BELLE AND SEBASTIAN // CONCERT HALL, PERTH

BELLE & SEBASTIAN STOP AT PERTH'S CONCERT HALL ON THEIR UK HEADLINE TOUR

BELLE & SEBASTIAN PERFORMING AT PERTH'S CONCERT HALL - 23.03.2018
PICTURE BY: STEPHEN WILSON PHOTOGRAPHY

★★★★☆ (4.5/5)

Glasgow Indie band Belle And Sebastian take to the road on their latest tour and stop off at the acoustically fabulous Concert Hall in Perth to showcase tracks from their recent EP releases ‘How To Solve Our Human Problems’.

Supported on the tour by Memphis born singer songwriter Julien Baker, this was a great opportunity for those unfamiliar with her work to demonstrate her talents, which were warmly received by the packed audience.

Onto the main headline of the evening, Belle and Sebastian.  Formed in 1996 in Glasgow, and built on the songwriting talents of vocalist Stuart Murdoch, the band are one of those ‘always there or there abouts, but never quite hit the heights’ type of acts.  With a back catalogue of 9 studio albums, the band certainly have no shortage of tracks to choose from for tonights setlist, but also on the list are tracks from the recently released set of EP’s, which includes some fine tunes Poor Boy, and We Were Beautiful.

Opening with Nobodys Empire, from 2015’s Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance album, the crowd were enthralled and ready to party.  The tracks kept coming and the crowd were loving it.  Im a Cuckoo, We Were Beautiful, Ill Be Your Pilot, tracks illustrating a career of catchy tunes and meaningful lyrics, spear headed by the genius of Murdoch, but tonight joined on stage by Stevie Jackson on guitar, Chris Geddes on keyboards, Richard Colburn on percussion, Dave McGowan on bass, Bobby Kildea on guitar and not forgetting the wonderful Sarah Martin on keyboards, flute, violin and vocals.  

Biggest cheer on the night was for the classic The Boy With The Arab Strap.  As soon as the first few chords were played, Murdoch was out gathering the fans for a stage invasion, as now seems customary when this song comes up on the setlist.  No shortage of voluntary dancers on hand but the stage can only hold so many, but there was at least one who managed to grab a free mic to yell ‘HELLO PERTH!!!’ much to Murdochs amusement, but not the roadie’s! It was possibly heard in Dundee too….

The dancers got a bonus tune after Arab Strap in Show Me the Sun, and it was time for a break and back to their places behind the barrier. Im sure they could have danced all night tho.

A great night of great music in Perth, the band were on top form and for serious and casual fans alike, and I include myself in the casual bracket, this was a fantastic way to spend the evening.  I came away suitably impressed, as im sure many others did too, catch the band on tour if you get the chance.

BELLE & SEBASTIAN'S TOUR CONTINUES:

24 March 2018: | EDINBURGH Usher Hall
26 March 2018: | DUBLIN Vicar Street
27 March 2018: | DUBLIN Vicar Street
2 May 2018: | PERTH Astor Theatre
4 May 2018: | MELBOURNE Palais Theatre
5 May 2018: | SYDNEY Opera House
7 May 2018: | BRISBANE The Tivoli
25 May 2018: | GLASGOW Galvanizers's Yard at SWG3
30 May 2018: | BARCELONA Primavera Sound
5 June 2018: | PORTLAND State Theatre
6 June 2018: | NEW HEAVEN College Street Music Hall
8 June 2018: | QUEENS NY Forest Hills Stadium
9 June 2018: | WASHINGTON, D.C The Anthem
10 June 2018: | ATLANTA Tabernacle
11 June 2018: | NEW ORLEANS Civic Theatre
14 June 2018: | MEXICO CITY Fronton
16 June 2018: | AUSTIN Live At Moody Theatre
17 June 2018: | DALLAS The Bomb Factory
19 June 2018: | DENVER Ogden Theatre
20 June 2018: | SUNDANCE Amphitheatre
22 June 2018: | SAN DIEGO The Observatory North Park
23 June 2018: | PASADENA Arroyo Seco Weekend
26 June 2018: | OAKLAND Fox Theater
28 June 2018: | VANCOUVER Vogue Theatre
29 June 2018: | VANCOUVER Vogue Theatre
30 June 2018: | PORTLAND Zoo Amphitheatre
18 July 2018: | LYON Les Nuits Forvieres
19 July 2018: | BENICASSIM - FESTIVAL
1 August 2018: | LUHMUHLEN - A Summer's Tale Festival
4 August 2018: | MOSCOW - Afisha Picnic Festival

REVIEW + PHOTOS BY: STEPHEN WILSON PHOTOGRAPHY

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