Soul Asylum - As great as they have always been!!!

****3/4

What an amazing return to the UK!!!

Soul Asylum ****3/4 are a band I have waited to see live for a long time, actually twenty eight years. They have not played the UK for so long, and I missed them when they did before. They are on this UK tour with Everclear, making this show the hottest ticket in town... and one I wouldn't miss for the World. I think Soul Asylum's last record the 'Hurry up and Wait' (2020), see's them back at their best. And the fact they feel it is time to tour the UK again shows that they have great confidence in it, and if you have heard it you will be able to see why.

The infectious 'Somebody to Shove' shows the band can still do it live as well as on recordings, this is a song that is a real anthem of the Grunge generation. And I'm sure it has got a few mosh pits moving in it's time, with people shoving each other back and forth. I think it was a genius move by Dave Pirner to bring in Ryan Smith on guitar, he has such life to him and really seems to know what Soul Asylum is all about. He has all the energy and emotion, that Dave had when he first started the band. So I have to say I am really impressed by him, not to say Dave is not as great as he has always been. He moves round the stage really well, and their isn't a moment during the set that you don't feel you are seeing true greatness. It is like seeing Nirvana or Pearl Jam at their best, I am shocked about actually how good they look and sound.

I always really loved 'Misery' and the album it came off 'Let your dim light Shine', it saw the band embrace a slightly dark side. And I have to say I am a fan of things that have a dark edge, so it's right up my street. Like 'Love And other Demons' by Strangelove or 'Only Forever' by Puressence, these albums really have this and so does 'Let your dim light shine'. This is contrasted by Dave Pirner telling some great jokes, throughout the show... my favourite of which was "Edge and Bono walk into a bar, the bartender says not U2 again!!!".

I always really loved Dave Pirner's voice, and the way he looks. And his voice is as great as it ever has been, it's just perfect like you are actually listening to the album when it first come out. Take 'Black Gold' one of the songs that goes down so well with the fans live, it just sounds perfect and I really can't believe it. Ok Dave is looking older now, but he is still equally as cool. The dreads are gone sadly, but his distreessed disarrayed look is Rockstar cool. And what you would want from an older Grunge singer, I personally think he looks great. His voice also comes out best on songs like the bands big No.1 hit anthem 'Runaway Train, which is just a mass sing-a-long.

Other highlights for me in what could only be called a magnificent set are 'Without a Trace' and 'Just like Anyone', the second of which I have to say was my favourite to see done live. I have to say I can't wait to see Soul Asylum again, they were so good. They really impressed me, you never know with acts thatt have not played here in a long time. Will they be great or will they be average or will they just be plain disappointing, Soul Asylum are none of these... they are out of this World. Only other gig

I have seen recently that was equally as good was Headswim which was also in Camden, at The Underworld. I think their is something magical going on in Camden at the moment, which hasn't been seen for years. There seems to be so many great performances happening there, I really hope I don't have to wait another twenty eight years to see Soul Asylum again. I hope they come back in 2023, because the word is getting around about how good they are again live.

Review and Photos by Dan Devour and Dezadie

Soul Asylum - Setlist
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Got it pretty Good
Somebody to Shove
Shut Down
Misery
If I told You
Close
Black Gold
Little too Clean
Sometime to Return
Bittersweetheart
Can't even Tell
Never really Been
Runaway Train
Without a Trace
Lately
Veil of Tears
Just like Anyone
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String of Pearls
April Fool

Check Out! the Video for 'Just like Anyone' Below...