Echo & The Bunnymen – Live Roundhouse London 15/10/09

First things first, some thanks in order…. To my wife Pauline, a life-long Bunnymen fan who missed the gig as my listing had no plus one and the gig was sold out. I must also thank Zoe from Big Method for the listing and photo pass, finally Kip!!

I arrived at the Roundhouse, this fantastic venue in Camden Town that is on three levels, giving excellent views of the stage and excellent acoustics. The Bunnymen came on to the full dry ice and stark lighting that was trademark McCulloch in the 80s

They stormed through an hour and half set filled with classics like Back of Love, Rescue, The Cutter, Seven Seas and Killing Moon. Interspersed with typical McCulloch dry wit, they were tight and spot on the money – let’s face it, the guy has one of the best vocal deliveries of modern times. It was the kind of gig that you could just close your eyes and be transported to a higher plain.

Although all the hits were in the set, my personal highlight was strangely enough Forgotten Fields from the new album The Fountain, as Ian himself said it’s as good as anything that’s gone before from the band. Of all the new songs this one is trademark classic Bunnymen. In a surreal moment last night I wondered if my other hero from that era, Ian Curtis would of still had the the McCulloch drive in 2009.

So… to the wonderful encore and they came back with new track Do You Know Who I Am before launching into Nothing Lasts Forever, which morphed into a fantastic rendition of Walk On The Wild Side. The best was saved for last – a full extended Lips Like Sugar and the poignant Zimbo. A tribute to Jim Morrison it may of  been originally, last night my thoughts were with Pete De Freitas as I moved into the harsh reality of the London night.

Flying
And you know I’m not coming down
You’re trying
But you know you must soon go down
All my colours
Turn to clouds
All my colours
Turn to cloud

Hey I’m flowing
Hey I’m flowing
That box you gave me
Burned nicely
That box you gave me
Burned nicely
Hey I’ve flown away
Hey I’ve flown away
All my colours

Tags: echo & the bunnymen