1MM: The Verve @ WaMu Theater/Madison Square Garden

RICHARD ASHCROFT: How does that sonnet go again?

Photos/Text by Andrew Parks

There were very little surprises during the first half of the Verve’s tw0-night stand at New York’s WaMu Theater. That is if you don’t count the band’s anti-climatic opener: a no-name DJ (literally; he wasn’t credited on the bill or even thanked onstage) that blended old-school funk, soul and rap as if it were Friday night and the feeling’s right. In other words … LAME.

As for the somewhat triumphant return of the little Brit-pop band that couldn’t (drug problems and a debilitating Rolling Stones lawsuit kinda put a damper on the success of Urban Hymns), it was deftly led by frontman Richard Ashcroft. While he may be pushing 40—37 in September, to be exact—the singer sounded as strong as he’s ever been. He also looks healthier than he did the last time we saw him, a bag of sunken cheekbones on the cover of Rolling Stone. Actually, strike that. He doesn’t just look healthy; he looks goddamn great, a sinewy gecko of a man that looks like he reversed the aging caused by years of drugging and drinking. The band was on point tonight, too, knocking out such favorites as “Sonnet,” “The Drugs Don’t Work,” “Lucky Man,” “The Rolling People” and (of course) “Bittersweet Symphony.”

That last one was presented as part of an encore that actually made the band’s new song, “Love Is Pain,” sound much better than some Coachella reports had proposed. The Verve as reinvented for the nü-rave set, the song features a hypnotic, brain-burrowing sample and some serious beats, which the band managed to stretch into a lengthy, over-the-top jam. If they keep writing songs like this, a full-on tour with the Klaxons can’t be far off.

6 Responses to “1MM: The Verve @ WaMu Theater/Madison Square Garden”

1. dorothy on April 29th, 2008 4:02 am

   what time did the Verve go on? what time did the DJ go on/stop?

2. TGP MUFC on April 29th, 2008 4:35 am

   Nice one.

   What time did they go on stage? I’m coming in from out of town and may be cutting it close. Cheers.

3. admin on April 29th, 2008 6:13 am

   They went on at 9, right on the dot. I’d definitely get there by 8:45 to be safe (and avoid most of that awful DJ’s set).

4. TGP MUFC on April 29th, 2008 6:25 am

   Great, thank you.

   I should be alright. Funny that the DJ was crap.

5. crook on April 30th, 2008 5:02 am

   Idiots, that DJ has opened every single Verve show ever. He also works with the likes of Coldplay Oasis and the Rolling Stones. Loosen up you old farts.
   This is HIS myspace.
   http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=173792370

6. Allan Innes on May 1st, 2008 5:13 am

   I really liked the DJ. He was far more entertaining than most opening acts I’ve seen, and had far better taste in music, as well.

   If I’d knock anything about the show, it would be some of the people in the crowd.

   And I’m still on the fence about whether taking shots with a camera phone destroys the classic romanticism of going to a gig, but I do know that standing there the entire time as though you’re literally watching through your cell phone is pretty damn lame. Leave the ticket available for someone who will enjoy it.

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