Monday, August 17, 1998
The Verve soulfully rivets fans with performance at the Pond
MUSIC: Undaunted by departure of guitarist, band continues
tour
By Mike Prevatt
Daily Bruin Staff
Led by impassioned singer and songwriter Richard Ashcroft, the
Verve saved a potentially disastrous night at the Anaheim Pond
Friday with an emotional, soul-searching performance.
The Verve, a British quintet, garnered worldwide popularity and
acclaim in 1997 and 1998 with its masterful, multi-platinum album
"Urban Hymns" and its hugely popular "Bittersweet Symphony"
single.
Yet, despite massive success and critical praise, the Verve
hasn’t had the greatest summer. The band was lucky just to make it
to the Pond Friday night, let alone provide an inspirational
show.
One problem after another has threatened the stability and
future of this talented group. Earlier this summer, bass player
Simon Jones suffered from a serious viral infection, forcing the
Verve to cancel high profile dates overseas on the second leg of
its tour. Then, in what has been seen in the music press as the
most potentially damaging factor in the band’s uncertain future,
lead guitarist Nick McCabe left the tour to take the year off,
citing the "increasing stress of touring" as his reason. In 1995,
his departure from the band broke the band up, though they reformed
shortly after to record "Urban Hymns."
On top of that, fellow Brit and Virgin label-mate Massive Attack
ditched the American tour, looking to visit the States as a
headliner rather than an opener later in the summer. (They play the
Hollywood Palladium on Sept. 27; tickets have already gone on
sale.)
It is rumored that Massive Attack also withdrew their
participation for the Verve dates in part to "weak" ticket sales in
America, the remaining trouble spot for the tour. The Verve booked
venues such as New York’s Madison Square Garden, only to find the
gigs somewhat undersold and eventually moving the shows to smaller,
3,000 to 4,000-capacity venues (though multiple dates were offered
in some cities, like New York).
The rather large Pond here in Southern California had the
distinction of being one of the more successful dates on the tour,
selling over 10,000 tickets. Yet, as the band walked onstage at
9:15 p.m., only a sprinkling of people occupied the seats.
By the end of the soulful opener, "Space and Time," however, the
lower plaza section filled up and higher sections contained many
fans. Their smaller-than-sold-out numbers also did not offer any
indication that this was going to be a quiet audience. Throughout
the engaging performance, the crowd loudly applauded and screamed,
especially when Ashcroft approached the microphone to sing or talk
to the crowd.
"This is a strange building," Ashcroft retorted as he launched
into "This Time," from the "Urban Hymns" album. The Verve went on
to play 10 selections from that album, which is the front runner in
England for that country’s prestigious music award (the Mercury
Prize).
Yet Ashcroft’s soaring vocals filled the cavernous space easily
with a clarity and (dare we say?) intimacy usually absent from
arena rock shows. Taking center stage, playing guitar and keyboards
on occasion, Ashcroft shined as the skilled songwriter and
heartfelt vocalist, similar to Eddie Vedder, Thom Yorke or Neil
Young. You could feel every word on the back of your neck,
especially during such powerful songs like "On Your Own" and
"History" (both from the 1995 album "A Northern Soul"), "The Drugs
Don’t Work" and "Sonnet," the new single.
McCabe’s absence was felt at times, unfortunately. Though the
Verve added lap-and-pedal steel guitarist BJ Cole and percussionist
Steve Sidelnyk to the band’s roster, McCabe’s signature guitar
playing was missed, especially during their most successful
American singles, "Lucky Man" and "Bittersweet Symphony."
But the Verve redeemed themselves during those particular songs
through solid musicianship and Ashcroft’s performance. With "Lucky
Man," there was the feeling that this was a solo singer with a
rather talented backing band. Even with McCabe gone, the Verve’s
band members still outplayed bands more popular than they. Yet,
it’s impossible to deny that the often-smiling Ashcroft carried the
entire show, his singing rich with personality, poignancy and
dynamics.
And this carried on until the encore, highlighted by a treasured
acoustic moment in "See You In the Next One" (from 1993’s "A Storm
In Heaven"), and the triumphant "Bittersweet Symphony," one of the
greatest rock songs of the ’90s. As Ashcroft screamed its lyric,
"Have you ever been down?" repeatedly to the now-standing crowd,
pictures of their sticker, which read "Music Saves," appeared on
the screens.
Indeed, Ashcroft and his band proved that in the end, music can
be the ultimate savior in troubled times. DERRICK KUDO/Daily
Bruin
Richard Ashcroft, lead singer of The Verve, played at the Pond
in Anaheim Friday.