Elbow - Sheffield Academy.

By Correen Robinson

 

Elbow are one of those bands, they’re a bit like Marmite… that might be a bit strong but they’re a band which divides opinions none the less.  I only really got them after watching them live at a festival, that same performance led my sister to write them off as boring three years ago. 

So three years and one album later there was a lot of expectation of them at this gig, the band were sell outs winning awards, getting recognition and managing to have sold out large venues.  (Bad pun I know!)  Such was my excitement of seeing Elbow again their support act Canadian band The Acorn passed by in a lovely melodic blur as I hunted for a vantage point.

Then after a swift change of shoes (the scouts were good for summat I tell thee…)  and another lap of the venue I nearly lost patience.  Then as it was suggested that we head to the bar Elbow appeared on stage and the crowd erupted.  The band did not disappoint. 

The set started off with a blatant attempt at blinding the audience with incredibly bright lights before attempting a charm offensive with quiet tracks and cellos, then thrilling them with stomping tunes like the title track from Leaders of the Free World. (A personal favourite of mine.) Newcomers to the band were also treated to numerous songs from their latest album the Seldom Seen Kid, with both the lyrically lovely One Day Like this -aka the curtains song and Grounds for Divorce being a few of the sets highlights whilst being opposite ends of the bands cultural spectrum.  One Day Like This is a dream like paradise of a song full of melodies to make you weep with joy and lyrics to affirm all that is right with the world, Grounds for Divorce contains the lyrics: Woah oh ooh oh… and an wicked catchiness.

Fans were also treated to a surprise duet mid-set as Sheffield crooner Richard Hawley and local legend joined Guy Garvey much to the audiences delight to sing The Fix, another song from the new album.

It may seem like Elbow’s older material was neglected but no album was left un plundered and old hits like Newborn were played to the joy of the older fans.  Guy Garvey et al set the bar for songs of love and sadness high above which newcomers like Snow Patrol and Bloc Party dare to reach.  Vocally at times I’d dare to say they sound not dissimilar or to Jeff Buckley but I fear reprisals from his obsessive fans.  I am no Elbow devotee but I am a convert.  After their three song encore many fans wished  for more and quite probably daydreamed about the gig for the few days.

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