It must be over a decade since I last saw Ian McNabb live. I have to say he was one of my favourite home grown singer-songwriters and I would try to see him what felt like annually, buy his latest cd and get him to sign it before heading home. The last couple of times he encouraged the audience to sing along and to be honest, listening to a load of half cut tone deaf enthusiasts destroy some well written songs put the nail in the coffin for me. It`s an early start tonight 6.45 pm so there not a massive crowd here yet as the lights go down.
He arrives on stage wearing a Che Guevara type beret and my mate and I had a brief discussion as to other rock stars who had fashioned a beret and came up with TV Smith, Captain Sensible and Richard Thompson.
Ian takes a seat and opens up with the wonderful `Hollow Horse` and it`s as emotionally anthemic acoustically as ever with its superb opening paragraph of “Be careful what you dream of it may come up and surprise you, I can’t confess my life’s a mess I’ve come to idolise you.”
The fragile `Little Girl Lost` follows before `Evangelene` about a late night encounter, the existential `Bird`s Fly (Whisper To a Scream)` and `When It All Comes Down` a heartfelt opinion on human connection and love.
Ian moves to the piano for what I think was `Makin` Silver Sing` before closing this forty five minute set with `Love Is A Wonderful Colour` a euphoric song about the transformative power, hope, and emotional awakening brought on by love and a final uplifting offering with `You Must Be Prepared To Dream`.
It was really inspiring to catch up with Ian McNabb again and maybe due to the shortage of time, the night didn`t become a sing along. Ian did share that he had a few copies of his latest release `65` with him but I couldn`t see him to buy one after the show, maybe next time.
It`s been nearly four years since I last saw Greater Manchester`s post- punkers The Chameleons, since then they have released a new album with last year`s `Arctic Moon` and have a tour planned for October but I gather that tonight`s gig is a warmup show for their appearance at the Rebellion Festival the next day.
The Chameleons shone brightly and released three wonderful post punk / new wave albums in the early to late eighties before breaking up, only to reform in 2000 for three years and one album before original members Mark Burgess and Reg Smithies re-united once again and have been on the road ever since.
Tonight`s show is nearly two hours in length and is culled from the band`s first three albums `Script of The Bridge`, What Does Anything Mean? Basically` and `Strange Times` along with a scattering of cuts from the latest `Arctic Moon` release.
There`s minimal fuss as the lights dim and the quintet head on stage and open with `Where Are You?` from the latest album and it`s a delightfully melodic offering with a riff that really hooks you in. There`s three numbers from the debut album with the anxiety ridden `A Person Isn`t Safe These Days`, the fairly dreamlike `Pleasure and Pain` and slower paced `Less Than Human` a number that reeks of alienation with the repeated lines “must have died a thousand times, must have cried a thousand times.”
`Lady Strange` from `Arctic Moon` is lighter before we head back in time for the jangly `Perfume Garden` which was dedicated to the late John Peel, punchy `Looking Inwardly` and `Up The Down Escalator` with it`s almost matter of fact lyrical content and catchy chorus.
Frontman `Vox` Mark makes an impassioned speech come plea about men’s mental health and gives a shout out to Michelle Morris a therapist who has supported him in his struggles as he shares the acoustic and emotive `David Bowie Takes My Hand` before offering `Saviours Are A Dangerous Thing` which for me had a real intensity about it.
We are told that it`s pointless to head off and wait for encouragement to return for an encore so the group remain where they are and leave us with three more numbers instead. The wonderfully pounding drums signal `Soul in Isolation` where the singer shares snippets of Buffalo Springfield`s `For What It’s Worth`, Bowie`s `Be My Wife`, The Beatles `Eleaner Rigby`, the Smiths There Is A Light that Never Goes Out`, Sparks `This Town Ain`t Big Enough For Both Of Us` and The Doors `Light My Fire` throughout this extended fervent version.
The final tracks `Swamp Thing` is superbly heavy and atmospheric before the band leave us with `Feels Like The End Of The World` a real nigh on singalong as the singer almost ends up in the chaotic, packed crowd at the front of the stage.
The band take their bows and head off after what was a really intense and compelling almost two hours. If this was a warmup it was certainly taken seriously as there were no short measures given during this tightly woven and impassioned performance.
If you can catch one of the shows planned around the UK in October you can expect a passionate and powerful night in store.
PHOTOS: NIGEL LATHAM
