Echo And The Bunnymen - London Royal Festival Hall, 3/2/2002
by Anthony Strutt
published: 22 / 3 / 2002
intro
Anthiny Strutt finds Echo and the Bunnymen, despite a sick Ian McCulloch, in great mform on the second night of a British tour to promote their new album 'Live in Liverpool'j
This gig was the second date of a tour to promote the then unreleased new Bunnymen live album 'Live in Liverpool'. The gig started off with a set by Bunnymen guitarist Will Sergeant's side project Glide, which all went wrong from the first note. As it is post rock, and a lot of it involves using computers, Will gave in after about two minutes. Next on were Magic Alex who vocalist Ian 'Mac' McCulloch is producing, but I missed that as I was in the bar. Earlier on in the evening I had introduced myself to Peasey, the Bunnymen's manager, who told me that Mac was having an afternoon sleep and that he had a doctor by his side as he was feeling ill. He also mentioned that tonight's gig also had a bigger plan in Mac's scheme of things because Frank Sinatra had played here in 1970 or 1971, and he wanted to grace the same stage. This was all actually a bit strange for me, as, out of all the many times I have seen the Bunnymen, this was the first time I had sat down thoughout. I had had seats before for the Bunnymen, but I had never remained in my seat for long. The band tonight played for about 85 minutes , and, to be honest, still sounds like it did in 1987. They are well rehearsed, but this is down to Will Sergeant who puts the band through workouts, while Mac just turns up to sing the words. Although 'Live in Liverpool' has been released in many ways to plug the last studio album "Flowers', the band don't really push this far, and only three of the tracks on "Flowers' are played at this live outing, which is shame as it by far the best of the albums by the Bunnymen since they refomed in the mid 90's. Tonight the band look quite casual apart from the sick Mac and they plow through their back catalogue with grace, playing enough of their hits to please most of us who are here to relive the 80's. The Bunnymen are heading to Brazil soon before reurning to us in May and June where they will play with New Order in Finsbury Park. A greati-sh gig by one of my favourite bands, but what will they follow this up with ? That is the question.
Band Links:-
http://www.bunnymen.com/https://www.facebook.com/thebunnymen/
https://twitter.com/Bunnymen
Picture Gallery:-
interviews |
Interview with Ian McCulloch (2014) |
Nick Dent-Robinson speaks to Ian McCulloch from Echo and the Bunnymen about his band's new album, 'Meteorites' |
Interview (2011) |
live reviews |
Royal Centre, Nottingham, 12/9/2023 |
Dave Goodwin at the Royal Centre in Nottingham watches Echo and The Bunnymen with the help of the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra play in a stunning set their 1984 fourth album 'Ocean Rain' in its entirety. |
Usher Hall, Edinburgh, 23/5/2018 |
Brixton Academy, London, 9/12/2010 |
Shepherd's Bush Empire, London, 30/11/2003 |
London Riverside Studios, 8/3/2003 |
Guildford, Surrey, 21/7/2002 |
features |
Ten Songs That Made Me Love... (2020) |
In our series, in which our writers celebrate ten songs that made them love a favourite band or artist, Cila Warncke raises a glass to Liverpudlian post-punks Echo And The Bunnymen |
reviews |
The Fountain (2009) |
Maligned latest album from Echo and the Bunnymen, which despite unimpressing much of the group's hardcore fan base, is very much a grower |
Rescue (2006) |
Me, I'm All Smiles (2006) |
Scissors In The Sand (2006) |
In The Margins (2005) |
Stormy Weather (2005) |
Siberia (2005) |
Flowers (2001) |
most viewed articles
current edition
Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies - Sala Apolo, Barcelona, 29/11/2023 and La Paqui, Madrid, 30/11/2023Anthony Phillips - Interview
Difford and Tilbrook - Difford and Tilbrook
Rain Parade - Interview
Oldfield Youth Club - Interview
Autumn 1904 - Interview
Shaw's Trailer Park - Interview
Cafe No. 9, Sheffield and Grass Roots Venues - Comment
Chris Hludzik - Vinyl Stories
Pete Berwick - ‘Too Wild to Tame’: The story of the Boyzz:
previous editions
Microdisney - The Clock Comes Down the StairsWorld Party - Interview
World Party - Interview with Karl Wallinger
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EP
Ain't That Always The Way - Alan Horne After The Sound of Young Scotland 2
Steve Harley - Interview
Dwina Gibb - Interview
Ruts - Life After Death ? : A Profile
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
Leprous - Photoscapes
most viewed reviews
current edition
Serious Sam Barrett - A Drop of the Morning DewMarika Hackman - Big Sigh
Rod Stewart and Jools Holland - Swing Fever
Loves - True Love: The Most of The Loves
Ian M Bailey - We Live in Strange Times
Paul McCartney and Wings - Band on the Run
Autumn 1904 - Tales of Innocence
Roberta Flack - Lost Takes
Banter - Heroes
Posey Hill - No Clear Place to Fall
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart