Originally Posted by
rdclark
Tonight at the Keswick:
The band was tight and perfect. The background projections looked great, were very appropriate, and adding a lot to the show.
h was dynamic, theatrical, personable, friendly, and in fine voice.
The sound was crystal clear, best I've heard at the Keswick in some time (aside from a persistent buzz coming from somebody's amp, possibly Pete's).
The setlist was similar to that posted above for Toronto. I didn't keep precise track. Few bands that have been around this long can get away with doing mostly material from their last three releases, including over 30 minutes of brand-new stuff, and have the audience love it. The FEAR material really came alive.
The audience was enthusiastic and knowledgeable without being stupid or rowdy, although h had to rein us in a couple of times. The room seemed full, but I don't know if it was a sellout, and in the 24 hours before showtime Stubhub prices seemed to be slipping. I saw several isolated seat pairs in the general vicinity of our seats and in front of us (we were in Row EE in the center section, right aisle). I suspect some tickets were purchased on spec and then remained un-resold.
Security people were being aggressive patrolling the aisles and stopping people from recording. h asked them to stop, sit down, and relax. "These are good people."
John Wesley was a complete waste of time. His music was revealed as derivative, innocuous, and rather boring. He himself had little stage presence or entertainment value. He would have done much better playing acoustic, jettisoning the pre-recorded backing, and maybe telling a few jokes and stories. He may be a capable musician, but he has no act. And he was too loud.
It was a great show. My companion, a young woman in her 30s who was largely unfamiliar with the band aside from the tracks and DVD I provided her a couple weeks ago, was mightily impressed, and was amazed that Marillion is so little known outside their circle of hard-core fans.
Marillion is giving us proof, if any were needed, that they are a vital, current band that does not need to lean on any of their legacy work to move and elevate an audience.
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