Deacon Blue Rock Cardiff
St. David`s Hall, Cardiff was the recent venue for a fantastic gig by the timeless Scottish rockers Deacon Blue. Formed way back in the Eighties (which is the era I was growing up in!) they have stood the test of time brilliantly, and sound as good now as they did nearly thirty years ago.
Warming up the crowd before the main event were hometown duo `Zervas & Pepper`, who have established a growing presence on the UK live circuit including well-received slots at Glastonbury and Green Man festivals.
Since forming in 1985, Deacon Blue have had massive success in the UK, selling 6 million albums including two that have topped the charts, plus 12 singles that have stormed the Top 40.
In September this year, the band released their seventh studio album A New House, and it was songs from this album which kicked off the show in style. Decibel levels in the hall then increased considerably with a rendition of the classic `Raintown`, which heralded the start of a string of well-known tunes, such as `Loaded` and `Fergus Sings The Blues`, the best known of which, `Real Gone Kid`, worked the crowd to fever pitch.
The encore did not disappoint, with every member of the audience on their feet singing along to probably the band`s best known hit, `Dignity`, followed by the energetic `Wages Day`, a stirring climax to what was a fantastic show.
Frontman Ricky Ross has lost none of his ability to entertain, not to mention a real talent for song writing, and combined with Lorraine McIntosh`s beautiful harmonies, produce a sound that appeals to a broad spectrum of people. To watch a live band is always a memorable experience, whether you enjoy it or not, to watch a band who you grew up with and still remember most of the words to their songs is an experience I will not forget in a long time.
