Belle and Sebastian - Are back in Bristol after a long wait

****
Classic Glaswegian indie charm Bristol Harbourside 

Belle and Sebastian have been playing their gentle but intelligent indie tunes for around thirty years now with first album ‘Tigermilk’ in 1996 and is still considered as a bit of a classic amongst their hardcore support today. Most of the crowd did see to be fans from first time around in their 30's and 40's and enjoying the music they grew up with. The band appeared from the back of the stage and launched straight into opening track ‘Dog on Wheels’ with the stage bathed in red light.

Straight into ‘Wrapped up in Books’ and lead singer Stuart Murdoch has not even said “hello” yet, though that’s fine we can let the music do the taking let the music talk. This feels like the perfect location for a Belle and Sebastian gig, outside by the harbour with lots of boats around, perfect for their laid-back vibes on a glorious summer evening. Especially on the weekend before the heatwave, as he points out in 48 hours “You lot are F**ked” referring to the forecast fourty degree heat. In fact, when he does start talking, he’s quite chatty and gives it a more intimate feel than the 3,000 as he discusses a range of topics.

They’ve been a festival staple for a while now so certainly know how to play to a sizeable crowd and keep them engaged. ‘Unnecessary Drama’ is next up and the whole band adds to the percussion section either with hand claps or drumsticks. During the song I think Stuart was preparing his set for the circus field on the follow days Harbour Festival by climbing up on the piano singing to the end before jumping back off again. Next up he knows how to make all of us that remember it first time around by telling us this is a “song released sixty five years ago when many here we’re not born” for ‘She’s Losing It’ (it was on the aforementioned debut album, so neither me nor the band are pensioners quite yet.

I recall seeing Belle and Sebastian in Edinburgh Princes Street Gardens about 20 years ago, on the way home my friend tried to jump a fence and partially skewered his foot (all was well in the end) which leads us neatly to next track ‘Young and Stupid’. Now were both middle aged and stupid now, not quite the same ring to it, I’ll leave the songs titles to the band. ‘I want the World to Stop’ comes shortly after, virtually every song is warmly received. They have always been one of those bands that may not have the largest support base, but they are quite committed to the cause.

He next sits on the front of the stage and tells us the next song is about how he met his wife, but with no smut, sadly. Though what is quite a feature of Belle and Sebastian’s songs is they have clever often slightly off the wall with darker themes almost hidden by the twee nature of some of their tunes such as the “Boy with the Arab Strap” one of the best received songs of the night with it’s uplifting sound, but if you were wondering what an Arab strap is, best you don’t Google it while you’re at work or helping with the kids homework. Though your Facebook ads could be interesting for a while after said Google.

While Stuart Murdoch is their front man their female singer Sarah Martin also has an amazing voice almost draw s you in especially when she takes main vocal duties on ‘Get me away from Here, I'm Dying”. Shortly after they depart the stage ready for the encore, we get asked what we want to hear, one we prepared earlier was suggested to large acclaim before launching into what is probably one of their classics ‘Lazy line painter Jane’ one that has been absent from their sets for a while so it was nice to be there on the night it comes back.

‘The State that I am in’ comes up and is followed by final song ‘Judy and the dream of Horses’ a faster paced track to leave us energised and wanting more, but sadly the curfew of 10.30pm has caught up with us. Always leave them wanting more is the phrase; Belle and Sebastian certainly succeeded on that and many other fronts tonight.

Review by Jon Cooper and Photo's by Steve Owen (Icarus Photography)

Belle and Sebastian - Setlist
--------------------------------------------
Dog on Wheels
Wrapped up in Books
Unnecessary Drama
Young and Stupid
She's losing It
Reclaim the Night
I Want the World to Stop
Piazza, New York Catcher
Another sunny Day
Little Lou, Ugly Jack, Prophet John
Chickfactor
Get me away from Here, I'm Dying
The Boy with the Arab Strap
Dear catastrophe Waitress
The Wrong Girl
Sleep the clock Around
-------------------------------
Lazy line painter Jane
The State I am In
Judy and the dream of Horses

Check Out! the Video for 'Unnecessary Drama' Below...