It was probably, on reflection, when the riff for “Power” started up that this stopped being a “concert” and became so much more. A chance to muse, perhaps on everything that had happened in the 16 years since The Almighty had been on stages (never mind the 30 years since this line-up had done it). It’s hard to explain what music means to people that don’t love it, but I guess if you know, you know?
It is likely not just me that was feeling like this, and consequently, it might not have been the easiest for a support band to thrive tonight, but Balaam and the Angel gave it a proper go.
Noticeably sticking to the heavier end of their material, the Morris brothers capture the vibe of the evening by playing a nostalgic set. Opener “The Wave” is one of a clutch from 35 years ago and two things are striking. First that they belong in places this size, and second, how fresh these sound. “Big City Fun Time Girl” and the rest are filled with class. Along the way, we find that Mark Morris’ daughter is in the crowd, as she goes to Manchester Uni (which we’re in) but given that she likes Taylor Swift, it’s unclear what she makes of “I’ll Show You Something Special” – and in honesty, the request for a crowd singalong falls a bit flat – and “I Love The Things You Do To Me” but whatever, Balaam and the Angel don’t play that often, when they do, though, it’s absolutely clear that they’ve still got – to paraphrase one of their songs – something special.
But, look – with the absolute greatest respect to the support- tonight is all about 9 pm onwards.
Slade belts out at about 8.57 pm. Cum on feel the noize, suggests Noddy. Let’s get wild, wild, wild. The all loud. The All Wild. The All Fucking Mighty, indeed.
5,786 days have elapsed from the time I last saw The Almighty play live. I know this because the t-shirt I’m wearing here tells me the date I last did. It’s a lot longer, however since these four men were doing it. Guitarist Tantrum left after the first two albums, so it’s over 30 years since they’ve done …..this.
And what “this” is, rather depends. Cards on the table: I have three bands I refer to as my favourite. Iron Maiden, The Wildhearts, and this one, right here, right now. And I’ve never seen this line up either. So I can only write this in this way. I was emotional. A lot has happened to me (and doubtless everyone in here) since 2008 and these songs have soundtracked a lot of it.
“Resurrection Mutha” the first song on their first album begins things. As if from a desire to go right back to the start, but what is interesting (and incredibly welcome) is that the set doesn’t stick to the first two albums – the only ones that Tantrum played on – rather it spans the first four, and (with all journalistic impartiality out of the window) they are as good a quartet that there has ever been.
Hearing this line-up play “Over The Edge” and “Addiction” in particular, it’s noticeable that they’re a lot dirtier sounding here than they ever were.
And even the really old stuff like “Destroyed” (the very first single) is slightly different. It sounds like they are adapted for “now” rather than copies of “then”.
“Wrench” – from the fourth album, perhaps their most “punk” – is a slab of beauty and “Little Lost Sometimes” is almost the centrepiece. A glorious ballad, it’s proof that Ricky Warwick was always a troubadour at heart.
And, essentially, the classics keep coming at you. “Taking Hold”, “Full Force Lovin’ Machine” and “Devil’s Toy” mix with the anti-Christmas hit “Bandaged Knees”.
It’s undeniable, in my opinion, that Warwick is one of the finest frontmen in rock n roll and the years since 2008 have seen him up his game still further. He can pace a set as well as any, and if The Almighty never belonged in arenas – rather with the bikers and the ner-do-wells doing nefarious things in the dark- then the denouement to the set does. “Jonestown Mind”, a brutal “Crank + Deceit” and my entry point into the band “Free N Easy” stacks up with any that’ll be seen, anywhere.
As does the encore. Drummer Stumpy plays the quasi-solo of “Crucify” and it’s 30 years ago again. You’re full of hope.
“Jesus Loves You (But I Don’t)” is as vicious a condemnation of TV Evangelism as there’s ever been (and I’m confident that I’m the only person here who quoted the lyrics in an A level essay on Atheism) but there’s only one way this was ever going to end.
“Wild And Wonderful”. And it is. And there’s something special in the line “I’m fucking loving it”. As if the band had forgotten how good they were. Maybe that should say “are”?
This – and I’ve made no pretence to write this in any way other than the world’s biggest fan of The Almighty because to do anything else would be disingenuous- was everything I’d dreamed, hoped and wished for for 16 years. Comebacks are weird. On the one hand you’ve got your recollections and memories and maybe you should leave them there. On the other…..well on the other, it might just be magical.
Like the t-shirt said: never say never.
