The Charlatans

For this Valentine’s night performance, support was provided by up-and-comers Minuteman, recently signed to Ignition Records by Oasis’ manager and tipped to do big things this summer. Minuteman might just herald the return of shoegazing – static and serious-looking young men producing a wealth of richly melodic vocal lines soaring over distorted storms of guitar. Their songs had an epic quality that put me in mind of Ride, Verve and The Jesus and Mary’s, which seem to be very hip references at present (see Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.)

Fittingly for the night that was in it, The Charlatans opened with ‘Love Is The Key’, a former single from latest album Wonderland, with Tim Burgess emitting high-pitched yowls that would challenge Robert Plant’s vocal chords, while laying on the usual laconic Jaggerisms.

The Charlatans’ kitchen-sink included arrangements which can be slightly overwhelming on record proving to be dynamite live, a surprisingly sonically coherent mass of big, bold, super-charged soul. Generally speaking, the band seemed infinitely more energized on the newer songs, Tim rejoicing in his new-found falsetto, like the most terrifically louche choirboy you’ve ever seen.

Comparatively, old faves like ‘Weirdo’ had a diminished vocal effect, but there were some fantastically nostalgia-inducing renditions of more senior songs like ‘One To Another’ and a transcendently groovesome take on ‘North Country Boy.’ The band were just as tight on the lower, less full-on tracks, like the new single ‘You’re So Pretty, We’re So Pretty,’ with its dark syncopation and dangerous-sounding keyboards.

Whether you were single or loved-up, it was a superb Valentine’s night out courtesy of The Charlatans.