Mac at Cathedral-best solo gig ever

by **Dave Smith** » Sun Jan 23, 2011 5:09 am

Have to say this was the best solo show ever.Just walking into the huge,beautiful interior of the Anglican cathedral you get a sense of calm.Straight onto the seats and you look up and wow the place goes up to the heavens.Instantly the PA sounds fantastic,deep rich reverb.Then Scott Walker's Boy Child comes on over the PA and its like god is singing.

Mac rustles on about 8.45 with Pete manager on guitar,Paul the old keys,and the glasgy string quartet.Straight into Candleland...and...wow...I cant describe how great it sounded.Mac's voice is heavenly and you can hear the reverb up to the ceiling in this pure rich tone,strings resonate,keys and guitar sparkle.Its was just fantastic.If I can remember in no order we got Candle,Proud,Start Again,Arthur(superb),KIlling,Horses,NLF,Lips,Fountain,Zimbo,Idol and an incredibly fragile History Chimes,Sliding,Rescue

Mac was on top form-nervous and vulnerable but that added to the charm.On History Chimes he was like a quiet choir boy who knew he could sing the place down.Couple of decent funnies "Lou Reed's face is like the back of elephants kneecap".Oh and the book is nearly finished

Forget the religious service today-we had one last night.One of his best nights.

by **mrsmac** » Sun Jan 23, 2011 7:53 am

That's a fantastic review, totally agree. It was a brilliant brilliant night, Mac looked and sounded great, the cathedral was amazing. When he did Rust and Zimbo I felt close to tears. Definitely the best live solo show I've seen and to top it all our hotel room looked out over the river and Liver building, woke up to church bells chiming. A perfect night, can't wait for the Union Chapel![/b]

by **the ghost of guitarplayer** » Sun Jan 23, 2011 8:28 am

Looking good Billy Ray judging from these videos. I haven't been to a Mac solo gig before, always thinking its perhaps one for the more diehard fan. But this is really what I have always wanted to see at some stage as a Bunnymen gig just to bring some relief to the standard tours (Crocs/HUH aside). Don't know if makes me want to go to the London Islington date though.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRZlUmWW2sA[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByxDjIzTuBw[/youtube]

by **mrsmac** » Sun Jan 23, 2011 9:54 am

You should go!

by **bluegrace** » Sun Jan 23, 2011 10:40 am

Wish I could have been there. Noticed he sang Somewhere. He's the only one to sing that song properly, no one else should be allowed to sing it :mrgreen:

by **In The Margins** » Sun Jan 23, 2011 11:15 am

Rust sounds nice. I pray (no pun intended) that he didn't smoke in the cathedral or tell that c*nt joke!

by **the ghost of guitarplayer** » Sun Jan 23, 2011 12:34 pm

bluegrace wrote:Wish I could have been there. Noticed he sang Somewhere. He's the only one to sing that song properly, no one else should be allowed to sing it

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqDoaWqEQXA[/youtube]

Maybe, I might go in April. Think about that one I think.

by **the ghost of guitarplayer** » Sun Jan 23, 2011 12:38 pm

Actually, just found I can't. Hugh Cornwell plays a few doors away at the 02 Academy Islington the exact same night.

by **Voodoo Billy** » Sun Jan 23, 2011 1:04 pm

Top review Dave. It was an absolute privilege to be there. The Crocs / HUH nights, now this, Mac is still untouchable when he's on form. Classic.

by **bunnygod1** » Sun Jan 23, 2011 2:09 pm

In The Margins wrote:Rust sounds nice. I pray (no pun intended) that he didn't smoke in the cathedral or tell that c*nt joke!

no we just had the "a time of brief history" joke :rolleyes:

as he questioned some guy about his underwear preferences :lol:

by **In The Margins** » Sun Jan 23, 2011 2:21 pm

bunnygod1 wrote:no we just had the "a time of brief history" joke as he questioned some guy about his underwear preferences

Good to see he didn't do the rude joke. What's the time of brief history joke? I may have blocked that out of my memory!

Are you folks familiar with "commando style"? That would have been bf's answer if asked about his underwear preferences....

by **bunnygod1** » Sun Jan 23, 2011 2:34 pm

spot on review dave smith,great venue,superb gig,fantastic weekend! :lol:

loved it all from start to finish.the sound was epic and the voice great.
a nice mixture of old and new tracks plus covers, one or two lumps in throats around me during somewhere! the fountain and idolness stand nicely along the likes of rust as classic ballads.
for all the doubters anybody who thinks the great man's powers are on the wane think again :wink:

lay down thy raincoat and croon !!!!!

by **Wabbit** » Sun Jan 23, 2011 5:41 pm

Ditto Dave and Bunnygod 1 . A perfect gig for me. My favourite had up til now been
Prohibition/cotton club but last night was just as great in a different way. Prohibition was more intimate but last night had more of a sense of occasion with that beautiful
venue, bells peeling as we walked up to the cathedral and great sound and lighting.

Roll on April !! :-)

Sharon

by **mccranksjuke** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 1:15 am

Thanks for the review! Sorry I missed another classic.

Anyone happen to have the bootleg in MP3 from the show? It would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

McCrank

by **st185cs** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 2:28 am

http://www.youtube.com/user/KAM9821

Thank you for the fantastic review Mr Smith - a truly amazing evening I'm so glad I was part of. Here are a couple of videos as reminders - as if we could ever forget.

Mark

Mac at Cathedral-best solo gig ever

Mac at Cathedral-best solo gig ever

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