Live Review: The Charlatans - Cambridge Corn Exchange
THE CHARLATANS
CORN EXCHANGE
CAMBRIDGE
[03/12/2021]
A jubilant Tim Burgess brings Cambridge arm in arm to celebrate thirty-one years of one of Britains most significant and under-appreciated 90s rock bands
★★★★
There’s no happier man in the room tonight than Tim Burgess. Throughout the entire, nearly two hour set The Charlatans frontman has a smile that beams from ear to ear, his grin resembling that of a Cheshire cat whilst his body convulses to every single Northern Soul beat blasted out by the group. His energy is electric and it pulses through the room, it is key to stirring a crowd that early on are in need of that jumpstart.
Tonight the band is celebrating an incredulous thirty-one year anniversary, the strange number being due to a COVID enforced delay of a significant thirty-year milestone. It’s a remarkable figure for any group, let alone for one that whilst being a prominent force in the 90s rock scene, feel slightly overlooked in admiration of the heavyweights of the time such as Blur and Oasis. The Charlatans however have always focused on musicianship over spectacle, and this evening is a much-needed reminder of the group's chart prominence as well as the sheer amount of hit’s they’ve accumulated over the past three decades.
Surprisingly, there’s no recognisable structure to tonight's setlist. Instead of tracing the band's history from start to present, it finely cherry-picks from across their discography, which leads to a noticeable lack of crowd enthusiasm early on. Burgess speaks very sparingly throughout the evening, placing his focus on performing as many tracks as possible. Interestingly, however, there are a few notable instances of dry wit and sarcasm early on directed at Cambridge’s less than mild applause. The group received a noticeable chilly reception for the opening section of the evening which contains incredibly tight and well-performed renditions of classics such as ‘Forever’, ‘Weirdo’ and ‘Can’t Get Out of Bed’.
A reluctant crowd becomes a distant memory by the time the band crank through the gears, however, into a reaction that can only be described as rapturous bedlam to 1997’s ‘One to Another’. Pint glasses swill into the air as grown men bounce on the spot, arm in arm with friends. It's a joyous reminder of how impactful the group were to an entire generation of music fans. It’s also a key turning point in the evening, a feeling in the air across the Corn Exchange that the shackles have been let loose.
There’s been a mixed reaction to the band's later output in recent years, yet tonight the pairing of ‘Future Tense’ and ‘Plastic Machinery’ from the group's last record, 2017s ‘Different Days’ is some of the most passionately performed and stirring moments of the evening. Whilst, unfortunately, ‘The Blind Stagger’ once again sees a surprising shift in tempo back to a gentle simmer. Thankfully, heavyweights ‘The Only One I Know’ and ‘How High’ sees the crowd boil back over into euphoria.
A key element of the night is an inspired use of visuals. A large video screen engulfs the band's backdrop and it is used to ingenious effect. During opener ‘Forever’ it shows ticket stubs and early performance at key venues such as the Empress Ballroom in Blackpool as a frenzied crowd in the footage look on. Later on, it’s used to create intricate 3D backgrounds as coloured liquid explodes around Burgess. There are also some beautiful moments such as when a plethora of old Cassettes surround the band or whilst on closer ‘Sproston Green’ James Bond-style ellipsis intertwine with the youthful group climbing the Cheshire hills with a stolen street sign in tow. It’s a brilliant use of technology that taps into the nostalgia of the evening, elevating the atmosphere and grabbing attention during the occasional emotional dip in the perfromance.
Ultimately, tonight was the perfect reminder of how omnipresent The Charlatans have been throughout the past three decades. It’s a deserved recognition of just how significant their music has been to the rock scene. Decades on, the crowd is still full of mod-cut adults and excited parka-clad teenagers, buoyed by the infectious joy Burgess emits. One thing tonight is certain, The Charlatans certainly are forever.
The Charlatans ‘A Head Full of Ideas' 31st Anniversary Best of Tour continues throughout December. You can find out more information and buy tickets here. See remaining dates below:
Dec 6 - Lincoln The Engine Shed
Dec 8 - Liverpool Invisible Wind Factory
Dec 9 - Newcastle Upon Tyne O2 City Hall
Dec 10 - London O2 Academy Brixton
Dec 12 - Norwich UEA LCR
Dec 14 - Exeter Great Hall
Dec 16 - Nottingham Rock City
Dec 17 - Leeds O2 Academy
Dec 18 - Glasgow O2 Academy
Dec 20 - Aberdeen Music Hall
Dec 21 - Edinburgh Corn Exchange
Setlist:
Forever
Weirdo
Can't Get Out of Bed
Then
So Oh
You're So Pretty - We're So Pretty
Sleepy Little Sunshine Boy
Just When You're Thinkin' Things Over
One to Another
Different Days
Future Tense (spoken word)
Plastic Machinery
I Never Want an Easy Life If Me and He Were Ever to Get There
A Man Needs to Be Told
The Blind Stagger
The Only One I Know
North Country Boy
How High
Encore:
Blackened Blue Eyes
Trouble Understanding
Sproston Green