Do You Like Rock Music?
I had the privilege of seeing my favourite band, Sea Power, twice this week. First in Bristol’s Trinity community arts centre and then, closer to home, at the Islington Assembly Halls. There were no moshing polar bears on this occasion, but everything else was as it ought to be: lyrics welcoming Eastern European migrants (“Are you of legal drinking age? On minimum wage? Well welcome in”), a stage full of trees, stirring instrumentals of pounding drums, jangling guitars, hypnotic violin and rousing brass, celebration of the night’s sky, and an open-armed salutation from the stage that had everyone in their dedicated fanbase smiling all evening.
On this tour Sea Power are celebrating 15 years since the release of their Mercury nominated album ‘Do You Like Rock Music? (DYLRM)’. Recreating the nostalgic aura of the album cover, the band come out to stage illuminated only by flickering tungsten-effect lightbulbs. Later an air raid siren sounds and the lightshow throughout gave each venue a 1940s sepia tint.
By Sea Power standards DYLRM is an anthem-rich record and so there are plenty of sing-alongs in the live show, especially to the “Easy! Easy! Easy!” mantra of ‘Waving Flags’, and opener ‘All in It’. Even the latin chorus of ‘Atom’ got a good crowd blast.
Otherwise, Hamilton and Yan swapped guitars and exchanged singing duties, Noble took time off from jagged guitar solos to enjoy a bit of well-drilled crowd surfing, Abi played violin enigmatically, and Phil nonchantly contributed trumpet and keyboards simultaneously, armband correctly in place in his lair at the back of the stage. All as it should be and more, with new drummer Tom White (ex Brothers Electric) giving the band renewed dynamism and power. This must be something like the thirtieth time I have seen Sea Power since I first stumbled open-mouthed into their performance at Reading Festival 20-odd years ago, and they are sounding better than ever. Yes, I do like rock music!
markontour 
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