Rock and Pop: Review - The Charlatans
June 4, 2010
The Charlatans
at the Roundhouse
by ALLAN LEDWARD
Can it really be 20 years, Tim?
Two decades after the release of debut album Some Friendly, the Charlatans put a reflective punctuation mark in their gripping story of survival with this anniversary tour.
The prolific band will release yet another album, Who We Touch, in the autumn, once again proving their ability to reinvent themselves - frontman Tim Burgess is surely the undisputed Peter Pan of indie.
The Charlatans always orbited the outer reaches of the baggy scene, hitchhikers in the spaced-out chaos of the Madchester galaxy. This was probably because most of them aren’t from Manchester.
Burgess, more Moulton than Moss Side, has sustained an effervesence that still lights up their live shows, though Monday night’s stage illuminations were a little on the budget side.
Putting the album celebrations to one side, the exquisite Over Rising was a welcome cheat before they returned to the occasion with predictable highlights, the Hammond-powered Only One I Know and Then.
The timeless album standout tracks both sent containers of various liquids flying across the Roundhouse, staining cagoules and vintage trackie tops worn by Burgess worshippers.
The industrious Charlies wrapped it all up with the sonic saga that is Sproston Green – their night of nostalgia has been well-earned.