In a rare night off from the kids, Clare & I enjoyed a night with Turin Brakes. We were joined by Andrew & Ste at the magnificent Sage. This was my second of three gigs on this acoustic tour. I’ve now seen Turin Brakes, live, on 20 occasions. Easily the most I’ve seen any band. It’s the 7th time I’ve seen them since 2015, when this blog began. Previous reviews can be found by clicking these links; acoustic in Leeds, supporting Travis, Tyne Theatre & Opera House, the 100 Club, the cluny, chase park festival
Clare & I arrived with enough time to grab a pint at the bar (Maltsmiths for me and Moretti for Clare) with Ste & Andrew arriving just in time for KP.
I really enjoyed Kevin Pearce’s set. Having watched him at Leeds, his style was now familiar and I enjoyed his dry sense of Essex humour. It takes a lot of courage to try and banter with an audience who are primarily wanting you to end your set so the main act can start, but Kevin did this well. It was pleasing to see that most of the, sold out, hall 2 had turned up to watch Kevin in action. I always like it when a support act gets the attention they deserve. The Sage audience is always very respectful and an acoustic type show always helps to create an attentive audience. His setlist is below. I may have a few titles wrong.
Once KP had finished, it was time for Turin Brakes to take the stage.
The Leeds gig was fresh in my mind. That was the first gig of this acoustic tour. Since then, it feels like they’ve grown in confidence in this format and totally committed to an incredible set, drawing from their whole back catalogue of albums.
The only change in setlist, from the Leeds gig, was that State of Things was swapped out for Emergency 72.
The sound in the Sage is amazing regardless of whether it’s hall one or two. An acoustic gig in these venues will always sound amazing. This was no exception. The venue was packed out, with all three levels full and the audience completely surrounding the band. This created a special atmosphere. Quiet and respectful, but thoroughly entertained by what was on offer. I don’t rate gigs, but if I was doing a scale of Turin Brakes gigs, this would be in my top 5 (V2002, 100 Club – 2017, 2002 Acoustic Tour, 2004 Carling Apollo Manchester might be the other 4). Every song sounded incredible. Crystal clear. Beautiful.
My only complaint for the night was that the camera police were out. We were warned in the final minutes before TB took the stage that no photos should be taken during their set. Why not? I understand no flash, but what’s wrong with camera phones? I tried a few sly ones, with the phone pressed against my chest, but only managed to capture heads in front of me (the one above is a very cropped version of my best one). Ste even tried to take some shots with his phone in his shirt pocket, operated from his iWatch. This is the best of those (hugely cropped).
I waited until the final few songs and took some snaps regardless of the rules. Bad lad. The three below are them coming back out for the encore.
They opened with Sea Change. My favourite TB track. It doesn’t quite work as well in it’s acoustic form, as my favourite aspect of the song is the way it builds and builds. Still. What a way to start a set.
The Door. I’m instantly whisked to a time when I’m becoming familiar with the majestic Optimist LP. Every song they played from their debut album (6 in total) sounded as fresh as the day I first heard them.
Lost In The Woods, the only track from Invisible Storm, was preceded by an Ed preamble about journeying out of Gateshead, beyond Newcastle, beyond Hexham, to the wild woods beyond…Lost In The Woods. Lovely.
We Were Here is classic Turin Brakes. The amazing slide guitar and distinct TB sound are present in abundance on this fantastic tune. It’s my fave from the album of the same name.
The harmonies were rich all night. All 4 members on vocal duties outlined, all night, how good they are as performers.
Dark On Fire was up next. The album isn’t my favourite of theirs, but this title track is superb. Done in this acoustic format makes it even more other worldly. Worth the admission fee on it’s own.
Mind Over Money followed. I love this tune. So did the crowd. Everyone loves a crowd pleaser.
Apocolips. Wow. Possibly the least known track (this or No Mercy) judging by audience reaction, but it was so good. I’d not previously warmed to this track on the Outbursts album. But this acoustic take is just perfect. It’s brought something new to the song for me (in fact I’m listening to Outbursts while writing this, just to hear this track). Gale’s guitar playing is quality throughout, and the backing harmonies are perfect. Most people have most things these days…
Olly proposed that this was maths folk. Ed then discussed times tables. Olly noted he was the most intelligent. Ed talked about 7 x 8 or possibly 8 x 8. Gale noted it was 72. Emergency 72. First album joy ensued for much of the Gateshead crowd.
Come and Go. It’s moments like an acoustic version of Come and Go, the closing track of JackInABox, that make a gig go from good to special.
No Mercy followed. A second cut from We Were Here and a final breather before the sprint to the finish.
Pain Killer is the Turin Brakes track that most people know. The one that hit the top 5 in the UK (their only single to get in the top 20). It’s possibly my least favourite TB single. They have better tunes, but this being played made one particularly vibrant member of the crowd very happy. As the tune finished, the lady shouted, “Olly, you’ve made me a very happy woman”. Olly instantly quipped “well that’s never fucking happened before!”. A little back and forth banter followed, before Olly commented that it was getting weird and noted that they best get back to playing.
Fishing For A Dream. The perfect TB pop song. The song that my wife & I walked back down the aisle to, after getting married. The video was recorded locally and there always feels like this has a special meaning when played in and around Newcastle. It certainly does for Clare & I.
Long Distance ended the regular set. It’s such a powerful song. Ste said this was his highlight of the night. I vividly remember this being played in the tent at V2002. I fell in love with it then and nothing will change that.
TB left the stage, noting that they were just behind the door and that if we wanted them back, we just had to ask.
We did.
The quality Keep Me Around was the first song in the encore. Another perfect pop song and the first and only tune from Lost Property. Clare had this as her favourite from the night (this and Fishing…).
Ed then had a drinking problem. Water everywhere. He left the stage with much hilarity as Olly took to perform the gorgeous Outbursts on his own, until the band joined him towards the end. This is a clear highlight of this acoustic tour.
The final track of the first encore was the massive single off the first album, which remarkably only made it to number 39. Underdog (Save Me) is the sound of Turin Brakes. That guitar solo. Unbelievable. You’d be left happy at this point, but encore number 2 was to follow.
Feeling Oblivion and Slack formed the final double bill from The Optimist LP. Two fantastic tunes to transport you back to space-folk halcyon days of the early 2000’s. Turin Brakes are a band I love. I love their early stuff. I love their new stuff. I love their middle stuff. I’m going to love their acoustic stuff again in just over a month. Perfect.
The insanely good Turin Brakes played the Sage tonight. They sounded INCREDIBLE. The crowd was literally everywhere around them. Brilliant acoustic show. #turinbrakes #agigamonth2020 pic.twitter.com/mLqJBCcFCo
— Chris Williams (@cwblueroom) January 30, 2020
A Gig A Month 2015-2022 