I think it was October 1980 when I first saw Echo and the Bunnymen at The Cedar Club in Birmingham, their debut album `Crocodiles` was a few months old and the band were all over Sounds and NME, two music weeklies, which was our social media outlet at the time. They arrive in Birmingham at the midpoint of what is billed as the ‘Songs To Learn And Sing 2024’ tour.
Special guest this evening is Erica Nockalls. Erica is an adopted Midlander having studied at the Birmingham Conservatoire and now isbest known as the violinist in The Wonder Stuff, one-half of acoustic duo Miles Hunt & Erica Nockalls, and as a live fiddle player for The Proclaimers. Tonight, though she is the lead vocalist and violinist, in her self-titled art-rock band with co-conspirator Jean-Charles Versari on guitar and vocals.
The majority of this evening`s well received thirty minute set was culled from the last album `Dark Music From A Warm Place` with tracks such as the ethereal ‘Build Me A Ship,’ upbeat ‘Mouth Full Of Something’ with it`s violin riffs and ending with the wonderfully titled ‘Making Friends With An Alien’ which was written about letting somebody go and was quite overwhelming. A cracking, at times experimental listen but somebody whom I’ll definitely be trying to catch again live.
Tonight`s performance is split into two sets with a twenty minute break. Three of the first four numbers come from the debut album with `Going Up`, the pounding `All That Jazz` and one of my all-time favourites `Rescue`.
A newish number `Brussels Is Haunted` is shared as the Belgian city was apparently the first place outside of the UK that the band played. The initial set ends with the reflective `Bring On the Dancing Horses` and Chairman Ian seems on top form and is laughing and chatting away, although it was difficult to understand his iterations.
The second set opens with the intensive `Show of Strength` before `Over the Wall` really ignites this crowd as Mac blends part of Del Shannon`s `Runaway` hit into its depths. `Seven Seas` has everyone swaying and `Nothing Lasts Forever` has everyone singing along as it blends Lou Reed`s `Walk on the Wild Side` into its heart.
Another newish number `Unstoppable Force` had for me a Velvet Underground like vibe and had to be restarted before the Doors tinged `Bedbugs and Ballyhoo` blasts out. `The Killing Moon` and `The Cutter` have most of this packed audience singing along and closes out the show.
The band who include bassist Stephen Brannan, drummer Simon Finley, rhythm guitarist Peter Riley and keyboard player Mike Smith return and share `Lips Like Sugar` and most people think that`s it but after a short while the fellas return for the climax of the evening with the thoughtful and delightfully contemplative `Ocean Rain` which concludes this ninety minute performance.
Tonight was a really interesting show as i`ve never seen Ian McCulloch so animated and the few words of wisdom imparted that I could decipher included references to splitting the atom. Will Sergeant was his usual stoic self and guided this evenings aural environment in his own unassuming manner.
Once again tonight was an emotional engagement with a band that have been part of my life for over forty years and never fail to amuse and provoke in equal measures but always delight me to my core.
There`s a few remaining dates so there`s still time to get along and discover the joys of a Bunnymen gig for yourself. As Mac says `Bring On the Dancing Horses`.
