Live

Doves

Liam McGrady 24/02/2005

Tell you what; it was bloody cold in Glasgow on Thursday night. That wind, I'm telling you, it'd cut you into not just two, but three or four. But anyway, if you want a weather report go and see that idiot, Michael Fish. I'll get on with recounting Doves live show.

By opening with the high tempo euphoria of 'Pounding' Jimi Goodwin, and Jez and Andy Williams had the crowd in the palm of their hand from the offset, and turned the screw even more with a particularly wired and taught version of 'Words', Jez's guitaring sounding steely and forceful where previously it had been languid and fluid.

The crowd was a definite mix of new fans and long time admirers, with ecstatic cheers going up when Andy's Motown enhanced drumming signalled the arrival of recent single, Black & White Towns. Doves play this song with such conviction, Jimi especially, as his northern roar warns that, “This is a dangerous place, man”.

Despite the false start on 'The Last Broadcast' the show runs smoothly, but what would you expect? This lot are old pros now. Alternating between old anthems (the rippling 'Sea Song', the raging fury of 'N.Y' and spine tingling 'Caught By The River') and new material (the dub-like 'Almost Forgot Myself' and the immensely atmospheric 'Snowden') the band rap up the main set with 'The Cedar Room'. Delivered after an announcement from Jimi that “the next song is for every single fucking one of you” and collecting together all that's great about this band they move from the rumbling, bass heavy intro to the yearning FX laden choruses, leaving the capacity crowd pleading for more.

There are not many better songs to end a gig with than 'There Goes The Fear' and the Glasgow crowd know it. Seeing 2000 hands in the air and the dancefloor bathed in blue light as Jimi croons, “Close your brown eyes, and lay down next to me” was the highlight of the night; until the blue light gave way to a red fug, and everyone in the place went crazy during the voodoo beats of the chaotic coda.