The Charlatans @ Carling Academy
The Charlatans were always something of a Skoda to Oasis's Volkswagen
| 11 Jan 2007
Could this be the last chance to see The Charlatans? With their second 'best of' compilation in the shops, it's fair to say the vultures are circling. Perhaps The Charlatans were always something of a Skoda to Oasis's Volkswagen, but tonight's show would still mark a fitting curtain call, if indeed such speculation is to be given credence. Supporting them are younger-generation Manchester band The Longcut, a trio who generate waves of sonic assault through moaning guitar and angry bass which crash indistinctly in the recesses of the cavernous hall. Their audience may be more interested in their own conversations, but The Longcut evidently enjoy their unduly short set.
Eventually The Charlatans emerge in a blizzard of strobe-flashes and dry ice, with Tim Burgess delaying his entrance until the last possible second. Such unapologetic theatricality continues unabated all night, but these perennial survivors have surely earned the right to it. An unexciting first half is punctuated by a few highlights from Wonderland before they sink their teeth into the anthems. 'The Only One I Know' transports the nostalgic audience trippily back to 1990 and Burgess goes all strained-Dylan on 'How High' - the venue obediently jumps. An impressive spectacle yes, but there can't be much more fuel left in the tank. [Nick Mitchell]
Eventually The Charlatans emerge in a blizzard of strobe-flashes and dry ice, with Tim Burgess delaying his entrance until the last possible second. Such unapologetic theatricality continues unabated all night, but these perennial survivors have surely earned the right to it. An unexciting first half is punctuated by a few highlights from Wonderland before they sink their teeth into the anthems. 'The Only One I Know' transports the nostalgic audience trippily back to 1990 and Burgess goes all strained-Dylan on 'How High' - the venue obediently jumps. An impressive spectacle yes, but there can't be much more fuel left in the tank. [Nick Mitchell]