St David's Hall, Cardiff – 22/11/2018
The resurgence of interest in Deacon Blue is quite staggering of late.
Of course, celebrating their 30th anniversary will bring out fans, and
former fans in droves, yet the fact that they are still making new and
refreshing music, with the 2016 Believers album receiving great
critical acclaim and no doubt attracting new fans, certainly played a
massive part in igniting a whole new, totally unexpected career boost
rather than just resting on their laurels.
As always singer Ricky Ross takes the limelight being front and
centre, bursting with energy that belies the fact he's the recent
recipient of a bus pass, such was his prowling and cajoling through
nearly 2 hours of fast paced Celtic rock.
Opening their set with the driving “I Was Right You Was Wrong” it
proved a slow build that suddenly burst into life following the first
instantly recognisable bars of “Raintown” a masterpiece of epic
proportions with a reaction that set the tone for the rest of the
evening.
Not that it was all power and pace. Deacon Blue's quiet moments are
always wistful and full of nostalgia and longing, most evident in a
moving “When Will You (Make My Telephone Ring)” which including a
refrain into the Chi-lites classic “Have You Seen Her”
The pace couldn't continue and fortunately there was a brief moment to
catch your breath with a touching moment when Ross, with bandmate and
wife Lorraine McIntosh celebrated their son Seamus's 18th birthday
with a song and birthday cake leaving a very embarrassed, yet no doubt
proud son.
Back to business, in a varied set, their big hitters obviously
received the biggest response from a very vocal crowd with “Real Gone
Kid” “Loaded” and “Chocolate Girl” getting the Beatlemania treatment,
whilst a singalong “Dignity” provided a fittng encore before ending
the evening with a band rendition of Willie Nelson's “Always On My
Mind” and beaming smiles for all those who attended.
Deacon Blue