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28 October 2014

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Live reviews

Mercury Rev

Mercury Rev at the Academy - 4/10

Steven Long (gig: 10/03/05)
As a master class in the art of camp extravagance, this gig was up there with the best, as Jonathan Donahue pouted, preened and threw shapes even Oscar Wilde would have been tickled pink by.

Musically, however, Mercury Rev plumbed the depths of bombast, particularly in the opening set of songs whose dull stadium rock was poorly complemented by a slideshow of Athena style images and Hallmark style quotations and sayings.

Like oil and water, the ‘concept’ of this stage show could only have worked with the aid of psychedelics. In fact psychedelia seems to be one of the musical byways Mercury Rev are taking these days, as Americana seems to have been shuffled down a highway not taken, which is a real shame.

When it was taken, it resulted in magnificent versions of Holes, Tonite It Shows and Goddess On A Hiway, as plodding ‘rawk’ was replaced by dynamic arrangements which tried to seduced the audience with elements of light and shade and subtlety, rather than volume or rock cliché. Proof, if proof was need that Mercury Rev are the ultimate musical one-trick-pony. The one trick being Deserter’s Songs, whose songs continue to thrill on record and live.

Next time they visit Manchester it would be nice if the Revs could find another trick, or, if not, play Deserter’s Songs in full with all the delicacy it deserves. I’m still pining for the road no longer taken.

last updated: 14/03/05

Have Your Say

'Nasty' Barry, Sunderland
These guys are so great, the set was top stuff. It made me feel light headed. I even stopped feeling nasty after I got home

Ronnie Mcdonnie
This gig was the most beautiful, well reafted and magnificently performed piece of art that I've witnessed in a long time, Keep it up Grasshopper, those shades were SLICK too!

Ronnie, Dorset
I managed to catch this gig between matches and found it truly uplifting and beyond any experience ive ever had in this life. I now feel a better person for having seen the rev live and beg anyone else to go and see them at least once.

Gareth Jones, Welshpool
Was this a spoof gig? I thought I was going to witness a band whose vinyl recordings excite me just at the thought of hearing them but end up sitting at the bar sipping martini when I was expecting to be down the front moshing it up. Come back Status Quo, at least you know what faded denims mean to a man

Graham,Manchester
Which gig wwas your reviewer at? That was a top gig, one of the best bands i've seen in a long time.

Chris
I agree. Very seldom am I moved so much by a concert, that I feel I have to leave the building as soon as is humanly possible. I like their albums, but live they were just dull and annoying. Duke spirit were quite good though.

Alex, Manchester
Steven you're wrong it was a good gig.