Britpop and rocknroll legend Richard Ashcroft played a career defining set of The Verve classics and solo material.
Playing to a euphoric crowd, at London Palladium, Ashcroft set the tone for what would follow with a triumphant version of Sonnet backed with full band and string section and a crowd that sang every word well up for it crowd singing back every single word.
Full of trademark swagger Ashcroft races through a set that included: A Song for The Lovers; Weeping Willow; The Drugs Don’t Work; Lucky Man; and Hold On (probably the rockiest version I’ve heard of this track thanks to the thumping bass) Ashcroft constantly demonstrated, that not only is he a great song writer, but also one of the great performers of his generation and of any generation.
This was the second of nights at the legendary venue and Ashcroft delivered a set to remember. Never one hold to back on his views, creating a moment of solidarity in the room:“This show is dedicated to the collateral damage, the suicides, the deaths…we are more than collateral damage, we are the people.”
After playing a stunning set, he returned for the encore, including outfit change, which included a solo and powerful version of They Don‘t Own Me before finishing the night with the iconic Bittersweet Symphony,a song that is a song for the people, by a man of the people, where he was joined on stage by his oldest son on guitar for the first time: what a moment. Complete with backing orchestra, Bittersweet Symphony, was full of emotion and hope and left people wanting more.
Acoustic Hymns, Richard‘s acoustic re-work of 12 of his greatest songs, from his solo career The Verve including a guest appearance from Oasis legend Liam Gallagher, is out on October 29th and can be pre-ordered here
Follow Richard Ashcroft:
ThisIsTheMusic 
Leave a comment