Erasure at The Colston Hall in Bristol review
Posted on: 2014-11-20
Our rating:
The overwhelming feeling of the night was that of having a lot of fun in a short space of time. The Colston Hall was a perfect venue, the mix of old and new songs was selected extremely well, and Vince and Andy pulled off a stunning performance.
Tickets for this gig sold out a long time ago, just days after the tour updates revealed a Bristol date. This in itself is a pretty accurate reflection of the eternal relevance of this high-energy duo, and their ever expanding fan base. As I entered the Colston Hall I saw children and their grandparents teaming up and dancing to old classics and new favourites, as if there is no age Erasure don’t appeal to. Any expectations the audience had for Andy Bell and Vincent Clarke on the night were almost certainly met and exceeded.
The grand nature of the Colston Hall and its famous acoustics provided a perfect and fitting setting for the gig. Elaborate lighting effects and pulsing beats were executed with brilliance as Andy strutted about the stage, glittering and sparkling in his various sequined outfits. Most impressive of all, and something I didn’t see coming, was the tiny shimmering hotpants employed by the gregarious frontman. He presents a compellingly likeable figure, one of extreme confidence at times and yet humble and somewhat delicate – worrying aloud about the thickness of his eyebrows at one point in the show. It became easy for me, as a first time viewer of the band’s live shows, why he has become such an icon for so many people.
A special mention must be given to the two beautiful backing singers, one of whom works at our own Southmead hospital, who gave an astonishingly glamorous performance without taking any of the limelight away from the band. Their gorgeous harmonies and feel-good dancing got the whole crowd up and clapping along as the band fired off hit after hit.
Erasure are famed for their incredibly energetic and flamboyant shows, incorporating dance and elaborate clothing into an already winning mix. I was unsure whether this would have carried on over to their more recent shows, but I was swiftly reassured. For a band that has enjoyed success as unwaveringly as Erasure, it is heartwarming to see the two staple members as close as they so clearly are. Up on stage, and perhaps with a cleverly employed squint, the band are indistinguishable from their younger selves – lacking none of the energy, passion, enjoyment and charm they possessed at the start.
A number of tracks from the new album, The Violet Flame, got a true-to-form live outing, receiving as much recognition and applause as some of the older classics such as Stop, Sometimes and A Little Respect. The whole room was packed with people, elbow-to-elbow and yet still dancing impulsively. This, along with the heaviness of the beats and the swirling lighting combined made for a familiar dance club atmosphere that those fans of all ages seemed to embrace with surprising zeal.
The overwhelming feeling of the night was that of having a lot of fun in a short space of time. The Colston Hall was a perfect venue, the mix of old and new songs was selected extremely well, and Vince and Andy pulled off a stunning performance. What more could you ask?
5/5
Reviewed by Miri Teixeira for 365Bristol
Article by:
Born and raised in the suburbs of Swansea, Jimmy moved to Bristol back in 2004 to attend university. Passionate about live music, sport, science and nature, he can usually be found walking his cocker spaniel Baxter at any number of green spots around the city. Call James on 078 9999 3534 or email Editor@365Bristol.com.
