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The air of anticipation that surrounded this intimate gig was phenomenal. Ash were back at the Tiv for the first time since 1997 and there certainly was an electric atmosphere...There were little clues dotted around that this was going to be a night to remember. Whether it was the huge double decker tour bus or the queue that was down the street waiting to get in, it was going to be special.
Once band walked on stage with a confident swagger the crowd responded. There were new fans present and also fans that remember them first time around (like me) and were all in awe of the super-polished charm that they had to offer. Tim chatted in his soft spoken manner between songs and the gig really did have an intimate feel about it.
They then roared through the set, blasting out the classics that propelled them to the heights of over 8 million album sales. They were definately well received, with a fantastic sound and light show to boot. Tracks like 'Girl from Mars' and 'Orpheus' had the audience bouncing and the beautiful simplicity of 'Shining Light' clearly had the crowd captivated.
One thing that was clearly apparent was that Tims voice had improved greatly. No longer was he whiny teenager who struggled to hold a note, but Wheeler’s singing has improved significantly. Now the 30-something man of the world was singing with accuracy and conviction and that maturity has certainly made the band more solid. I had the impression before the show that they were an old touring band that were going through the motions, but I can honestly say they are as tight, solid and driven as they ever have been. Lets just hope they can translate that passion in to some new material. TAGS: Ash Words by: Don Jackson-Wyatt |
