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Solo seems to work
REVIEW - RICHARD ASHCROFT
Electric Ballroom by CHRISTIANA IOANNOU
RICHARD Ashcroft was crowned “the best singer
in the world” by Chris Martin of Coldplay at Live8 last
year.
Ashcroft received further ringing endorsements from another
of Britain’s biggest pop stars. Lying on the floor at the
Electric Ballroom on his opening night, apparently struggling
to get through The Drug’s Don’t Work, none other than
old mate Liam Gallagher got onstage to help him up and cheer
him on.
It would seem The Verve’s stroppy drug-fuelled front man
may have finally grown up.
And if the audience were anything to go by, so have his fans.
Probably spotty teenagers when the band were around, they’re
now over-25 professional types – although some had given
their 1990s parka an airing for the night. After a four-year
break to have kids and relax, and two less successful solo attempts,
2006 heralds Ashcroft’s much anticipated return, with a
new album Keys to the World, and a UK tour.
Focussing again on the subjects that preoccupy him, Keys to
the World is an album inspired by depression, happiness, religion
and death.
Ashcroft’s set certainly did not disappoint.
His devoted fans, who turned up in droves to see their shaggy-haired
hero, were treated early on to a rendition of Music is Power
from his new album – a spectacular crowd-pleaser.
Shouting out “don’t give up ’cos music is power,”
it’s a guaranteed hit and alone makes the album worth a
tenner.
His powerful performance and passion, all helped connect him
with his paying public, whom he sent off with some words of
encouragement: “If you can make music, the world is your
oyster”.
Well Richard, you can definitely make music.
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