Albert Hall No. 5 – Paradise Last

Tonight was an evening of joy tinged with regret, since it was the last show of David’s UK & Europe tour, before David and his stellar band have a break prior to their South American dates. Should anyone require a recap, the musicians adding their talents to David’s vocals, guitar, and lap steel are Phil Manzanera (guitar, vocals), Jon Carin (keyboards, guitar, lap steel, vocals), Guy Pratt (bass, double bass, vocals), Steve DiStanislao (drums, percussion, vocals), Kevin McAlea (keyboards, accordion), Louise Marshall & Bryan Chambers (backing vocals, percussion) and João Mello (saxophone, guitar, from London onwards). Theo Travis played saxophone on the tour dates preceding London.

Of a show packed with highlights, space precludes listing them all, but perhaps mention can be made of Jon’s versatility on a multitude of instruments as well as vocals, Kevin’s atmospheric organ intro to Us And Them and jazz piano on The Girl In The Yellow Dress, alongside Guy’s swinging double bass, an instrument he took up specifically to play the song. Mention must be made of lyricist Polly Samson, whose words provide the emotional core of all but two of the songs from Rattle That Lock. To name but one, the explosive live power that is In Any Tongue starts with the lyric, and that, allied to David’s impassioned vocal and guitar, the musical arrangement and the overwhelming audio and visual experience, is only one of the many reasons why this is a very special show.

Tonight’s setlist was…

First Set: 5 A.M.; Rattle That Lock; Faces Of Stone; Wish You Were Here; A Boat Lies Waiting; The Blue; Money; Us And Them; In Any Tongue; High Hopes.

Second Set: Astronomy Domine; Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts 1-5); Fat Old Sun; On An Island; The Girl In The Yellow Dress; Today; Sorrow; Run Like Hell.

Encores: Time/Breathe (reprise); Comfortably Numb.