Many thanks to Baldilocks from doves board for providing this scan of a review of the Hatfield Forum gig, as printed in the Welwyn Hatfield Times. The article includes a wee interview with Jimi before the gig. Just click the image to view full size, a good read.
This post and Paul’s Roundhouse review goes to show without the input of you all, this blog would be nothing. Thanks guys! I’m off on my hols today, so the blog will be taking a wee break til I return in about 10 days. Unless there is any major news to report, which I will post.
Nearly forgot, if you are attending the gig in Dubai and want to post a review/setlist/photos etc feel free to email them to me. I will post reaction to the show on my return.
by admin · Published October 12, 2009
· Last modified November 12, 2010
The setlist from the Hatfield Forum show, with thanks to Christina!
As if I can’t squeeze enough from the Hatfield show, Now a review of the show by the Daily Mail. Though I suspect they were there to review the venue, doves just happened to be playing! Though the reviewer seemed to enjoy it regardless.
Six years ago Doves frontman Jimi Goodwin lost his temper. During an early evening set at the Reading Festival he ranted at the crowd for not being lively enough, for not dancing, for really not caring whether they were present or not.
The truth was the audience weren’t really interested in the trio on stage –they just happened to occupy the same field – and an ego was bruised.
So flashing forward six years to the Doves gig at University of Hertfordshire’s brand new purpose-built venue, The Forum, things were a little touch and go as there didn’t appear to be any interaction between band and fans.
But the problem seemed to be that on the night the 1,500 punters were, at least initially, more keen to see what £38million had been spent on.
And so as Doves shuffled onto the stage and started their set 1,500 pairs of wide eyes scanned the room, looking at the shiny bars, the lights, the huge modern chandelier –everywhere but the stage.
And so it was for the next 20 minutes.
Swirling, passionate, sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes uplifting songs were punctuated by polite clapping, gentle head bobbing and more chin-scratching than you would find at a philosophers’ convention.
For the first three songs it was hard to believe that the new auditorium contained Doves fans at all.
But after a creaking start, slowly and thankfully, things changed. Pounding, Winter Hill, Kingdom of Rust, Jetstream… the band dragged the audience out of their mire with such a powerful set of anthems that stone statues would have ended up dancing.
Words made the crowd whoop, Black and White Town united the audience in a stomp-along and as the opening notes of There Goes The Fear heralded the beginning of the end the shaky relationship between audience and band was finally banished for a glorious finale.
This was the night we had expected at last. Thanks to a ‘best of’ set with tracks handpicked from all four albums, our collective hair had been let down, shaken round and even Doves looked like they were enjoying themselves.
The Mancunian three-piece kicked off a series of great gigs lined up for the University of Hertfordshire’s new £38m entertainment venue with a blistering 90-minute set.
Before opening with most recent single Winter Hill, lead singer Jimi Goodwin announced: “Welcome Hertfordshire!”
The twice Mercury-nominated group then proceeded to play tracks from their latest studio album, Kingdom of Rust, as well as classics from chart-toppers The Last Broadcast and Some Cities, and debut single The Cedar Room.
To read the full article and view the picture gallery, click here.
The article also notes that the Wednesday edition of the paper will feature an interview with Jimi.
It was a great set. They played a whole bunch of awesome tunes. An extra long version of The Cedar Room was a highlight. I had a really good boogie to some great tracks: Pounding, Winter Hill, Snowden, There Goes The Fear, Words, Here It Comes, Kingdom of Rust, Ambition, Almost Forgot Myself, Black & White Town, The Greatest Denier, The Last Broadcast and Caught By The River. One of my favourite tunes of the night though was Jetstream. I was listening to that track as we took off from Los Angeles, fighting back tears, so it now has a strong emotional connection for me.
As always to read the full review, visit the reviewer’s blog here.
Whilst browsing Piccadilly Records, I noticed they have started up their own blog. Check them out, one of the best record stores still standing! Whilst I will be missing the Electric Proms gig later this month by only a few days on my return to the UK on Holiday (I moved to Chicago last year) I shall take the consolation prize of visiting one of my favourite record stores (along with Beatin’ Rhythm) for the first time in ages. My favourite local record store back in my hometown sadly closed down a few years ago. Chicago still has a few decent independent stores still standing, though I do wonder how long they have left.
Doves play a show this Friday in Hatfield to open up the new students union music venue at the University of Herfordshire. Tickets are still available at the usual outlets, though are expected to sellout. As always, if you are attending, would love to hear from you with photos/setlist/review whatever you have.
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