Even though Elbow are one of the bigger names in British rock, it’s always been about the music and the pleasure they find in each other’s company. Guy Garvey’s solo album isn’t any different in that sense, but now he's managed to surround himself with some of his other talented friends and call the shots alone; the result is a gorgeous record with the man himself finally being the captain of his own ship.
His first standing ovation comes before he can even utter one word, his beer held up high in greeting before launching into opener ‘Three Bells’. It comes at you like a gentle breeze on an cold winter's night - and what a night it proves to be.
‘Angela’s Eyes’ follows like a whirlwind, a song about believing in nothing but the eyes of the woman you love - Guy Garvey, ever the romantic. Even though people have come to see him, he takes every opportunity to praise his band and he has reason to do so. The horns in ‘Harder Edges’ are of a different world, as if the Elbow trio are unshackled, free to do as they please.
‘Unwind’ brings a certain atmosphere over the Olympia that is hard to grasp; it slowly lulls you into a state of complete surrender, while the singer questions his future and the love that might guide him there. The man is a wordsmith.
A tête à tête on piano and melodica between Guy and multi-instrumentalist Victoria Rule forms the spine of ‘Juggernaut’, a treasure on the album and live. Another highlight of the show was ‘Electricity’, written with Jolie Holland, a jazzy song that feels as if it were written for Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald, with a hint of Tom Waits.
Peter Jobson, bass player with I Am Kloot and jack-of-all-trades for this tour, has been Guy’s friend for many, many years, ‘He put me in more taxis than I did him and that means a lot.’ He’s brought to the piano, the two drinking buddies having a chat about life, after which Peter plays two of his own songs. ‘Just Cos I’m Dead’ and ‘Holiday’ display the humour and wit of the man; this combined with his deep voice makes you wonder if he has ever considered his own vanity project.
‘Belly Of The Whale’ and ‘Broken Bottles and Chandeliers’ close the set, prompting everyone to sing en masse, following Guy wherever he might lead us this time. The crowd loves every second of it.
Peter and Guy arrive back on stage, accompanied by bass player Nathan Sudders for their soulful rendition of The Inkspots’ ‘I Don’t Want To Set The World On Fire’, the three friends having a ball while the Dublin faithful show again why Irish audiences are so frequently cited as the best in the world.
They're happy to play on too, but there's a problem. "We don’t have any songs left. Which one do you want to hear again?"
Reason enough for a bit of experimental jamming on Angela’s Eyes, melodica and all.
If this is what we get when the Elbow frontman flies solo, I believe no one would mind if Guy Garvey blew his own trumpet a few more times.