GIG: LIAM FRAY

Review by John Cooper (special thanks to Lauren & Amelia for the photos)

When two special acoustic solo performances (an afternoon matinee & an evening) by Liam Fray were announced a few weeks ago, scheduled for the eve of the release of the Courteeners third album Anna, we knew we had to get tickets to one of these shows. Tickets sold out fast (something Liam made comment to and thanked the crowd for during his set saying that it had really meant something to him), and we were more than happy to secure a couple of tickets for the evening show. Also for the cost of £12, this not only included the ticket, but a copy of the new album & and individually signed lyric sheet by Liam – a real bargain. 

We arrived at the Ritz a shortly before Liam was due on stage, and battled our way to the busy bar amongst a crowd of die-hard Courteeners fans. There was a real buzz about in the room, and when Liam walked out the shouts (and screams) were both passionate and loud. Liam launched straight into "How Come" and the crowd responded with singing every word with arms outstretched towards their hero. Even stood to the side you could really sense the atmosphere of this gig was going to be something special, I can only imagine how intense it would have been right at the front in the heart of it all. The first 5 songs were all classics from St Jude with the crowd knowing every single word and singing back at a clearly humbled Liam. He carried on with a couple of B-sides including  “an Ex is an Ex for a Reason” the B-side to the 7” version of the early single “Acrylic” probably a good opportunity for him to dust off these rarely played songs. He then followed up with a good mixture of tracks from Falcon and of course the new Album Anna. The Stand out tracks that Liam played from the new album included “Van Der Graaff”, “Marquee” & album closer “Here Come the Young Men”.

At one point during the show a girl was pulled from the front after feinting and was taken by the security staff to the side of the stage, after finishing the song he was playing – Liam ran off for a few moments to check on her – something that was really good to see that he genuinely cares about his fans – he could have easily left something like that to the officials – so hats off to you Liam. Another incident that happened during the show (something that seems to be a staple of a Courteeners gig is the throwing of beer – why I’m not quite sure as its never a cheap pint in most major music venues and just seems a waste of beer to me), but this particular pint hit the stage and covered Liams back – he didn’t rise to this, have a rant and walk off like some artists might – instead he got on with doing what he does best and entertaining his crowd (who were already booing the pint thrower who had soaked their hero). Liam rewarded the crowd with a real crowd pleaser to finish on “Not Nineteen Forever” cue more singing in adulation. The lights went down and everyone realised that one song was missing, prompting the mass repeated chanting of “Whoh-oh-oooh U-huh-hu-oooh” the final refrain of “What Took You So Long?” and indeed Mr Fray didn’t let down his audience coming out for a one song encore of the song the crowd needed to hear. Upon leaving the venue there were so many beaming faces and the continued singing from them of “Whoh-oh-oooh U-huh-hu-oooh” filled the air as we filed out. A truly memorable night where both artist and audience fed of each other to make it one of those special gigs that will remain in the hearts and memories of everyone who was there.