 |
 |
 |
›Fish
›The Phoenix, Exeter – 22nd September 2007
Twenty years ago Fish was probably at his career peak (in terms of fanbase and sales) after just releasing with Marillion the fantastic Clutching at Straws album. Now on the Clutching at Stars tour Fish and his band pay homage to that great moment and also focus on Fish’s new solo album, the also fantastic 13th Star.
The night starts in fine style (bar the stuttering backing tape), with a small Ozzy-like video full of humour about the release of the Clutching album and Fish’s own solo career following on from that, before the band take to the stage and break into a superb Slainte Mhath. Fish prowls the stage like some gangly spider with limbs everywhere as he engages the front rows of the crowd locking eyes and only breaking his intimidating glance after his victim does. Frank Usher to his side fades into the background, but gets lifted back out of the darkness by his great guitar work. Following a victorious Slainte is the first off Fish’s 13th Star, Circle Line which while sounding good, isn’t the best of the bunch aired tonight. That honour goes to the almost Rammstein like Manchmal. Yes that might be a lazy comparison just as it has a German title, but the song itself has that same mechanical feel to it which builds until you find yourself shouting along with the chorus.
The whole gig continues as a real celebration, with Fish in particularly in buoyant mood which it turns out is aided by a pint of Westcountries finest Otter Head Ale during that afternoon. However, while the place laps up everything thrown at them there are times where the delightful backing vocals of Deborah Ffrench as supplied on previous tours are missed. It’s not that Fish isn’t in fine voice, it’s just that while she was with the band another dimension was added to the vocals, and it was something I missed this time round.
While the Clutching at Straws material was the best received of the night (as can be expected after much of it being aired for the first time in years), it was the two tracks from Fish’s first solo album Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors which were my personal favourites. Vigil itself saw Fish take a walk into the crowd singing inches from people’s faces, again locking stares menacingly, while a sublime Cliché really gives Frank Usher time to shine as Fish exits the stage letting the band take over. The night finished with the one two of Incommunicado and The Last Straw, before the band leave the stage to rapturous applause with the band looking to have enjoyed the whole night as much as the hugely appreciative crowd.
9/10.
Nige.
|
|
|