Album Rating: 4.0

Seeing them in October with dear old dad :D

Album Rating: 4.5

It finally happened - watched Matt live at Ally Pally last night!



Incredible stuff, missed half the first set as I didn't realise they were playing two - so only got Side B of the new album, walked into the main arena with the wife as the Covid song 'Linoleum' was playing, very strange atmosphere not sure what she thought then lol



The closer 'Rainy Day in May' was a stunner though.

Album Rating: 4.5

The main set was so good.



Highlights:

- realising I'm not insane, the 'Infected' material is the strongest in this setting too and in particular those bass lines just have the power, sounded the fullest. 'Infected', 'Sweet Bird' and 'Heartland' were all perfect.



- "this is a song I wrote when I was 19 watching aeroplanes thinking whatever it takes one day I'm doing something that'll let me travel the world" He wrote 'This is the Day' at 19...what was I doing at 19? Flicking through FHM? Played a great version of this song.



- the keyboardist/pianist played the piano solo of 'Uncertain Smile' perfectly, that was insane, fair play.



- The final 'the world's too big...' section of 'Lonely Planet caught me, got the eyes a bit moist did that - wasn't sure which song would get me that way, and it was that one!



- 'Dogs of Lust' hit the spot, so the band could rock.



Lowlights:

- he can't hit the notes on 'Love is Stronger Than Death' and that felt poignant somehow :'(



- "how do you follow that piano solo...well you could play 'Out of the Blue' of course...but we decided to end the set with something everyone can chant" they play 'Giant', which was incredible, but you can't just say you could have played my favourite The The song like that. Aargh.



- the 'singalong' version of 'Slow Emotion Replay' didn't sound good without the harmonica and drums but thank fuck everyone did at least sing along to it loudly.





Overall top ten live experience for me, what a legend, amazed he could still put on a monster show after that throat surgery.

‘Highlights:

- realising I'm not insane’

Proper pissed myself at that one.

Album Rating: 4.5

I was really afraid the 'Infected' material might flop - I needn't have worried, it was strange how much better it sounded than most of the rest.



Uncertain Smile and Giant were the same level so good choice on encore.



Love that venue- old fuckers are strange though, lot of 50+ at this gig and...just odd pissed behaviour every way you looked. Best people watching at a gig in a long while - it was like they were on day release from the funny farm.

Album Rating: 4.5

Hearing a massive crowd singing lyrics like 'God doesn't plant the bombs for Hezbollah' was something too, very timely (no one plants their bombs now perhaps...), 'Armageddon Days' was classic too remembering now.

Album Rating: 4.0

glad you had a better time than me. first hour was ruined by a drunk couple behind us kicking our chairs, shouting a loud conversation over the music and threatening to assault my friend when he asked them to be quiet. eventually got them kicked out of the venue, so enjoyed the second half of the show

Album Rating: 4.5

I did say I also thought the place was crawling with weirdos! - sorry it fucked up your night a bit.



My missus went to the toilet and then to get us drinks from the bar, because she's an angel, and when she returned with the drinks I asked how it went - she said "great, the bar is real quick, but some bloke had his willy out and was twirling it round'"!!!



That was just one example of the weirdness, like I said it was a bit like day release from the lunatic asylum.

Haha.
When the soft as shite meet people over the age of 40.

Album Rating: 4.0

???

Album Rating: 4.5

Yeah it's the oldies you have to watch, totally different atmosphere, there was mania in the air, people letting it all hang out quite literally - like I said absolute classic people watching, was lol

Album Rating: 4.0

I was second row from the very back and it was a far more chill atmosphere (in Edinburgh). people just wanting to enjoy the music. this drunk couple were visibly pissing off a LOT of people around us. Threatening to kick the back of my friends head and throw him over the balcony because he asked you to stop kicking his seat ffs.

Album Rating: 4.5

Ah, you were in Edinburgh, sorry you mentioned that before.



Yes this was the London crowd, the 'home crowd' I guess you'd call it, rowdy/loony atmosphere prevailed. Fun atmosphere, great gig.

That’s well mannered for Scotland

Album Rating: 4.0

second to last gig I was at was Emperor in the Barrowlands. nothing but friendly people. go to The The and shit kicks off lol

Album Rating: 4.5

Lots of angry disenfranchised chubby middle aged bald fellas who either look a bit like cabbies, publicans or train spotters

Album Rating: 4.0

true true

Was it sold out?

Album Rating: 4.5

I think so yeah, felt like the busiest Ally Pally show I've been to...maybe not quite as full as Arcade Fire way back in 2007 but I can't really remember.



Definitely felt more packed than Sigur Ros, The National and, uh, Tame Impala.

Fair play