Three Concerts Nov/Dec 2012

The first of these was Elbow and this was the best pop concert I have ever been to! It started with a hand held camcorder showing the outside of the Capital FM Arena in Nottingham. Was this film or live? We moved inside through the Elbow dressing room and out onto the stage, all of this being shown on a big screen behind the stage. Guy Garvey walks down the walkway which takes him to a mini stage in the middle of the standing audience and we can see direct and on the screen the audience cheering and waving - it was live!
The concert had magnificent lighting, hundreds of lights arcing across the Arena, making patterns and colours. This was worth the visit in itself even if there was no music!
Then the music. Shame on me but I had only heard of Elbow when they played at the closing ceremony. I am now a fan as their music is captivating, orchestral and with words I am still thinking about.

Then came Beth Orton, accompanied by her husband, in the Rescue Rooms, Nottingham. The setting was worlds apart from that for Elbow but I must not let that detract from the performer. This was Beth's first tour for 6 years but she has retained a faithful following which gave her a warm welcome. The Rescue Rooms is painted black, everywhere, it had maybe 6 spotlights so we could see Beth clearly. It was a rainy evening so everyone was standing (no seats), dripping wet! She sang new songs and old and we were all so pleased to see her performing again.

Another contrast was The Messiah which was performed in the smart, bright, modern concert hall in Malvern. I have heard this on more than one occasion but never live. We all stood for the Alleluyah chorus. Apparently George II was tone deaf and thought it was the National Anthem, so stood up, so the audience had to stand and we have been doing so for centuries. Some rousing singing and playing and some great tunes and if anything was going to convert me (but it won't) it would be "I know that
my Redeemer liveth!" A great evening.