whilst still keeping younger, and newer fans.
This was not the only harmony present, as Ash work the crowd into unison clapping during "Renegade Cavalcade" and "Star Cross’d" is the calm before the storm before they burst into current single "Orpheus" regaining the craze and energy of a buzzing crowd, who really were up for a meltdown. An air of increasing excitement buzzed for the expected "Burn Baby Burn" and the crowd were not the only enthusiastic bunch, as the band who must be in the record books with this song, played with the freshness and enthusiasm of their previously played new single, a sure fire way to maintain the fans adoration and gain new ones.
Katherine Tomlinson and David Adair