Mastering the skill of performing intimately for 9,000 people is a rare talent, and Elbow has clearly achieved it.
As he wanders about the stage in Birmingham, England, pint in hand, Guy Garvey, dressed in a suit, proves to be a charming and playful host. Later on in the performance, he takes a moment to mix cocktails for those in the front rows.
Despite claiming exhaustion by the conclusion of the second song, the powerful “The Bones Of You,” the sturdy frontman, known for his beautifully pure voice, continues to push through. Encouraged, he engages the audience with whimsical arm waving during a new track, “With Love.”
Accompanied by a string quartet, the rich orchestration brings out all the delicate details and ambiance found in the recorded versions.
In the song “Weather To Fly,” which can only be described as simply stunning, Guy poses the question, “Are we having the time of our lives?”
Elbow is truly one of those bands that must be experienced live. Listening to their songs on a CD or computer simply won’t suffice. They are destined to be a topic of conversation for years ahead. Often compared to Radiohead, they manage to be refreshing without the pretentiousness that sometimes accompanies the middle-class vibe.
Are we having the time of our life? Absolutely, we are.
by Wallace McTavish
