It’s not over ‘til the fat lady sings. Or in tonight’s case ‘til the half-naked gentleman of impressive girth kisses and bear-hugs startled vocalist Yann during the post-finale stage invasion.
From the moment British Sea Power take to the stage, guitarist Noble with face painted blue, you know you’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto. The palpable tension in the crammed venue explodes as the band launch into scintillating opener ‘Lights Out For Darker Skies’. The bulk of the set is culled from their latest album Do You Like Rock Music? Highlights include ‘Waving Flags’ (tonight’s impressive patchwork back-drop is made up of numerous banners of varying origin) and ‘No Lucifer’, on which the crowd chant the musicians in with football opener “Easy, Easy”.
The band, including Matthew Priest of Electric Soft Parade ably filling in for injured drummer Woody, are loving every minute of it. Cornet player Phil Sumner spends the entire performance on the balcony before swooping Tarzan-like to the stage, missing and landing in the crowd. The raucous audience mosh, dance and sing their way through the night. Encores ‘True Adventures’ and ‘Carrion’ escalate the frenzy to dangerous levels. Then the band start to stage-dive prompting the final incursion. As the house lights go up ushering in post-apocalyptic eerie calm, we depart frazzled yet elated.