Man & The Echo

This was one of the best gigs I have been to in years. The venue is very small but it has a superb sound system and the sound guy knew what he was doing. The perfect setting for seeing Man and the Echo who are always fantastic live. This was billed as being an acoustic tour and they were without their drummer, but this didn't diminish the show at all. Man and the Echo have a back catalogue of brilliant songs from their first two albums and they played many of my favourites as well as all five tracks from their new EP. All the old songs worked really well in the acoustic format, and the new songs are some of their best work. If you've not heard them I urge you to have a listen to the new EP and 'On Safari' 'Operation Margarine ' and 'Goodnight to Arms' (one of the most perfect love songs ever written) or really anything you can find by them. Gaz Roberts writes songs that are insightful, intelligent, provocative and deeply moving but he never preaches. As a lyricist he has to be on a level with Paddy McAloon and Guy Garvey and the music is just as well crafted. And they are just so brilliant live. I had a great evening