Live Review
The Charlatans
@ HUU Asylum, Hull
5th October 2008
I arrived at Asylum seeing it half empty, giving the impression that the old interest that once surrounded this band had slowly ebbed away into the vaults of musical history. However, as the clock ticked down
and the time came for The Charlatans to grace the stage Asylum suddenly burst into life. From nowhere an audience of chanting fans, all in their Charlatans/Oasis-clad outfits and 90s-style haircuts burst onto the floor eagerly awaiting the coming performance. I was expecting big things from a band that had made their break at the same time as Oasis, but things started off a little slow. Not once did I find myself tapping my foot or nodding my head. Instead I was lured into the charismatic on-stage performance of frontman Tim
Burgess and his peculiar wielding of his microphone as though it were a light sabre.
Although initially the atmosphere seemed somewhat tired, Burgess began stirring the crowd, thrusting his hand into the air in that typical Manc “I don’t give a f**k” kinda way.
As their set progressed and livened up the atmosphere gradually developed into a crescendo of jumping fans, and old school tunes like The Only One I Know couldn’t fail to get everyone in the room dancing,
shouting and singing along. It was certainly a real spectacle observing a crowd full of middle-aged blokes from Hull dancing in what could only be described as a Bez-like trance. All in all the gig was superb and
The Charlatans proved that they still have what it takes to pick an audience up, throw it around the room a few times and leave them wanting more.
Phil Eddleston
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