The Divine Comedy kicked off their UK tour last night following an album release last month
The Divine Comedy on stage at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall (Image: Ray Bonsall/Liverpool ECHO )
Following the release of their 13th studio album, Rainy Sunday Afternoon, Northern Irish pop band The Divine Comedy kicked off the first night of their 16 night UK tour in Liverpool last night.
Having performed an acoustic set at Rough Trade, just a couple of weeks ago, frontman Neil Hannon returned to the city, this time accompanied by a six-piece band and gracing the much larger stage of the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall.
For long standing fans, the mood of the night was a nostalgic one with a generous two hour set spanning a huge selection of the band’s discography complete with all the hits, plus new tracks.
Entering to fan-fare, Hannon in his trademark suit and a dramatic black fedora led the band (violin, accordion, piano, bass, guitar, drums) onto stage, opening the night with some of his more sincere pieces – well suited to the grandeur of the Philharmonic. Sound and lighting was spot on with retro-style studio lights lending themselves to jazz bar-esque air over the opening tracks.
Humour quickly shined through however and the set blended Hannon’s relatable verses with comedic spirit, interspersed at times with wry political commentary.
As fans will know, Hannon’s musical credits also include writing and singing the theme tune to cult Irish sitcom, Father Ted, and the title track, Songs of Love, made a welcome feature in the encore. Despite a passionate call from someone in the crowd, the parody song “My Lovely Horse” (also penned for the show) did not.
While the politeness of a venue like the Philharmonic doesn’t lend itself to much bodily movement, Hannon was able to cut through stiffness of the crowd at one point even inserting himself into it, sitting in the front row during a rendition of Our Mutual Friend and passing the mic to a member of the crowd to belt out a line.
Other high spirited songs were Indie Disco and of course National Express which got an otherwise seated gig on its feet for the most lively song of the night. Snuck in near the end of the set, Hannon pretended he’d forgotten what he was playing before launching into the 1999 hit with spot-on comedic timing.
Another highlight included an entertaining interlude while Hannon fixed each of his band a drink from a bar cart that had been wheeled out on stage, before breaking back into Mar-a-Lago by the Sea, large gin and tonic in hand.
Ending their encore with a humbly introduced new track, fans were serenaded by Invisible Thread, the third track on the new album Rainy Sunday Afternoon. Described by Hannon as a “bittersweet paean to parenthood”, the studio recording sees guest vocals from his daughter Willow.
No doubt any fans who were yet to listen to the new album in its entirety, won’t be any longer.
Set list:
Achilles
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Generation Sex
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The Last Time I Saw the Old Man
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Rainy Sunday Afternoon
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Leaving Today
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The Light of Day
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At the Indie Disco
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Neapolitan Girl
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Don’t Mention the War
(Live debut)
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I Want You
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Bang Goes the Knighthood
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Mother Dear
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Norman and Norma
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Something for the Weekend
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Mar-a-Lago by the Sea
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The Man Who Turned Into a Chair
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A Lady of a Certain Age
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Infernal Machines
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In Pursuit of Happiness
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Our Mutual Friend
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The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter
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Other People
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National Express
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Tonight We Fly
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Encore:
Becoming More Like Alfie
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Songs of Love
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Invisible Thread