The Del Amitri Concert, July 17/19, 1997
by Anna Barwick

On Thursday I saw the Dels at Hammersmith Palais. I went to the concert with a couple of friends who had seen most of the other gigs they had already played and had promised me that the guys were on top form. They were absolutely right.

The support band were the Candyskins. They were very good, not quite as good as King L, but still one of the best support bands they have had.

There was a stage set: the wallpaper from the album with three flying ducks (a la Hilda Ogden), a cheap bookcase with various objects, including a fruitbowl, some books and old naff records, and around the stage were lamps, with cheap paper shades, and plants in pots.

The opening track was "Some Other Suckers Parade". This was followed by some old favourites, including the "new" version of Last To Know and my all-time favourite: Here And Now. Then they played Cruel Light Of Day, one of my favourite tracks on the new album. I was also very happy to hear Paper Thin again. It sounded as good as I remembered and I really hope it makes its way on to a single somewhere along the line. They also played What I Think She Sees. It was great to hear it live at last. When I first heard it on the album I wasn't sure about it, but after five or so times of playing it, it grew on me and is now another favourite. They played Medicine as the first of the encores, it sounds much better live than on the album, and Justin is still playing guitar on that track. During Be My Downfall, Justin asked if anyone had any requests, then when several people started shouting them, he said "you don't actually think I'm going to play them, do you?". They also played Driving... and the final track was Kiss This Thing Goodbye.

During the evening Justin threw some objects from the stage set into the audience. This evening some plastic fruit and a Perry Como record was thrown.

Afterwards we went to an after-show thingy upstairs at the venue and I met the new guys. David Cummings and Ashley were both there, as was one of the guys from Boyzone.

Two nights later I saw them at Portsmouth Guildhall. This time the support band was Sheen, a local band I believe. They were awful - terribly boring and I yawned my way through their set while sipping my friend's vodka, which she had smuggled in disguised in a bottle of spring water. By the time the Dels came on we were all merry, no thanks to the support band. :-)

When the Dels came on we had a feeling it was going to be a good evening - Justin was carrying a can of beer and smiling. Again they opened with Some Other Suckers Parade. The set list was similar to Hammersmith Palais. During a break between songs Justin lifted an empty beer can up in the direction of the roadies and said he had run out of beer. After the next song a tray of beer cans was duly brought on, and Justin and Chris had a can each, but they wouldn't let Andy have his. Instead, Justin grabbed the can and went over to where we were standing and handed it down to my friends and I. We were chuffed to say the least: a can of beer is definitely a much more useful thing to have given to you than a Perry Como record during a gig. We got to hear Paper Thin again, which was nice, and Here And Now. Not Where It's At was of course played at both venues. The guys were messing about a lot. Justin mentioned that he is waiting for someone to "do" him on Stars In Their Eyes and proceeded to play Roll To Me as though he was someone doing an impersonation of himself, sending Iain into a muddle and eventually cracking up with laughter himself. As I don't particularly like Roll To Me, this has to be the best version of it I have ever heard. They also played What I Think She Sees again. My friend said that at the earlier gigs that song had been a bit weak, but these two nights it sounded just fantastic. A classic quote from Justin came when thanking the crew, and "thanking God, because he doesn't exist!" On the whole though, there was not much chat between songs at either gig.

When they came on to do the encores Justin brought another can of beer, which he proceeded to bring over to us again, so we had another (welcome!) drink. Lovely!! That guy obviously knows three thirsty girls when he sees them. :-)

At one point Justin sat down right on the edge of the stage in front of us and started playing Norwegian Wood on his guitar, then jumped up again and carried on the normal set without starting to sing it, which was diappointing, but as he didn't have any microphone there I guess it was fair enough, because only those of us standing right in front of him could have heard it. They did Be My Downfall again, and in the middle they played Drowned On Dry Land. When I was standing there listening to it, it brought it home to me why I love this band so much!!!

Overall verdict: THEY ROCK!!! I liked them with Brian and David. I liked them with Jon and Ashley. But Mark and Chris really are good. And they are with it! I can't say I have ever heard the Dels sound better. Roll on October.........

Cheers,
Anna :-)