The Divine Comedy @ ABC
note-perfect songs from the back catalogue right up to the new single
| 12 Dec 2006
This is the point at which I'd usually have a cigarette, says a momentarily uncertain Neil Hannon, contemplating an enthusiastic audience and evidently just remembering about the smoking ban. "Shit… it's going to be like this all the way around Ireland too, isn't it?"
An unappealing prospect perhaps, but clearly not that off-putting: his performance tonight is all confidence and swagger, oozing a serious amount of charisma for one so short. Providing infectious exuberance, and backed a seven-piece band including cello and violin, he delivers note-perfect songs from the back catalogue right up to the new single Lady of a Certain Age. Between songs he's charmingly witty - perhaps they should have bent the rules and let the guy have his smoke. "This is a little treat for me", he says, breaking into Raspberry Beret. Judging by the crowd's reaction, the pleasure's all ours. [Eve McCann]
An unappealing prospect perhaps, but clearly not that off-putting: his performance tonight is all confidence and swagger, oozing a serious amount of charisma for one so short. Providing infectious exuberance, and backed a seven-piece band including cello and violin, he delivers note-perfect songs from the back catalogue right up to the new single Lady of a Certain Age. Between songs he's charmingly witty - perhaps they should have bent the rules and let the guy have his smoke. "This is a little treat for me", he says, breaking into Raspberry Beret. Judging by the crowd's reaction, the pleasure's all ours. [Eve McCann]