Ash at The Academy, Dublin on October 18th 2011
Review: Craig McDonnell
Photos: Alessio Michelini
“It’ll be interesting to read the review of this on Goldenplec” were my exact words on leaving The Academy after Ash’s set. Due to unforeseen circumstances, it is now even more interesting to be given the opportunity to review this gig for Goldenplec.
The Academy was the scene for the beginning of this tour which celebrated the 10th (Yes, 10th!) anniversary of their ‘Free All Angels’ album as well as the release of their Greatest Hits (a review of which you can read here). As if that wasn’t enough, this tour also marked the return of guitarist Charlotte Hatherley.
This was my first time experiencing a band playing an album in its entirety live. Just like the album, their set kicked off in impressive fashion with 3 well-known tracks in a row (Walking Barefoot, Shining Light and Burn Baby Burn). Then, just like the album the set took a bit of a dip. As an Ash fan beside me said, “This is usually when I skip to Track 10”. The band seems to hurry through a number of songs, which Tim openly admits to have only played once or twice, if even at all, live.
Finishing strongly with ‘There’s A Star’ and album closer ‘World Domination’, you would have forgiven them for leaving it there after a 13 song set and sent the crowd home largely pleased after hearing some of their favourites and seeing Charlotte on stage with the band again. However, frontman Wheeler promises the crowd they’ll be back shortly to play a few of their other hits.
A man of his word, Tim returns to the stage with the rest of the band and proceeds to play pretty much another full set. Highlights in this 8 song encore included classics ‘Orpheus’, ‘Oh Yeah’ and ‘Girl From Mars’. Between tracks, Tim informs the crowd that they are playing their album ‘1977’ at a gig in Ulster Hall on November 3rd alongside Divine Comedy (who are playing ‘Promenade’) and The Undertones (playing their self-titled album), a gig not to be missed for fans of bands playing whole albums live, of which I am now one!
Then band leave the stage once more the rapturous applause from the crowd. After 21 songs, surely that was it? Alas, not! The four band members return to the stage for the 3rd time. This time they were accompanied by a very special guest, Irish air guitar champion Deku Chan who shows his talents to another Ash classic, Lose Control.
Their 23rd and last track of the night ‘Kung Fu’ was the perfect way to end the night. All 4 members took to the front of the stage to acknowledge the sold-out Academy crowd and take a well-deserved bow.
Setlist:
- Walking Barefoot
- Shining Light
- Burn Baby Burn
- Candy
- Cherry Bomb
- Submission
- Someday
- Pacific Palisades
- Shark
- Sometimes
- Nicole
- There’s a Star
- World Domination
- Encore
- Projects
- A Life Less Ordinary
- Starcrossed
- Orpheus
- Wildsurf
- Warmer Than Fire
- Oh Yeah
- Girl From Mars
- Encore 2
- Lose Control (With 2 time Air Guitar Champion Deku Chan)
- Kung Fu
