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Concert Report
June 17th, 2002
Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, UK
by Marie

Set List: Let Me Ride/Burn/Out of Time/This World Over/Kicking Distance/Freaks/Vent/Long Way South/Find A Reason/Anchor/Seven/Down the Days

Encore: Going to Ground/Everybody

2nd Encore: Century

The boys are back in town. And that sound you heard last night? Was the sound of several thousand fans eating up everything DriveSHAFTdished out. And then some. I could give a lot of backstory about the venue and the opening bands and the snack I had before the show but I know what you're really here for. So here goes...

After a remarkably painless set change (Liam referred to the crew as the "unseen, unsung heroes". And they are.  These guys deserve more credit than is usually given), DriveSHAFTtook the stage. "Let Me Ride" truly is perfection when it comes to an opening song.  The way it builds reflects the energy of the crowd perfectly. Next up was "Burn", which caused the guy in front of me to predict the band would play Going to Ground in its entirety! A novel idea, but this is the Last Call tour, bro! That was evident as they launched into "Out of Time". I'll admit that this song didn't do much for me when I first heard it, but it is taken to a new level when performed live (especially the deep, funky bass groove...).

Up next were two oldies, "This World Over" and "Kicking Distance", with the latter having a new arrangement that manages to keep the song fresh for both the band and the audience. "This World Over" provided some comic relief as, after the first verse, Sinjin was rocking so hard, he rocked himself right onto his arse. He stumbled backward, fell off balance, and continued to play. He did, however, require the assistance of his guitar tech to help him to his feet to perform the rest of the song in a (surprisingly) not-at-all subdued fashion.

Then it was time for the "new song" portion of the evening. At recent gigs, they've been going back and forth between playing "Cheetah" and "Freaks". Tonight, they chose the latter. This song has such an infectious guitar riff that it's hard not to do a jig when you hear it. If only someone would do something about Liam's vocal level (i.e. TURN IT UP), because it seems like every time I hear them perform this song, it is practically impossible to decipher what he's singing at the end! I hope one or both of these songs make it onto the next record.

Next was "Vent", followed by "Long Way South". This seems like a very odd pairing to me, putting one of the more subdued songs right after one of the rowdiest. I think many people in the audience were confused. I could almost hear them asking themselves, "Should I be rocking like a hurricane? Or rolling down the river?" The pacing got back on track with the next song, "Find a Reason". The placement of this track in the setlist could not be more perfect. It forms a bridge from the slower tempo of "LWS" to the more upbeat songs that follow. The double-whammy of "Anchor" and "Seven" followed, and the energy of the crowd was amazing. Liam once said that every time they play "Anchor" it's like getting an adrenaline shot in the arse. I think that goes for the fans as well. And when they kicked into the opening bass riff of "Seven", the crowd just lost it!

For "Down the Days", it was the band's turn to go off. I watched with my mouth (literally) agape during the jam at the end. Sinjin was playing with such intensity that he looked completely mental. The rest of the band was just as insane. I'm surprised Charlie didn't get a neck injury from groovin' so hard, Patrick looked like he was playing in fast motion, and Liam looked like he was gonna stage-dive at any moment. If you could harness that energy...

They left the stage and, after a short break, came back out with "Going to Ground". Charlie and Patrick laid down the funky beat as Sinjin played that haunting guitar riff. It has been so fantastic to see Charlie really come into his own as the leader of the band over the past couple of tours. It's difficult to put into words, but the crowd really seems to feed off of his vibe.

Next, Liam rejoined them for "Everybody" and at some points, the sound of the crowd singing along was enough to actually drown out Sinjin's guitar. Say what you will about the "MTV fans" etc., but you know that has to be an incredible feeling for the band.

They left the stage and came back for one more, "Century". Just as "Let Me Ride" is the perfect opening song, "Century" is the perfect finale.  Although, truth be told, I wouldn't be upset if, just once, they decided to tack "That Country Song" on the end. I realize that usually after "Century", the instruments are in no condition to be played again (especially Charlie and Sinjin's), but a girl can dream, can't she?

Overall, this was an outstanding show. The acoustics could've been better, and Liam's vocals could've been mixed higher, but no show is absolutely perfect. If it had been, we wouldn't have seen Sinjin fall on his ass! (I'm sorry, but it was REALLY funny, and I'm sure he wasn't hurt, aside from a bruised ego.) ;)

Crap photo of the setlist.

And a picture of the crowd.