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Normally, if one was to hear about a band fronted by an ex-school teacher and named after a Steely Dan song, the understandable reactions would be to instinctively write off that band as utterly insufferable before one has ever heard any of their music. However, to write off Deacon Blue would be a grave error indeed, no matter what the circumstances of their formation might be. Said ex-school teacher is the band's singer and Dundee, Scotland native Ricky Ross, who put the band together after moving from to Glasgow to pursue a solo career in music. After his debut album “So Long Ago” failed to make the earth move, he put the band together in 1985, and by 1987 the band had released their debut album “Raintown” on Columbia Records.
The next seven years of the band's career were incredibly kind to them, with several hit singles on both the UK and Ireland's singles charts, along with four critically and commercially successful albums to their name. Their second effort, 1989's “When The World Knows Your Name” was especially huge, topping the album charts and sending five of its singles into the top 30 of the singles chart, including a top ten hit in the form of its lead single “Real Gone Kid”. The band capped off the campaign for that album by headlining “The Big Day”, a free concert at Glasgow Green where the band played to an estimated quarter of a million people.
The band were on top of the world, and gaining momentum at an astonishing rate until 1994, when the band's drummer Dougie Vipond left the band to pursue a career in television. The band split amicably soon afterwards, but would reform five years later for a reunion concert in 1999, and then release a new album in the form of the same year's “Walking Back Home”. The band remain active to this day, releasing hugely acclaimed albums to a devoted following of fans both old and new. For staying relevant and exciting thirty years after forming, Deacon Blue come highly recommended.
Glasgow Scotland natives Deacon Blue have been doing their stadium anthemic rock since 1985, having released six studio albums to date. They’ve had their music feature on soundtracks and a number over TV advertisements over the years. They achieved their first top ten single with “Real Gone Kid” in 1988 when it peaked at number 8 in the chart. They open this evening with “Real Gone Kid”, there is delay on the guitars as the lights go from dark to light, illuminating the stage. The famous octave piano sounds at the start, and then the hit hats come in, setting the pace for the rest of the song. After a “two, three, four”, bellowed by front man Ricky Ross, the bouncing of the audience begins, followed by the chorus of joining in with that distinctive falsetto “Oooo” hook that repeats in the opening of this song. There is a huge sing along when it comes to songs such as “Fergus Sings the Blues” and “Chocolate Girl”. Their cover of Burt Bacharach and David Song’s “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again” is a surprising but intimate moment between Ross, his left hand woman and wife Lorraine McIntosh and the audience.
When they launch into “Fergus Sings the Blues”, they sing the chorus and the whole audience join in singing at the top of their lungs. Singer, Ross takes a step back from the microphone before starting the song to just take in the amazing audience reaction. The set, rightly so turned into a mutual appreciation society between the audience and the band.
Lannistaar
The Lightning Seeds, an alternative band out of Liverpool, put on some of the most amazing live shows you will see in any genre. Their song Pure, performed live, is a lively, jazzy, poppy, fun, funky song. It is a mellow good time, a song to sit back and relax with a few beers with your friends to while they play just for you.
But just when you think they are just a fun little light band you will change your mind if you hear them somewhere like the Riverside Festival. They raise the roof and bring down the house, simultaneously, with surprising electric guitar riffs and incredibly fun drum beats. They march in time with the music as they belt out the lyrics. The audience takes it all in and loves it. You can feel them bouncing, hopping, getting excited at the music that is washing over them. They keep building the intensity until the audience cannot take any more, then they bring it back down to that smooth, poppy band that you enjoyed talking about over beers with friends. They can go to so many extremes that seeing them live is an experiment in variation. It's an experiment not to be missed.
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