{"id":35781,"date":"2016-02-06T18:12:32","date_gmt":"2016-02-06T18:12:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thesenseofdoubt.com\/?p=35781"},"modified":"2017-05-12T22:56:03","modified_gmt":"2017-05-12T21:56:03","slug":"ian-mcculloch-salford-gig","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/box2305.temp.domains\/~thesent5\/ian-mcculloch-salford-gig\/","title":{"rendered":"Ian McCulloch @St. Philip’s Church, Salford [REVIEW]"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ian McCulloch @St. Philip’s Church, Salford[REVIEW]<\/h2>\n

05.02.16
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\nAlejandro De Luna<\/h5>\n

I\u00b4ve seen The<\/strong> Bunnymen<\/strong> a handful of times, but this was the first time I\u00b4ve seen the frontman and lyricist in this dramatic demonstration of introspection \u2013 an Anglican church in the heart of Salford, an acoustic guitar, a voice sweetened by 4 brandies and a repertoire that no doubt has a unique place in the best of the English songbook. Ian McCulloch\u00b4s <\/strong>expected arrogance and Lou Reed<\/strong>-like look make sense as soon as the Liverpudlian grabs the guitar and starts shooting the audience with Bunnymen<\/strong> renditions and tributes to The Velvet\u00b4s <\/strong>frontman, <\/b>and Wilson Pickett.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Is ‘The Killing Moon’ “the best song ever written<\/a>” as Mac<\/strong> has been declaring for decades? No, but is a brilliant pop song. Does Echo & The Bunnymen<\/strong> have the title of the “greatest band in human history” as Ian McCulloch<\/strong> <\/b>proclaims? Not really, but who gives a fuck? At least the Liverpudlian songwriter has a solid catalogue that puts him on the list of the most relevant english songwriters. Having said that, his familiar bigmouthed comments have some sort of legitimate<\/em> support; not like has-beens A.K.A. Noel Gallagher<\/strong> who instead of making a good record since decades, became a NME clown\/entertainer and proclaims greatness and a god-like status with no substantial support. But anyway, just listen to ‘Lips Like Sugar’, ‘The Game’, ‘Nothing Lasts Forever’, and ‘Rust’, for proof of McCulloch\u00b4s<\/strong> quality.<\/p>\n

Under this intimate atmosphere that protect us from the rain in Salford, Mac\u00b4s<\/strong> iconic songs are transformed into direct and personal hooks of pop brilliance. Although listening to Echo & the Bunnymen<\/strong> brings thickness and dark textures to his catalogue, this bare and noise free renditions have a deeper effect as they force the audience to absorb the lyrics from the Mersey bigmouth. The Scouse seems to flow effortlessly on the empty stage; his emotionally crumbled but velvety voice offers enough drama that is enhanced by the six strings \u2013 an underrated talent on <\/b>the Livepudlian. The coolness, recklessness and arrogance are well justified by this repertoire that puts U2\u00b4s<\/strong> song book in the bin of  second league contenders. Well played, Mac. <\/strong><\/p>\n

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I think most bands are rubbish. – Ian McCulloch<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

SETLIST<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Rescue \/ Villiers Terrace \/ Proud To Fall* \/ Seven Seas \/ Beedbugs & Ballyhoo \/ I\u00b4m Waiting For My Man (The Velvet Underground) \/ Angels & Devils \/ All My Colours (Zimbo) \/ Bringing On The Dancing Horses \/ Nothing Lasts Forever \/ Walk On The Wild Side (Lou Reed) – In The Midnight Hour (Wilson Pickett) –  ??? \/ Candleland* \/ The Game \/ The Killing Moon \/\/ Rust \/ Lips Like Sugar \/\/ Ocean Rain<\/h5>\n

*Ian McCulloch solo songs<\/p>\n