Frank Turner - Plays very special 'Outstore' Show in Bristol

*****
Quite Frankly, an amazing evening 

Frank Turner ***** is a prolific tourer, well always was of course the last couple of years have reduced his chances to quite a lot. In fact, he even cancelled his tour that was due to take place this February, but he’s finally back on the road with these ‘Outstore’ show. I must agree with him this is a word that never deserved to exist but does help some of the smaller independent record stores, in this case Rough Trade in Bristol. From the start he made it clear this was not going to be a quick thirty minute promo slot, but a full-blown gig.

While full blown in set length it was stripped back to him and Matt Nasir, who is usually his keyboardist but has been ‘demoted’ (his words not mine) to mandolin. While probably making it easier to travel light on a small venue tour, he does point out when they reach songs with keyboard solo “They’re fucked”... in fact they did in very well. The place is packed to the rafters, which is not surprising given that he normally plays venues much bigger than this, I mentioned him being a prolific tourer, he announced this is show 2605 (2604 having been a few hours earlier for the matinee). I checked and the figure for the Rolling Stones is around 2000 shows since 1962, Frank has managed more than that in sixteen years.

He has one of the most passionate fanbases I think I have ever come across, everyone seems to know every word to every song, including the album tracks including from the most recent one which only came out last month. He opened the set with a couple from that album 'The Gathering' followed by “Not been doing so Well”.  It was a mix of old and new with 'Photosynthesis' and 'The Next Storm' making early appearances too, the latter having a lyric I think we can relate to from recent history “I don't want to spend the whole of my life indoors” as he pointed out we are back and singing together.

He did a couple of songs fully solo including 'Substitute' which rarely gets an outing these days, mostly as it’s about his past love life and he’s now very happily married, but as he said things change but the songs are about then and not always now. It was one more new “then all the hits” which he preceded with a quick rendition of 'Living on a Prayer' which, gratefully or unfortunately depending on your opinion, was the only Bon Jovi offering of the night. Though it was good, I see the venue have lots of cover bands, so if his solo work dries up it could be an option. As promised, it was back to the hits.

'Recovery' has been one of his most well received songs live a rip-roaring anthem about changing the way you live followed by another sing along for 'Four simple Words', which is a song about singing along so again perfect for the occasion. Final song of the night was perhaps the most fitting of all for me, it’s tough to not keep referring to the fact we have all missed a lot of music in the last couple of years, but the line “Something as simple as Rock 'n' Roll would save us all” certainly summed up the thoughts of those attending from 'I still Believe'. A perfect night and an honour to see such an amazing live act in such an intimate venue, see you at the Bristol, o2 in October to do it all again.

Review by Jon Cooper and Photos by Steve Owen

Check Out! the Video for 'The Gathering' Below...