RAZORLIGHT // ASSEMBLY ROOMS, EDINBURGH
RAZORLIGHT live in Edinburgh with original line-up.
★★★★☆ (4/5)
RAZORLIGHT PERFORMING AT EDINBURGH’S ASSMEBLEY ROOMS
PHOTOCREDIT: STUART STOTT
Razorlight were a staple of the 2000’s music scene producing a string of classic anthems before the band split apart and their huge success slowed, now they’re back with the original line-up, fronted by Johnny Borrell who seems to have as much trouble now keeping his shirt buttoned up as he did back in their first heyday (I’m just jealous he still looks good and gets such a reaction from both men and women in the audience!)
So is the second coming of Razorlight any good? We’ll get to that in a minute, first there is the not so small matter of the support act, Afflecks Palace.
You know you’re in for a good set when the lead singer wonders on stage with a massive sign telling you just who the band are and encouraging you to meet them at the merchandise stall. This is a band with a massive stage presence, great music, a great singer and a huge personality. Naming a song ‘I’m glad you’re on E’s’ is a sign of what we’re dealing with here. Confirming that they had already unscrewed the chandelier in the assembly rooms (it remains a highly impressive venue as you could tell by the bands reaction) and that they intended to make off with it in their van after the show just summed up what we are dealing with.
This self funded, self promoted, fully independent band with their own record label are probably going to trouble the charts with their album release this week, they absolutely deserve to, they are a riot. These Manchester boys are the real deal, if they are not already booked on to festival stages for this summer you have to wonder what promoters are doing! If they are booked on go and see them, buy the t-shirts, buy the album, this is a band going places, fast!
Once Afflecks Palace had finished their set and led a possie of admirers of to their merchandise stall through the crowd there was a brief break to get the stage ready for Razorlight, I decided to get a refreshment. I gave up, if I have one criticism of the Assembly Rooms its their bar system, it was carnage in between the shows. I love the venue but I think they need to work out a better system for the bars!
Razorlight wandered on to stage to a raucous reception, the crowd were willing them to blow them away, they definitely didn’t disappoint! When you’re confident enough to belt out a barnstormer like ‘In the Morning’ at the start of your set you know you’re on fire. This was a full on rock assault with Jonny and the rest of the band blowing everyone away.
They mixed up a number of new songs from their great new album with some of the classics in an hour long opening set before taking a break for an encore. Throughout the crowd danced, sung, partied and generally had the time of their life. This is a band who very much still have it and, literally in Jonny’s case, were happy to flaunt it!
They have so many classic tracks and are such consummate musicians it’s easy to see them getting back to the top of their game very quickly and possibly, this time, staying there. They can play as well as anyone out there right now, Jonny’s voice is on top form, you can see the band are tight and are obviously really enjoying being on the road again.
If they aren’t on festival bills why not? This is a band on top of their game, one of the great live acts in the country right now, go see them, you will love them.
I left this gig with a big smile on my face, the pouring Edinburgh rain didn’t dampen my spirts as in the morning you know you won’t remember a thing (try to get that earworm out of your head now!)
