Belle & Sebastian - Manchester, The Ritz - 30.1.06
4/5
By: Hannah Bayfield
Apparently a myth's been doing the rounds for a good decade now, one claiming that Glasgow's Belle and Sebastian can't play live. Whoever started to spread that vicious rumour back in the day obviously forgot to mention it to tonight's crowd, or indeed the band themselves. Despite the fact that B&S are playing two nights at The Ritz, of which this is the second, the place is crammed full of eager fans who greet the band with enthusiasm bordering on ecstasy. 'You seem rowdier than last night's crowd!' exclaims Stuart, before deciding that perhaps they'd better make a few alterations to the more mellow set they'd prepared for the occasion.
With a new album imminent, the band could be expected to play a set heavy in material from 'A Life Pursuit', which apparently is the case when they start up with 'Act of the Apostle' in both its contingent parts. Funkier than earlier tracks, the crowd greets them with definite appreciation. However, with a back catalogue larger than the head of the fat bloke to our front, there's soon a variety and diversity to the set that it's possible only B&S can pull off. New tracks like the quite sublime 'White Collar Boy' (you try not to dance) sit comfortably next to old favourites like 'The Wrong Girl' - tactfully placed after Stevie referencing a certain Mancunian lass whose identity, thankfully for her, wasn't revealed.
The between-song-banter from Stuart is delivered in gentle Glaswegian tones whilst rowdy Mancs bellow their numerous requests. Those of which he can understand the band duly try to accommodate. Despite the positive reception of the new tracks, they end with the quite simply amazing 'Judy and the Dream of Horses'. No-one can deny it's a classic, and no-one can deny that a decade on, Belle and Sebastian still have it. More than that in fact - they own it, and nobody else can come close.
Artists in this article: Belle & Sebastian
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