Rightly acknowledged as one of the bands at the forefront of crowdfunding, I’m beginning to think Marillion should also be given credit as pioneers in recycling.

Because whilst I’ve been a fan since Fish jumped ship 30 years ago, I caught a virulent dose of Marillionitus a couple of years back which saw my collection expand exponentially with countless DVDs and live albums. The result, a collection crammed with, in particular, ‘live’ duplication.

But then just when I was beginning to think (like my long suffering spouse) “enough is, just perhaps, enough” those clever chaps from Aylesbury have found yet another wheeze to exploit their well-trodden back catalogue.

And, to be fair, many will welcome the opportunity to hear/see just what the ‘with friends from the orchestra’ format the band deployed for their Royal Albert Hall debut in 2017 has to offer, with the re-recording and re-arranging of numbers from across Seasons End, Holidays In Eden, Brave, This Strange Engine, Anoraknophobia, Marbles, and Sounds That Can’t be Made for the band’s new studio album.

We didn’t have to wait long to find out – the sheer brutality and carnage of ‘Gaza’ giving no quarter to the band’s ‘friends’ – its sheer power rattling the very foundations of the auditorium.

And in a curiously unforgiving and largely bombastic set – a couple of intros (notably ‘Estonia’) and mid-section breaks (‘Season’s End’, ‘The Sky Above The Rain’) aside – the In Praise Of Folly String Quartet, Sam Morris (French Horn) and Emma Halnan (flute) were, to a large degree, lost in the mix. Perhaps only a full orchestra (as deployed last year by Steve Hackett) would have countered the band’s chosen approach.

I did wonder whether it was where I was seated, but as Dave Randall roamed the auditorium for the best photo shots, he assured me it was the same elsewhere. Which was a bit of a surprise. I was expecting more of an unplugged/Less Is More integrated approach – as on ‘The Hollow Man’ – that that could have put an entirely fresh complexion on the material. But no, this was a ‘full on’ Marillion gig with their ‘friends’ bolted on.

Not that I’m complaining – because Marillion are one of the best live acts on the circuit with Hogarth – quietly celebrating his 30th year with the band – the most engaging of raconteurs, and I’d venture the finest singer these Isles can currently offer (and with more costume changes than Britney Spears).

It was clear, however, that the band are still struggling to come to terms with playing politely seated ‘posh’ venues, in stark contrast to the cattle sheds packed with the swaying, sweaty Kop-type throngs of a couple of years back. And it wasn’t helped by the stage lighting creating an almost ‘daylight’ effect throughout the auditorium for large portions of the gig.

But, the band were as faultless and professional as always, and a joy to see and hear. It was also impressive to see them mix up and change the set list for the third night running. Not many would be that brave, audacious, or self-confident. As for the ‘friends’, had it not been for their physical stage presence, I suspect many would have been unable to ‘spot the difference’.

Which led me think that what could be really special, would be an H and Friends tour. I wish.

Review by Pete Whalley
Photos by David Randall

Setlist: Gaza / Afraid Of Sunlight / Seasons End / Estonia / The Hollow Man / The New Kings / The Sky Above the Rain / The Great Escape / Encore 1: Fantastic Place / Separated Out (with excerpt of Kashmir) / Encore 2: Man Of A Thousand Faces / This Strange Engine

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Josh Taerk Sunday Session - 1 December 2024

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 17 November 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 19 November 2024.

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More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 25 November 2024

KING KRAKEN Chainsaw Saviour (indie)
BEBORN BETON American Girls (Dependent Records)
SMASH INTO PIECES Maze Of Feels (indie)
WELSH WOLF When You Cry (indie)
DREAMING OF CITRA Bitter (indie)
OFF LIGHTS Love You Sober (indie)
THUNDERMOTHER Dead Or Alive (AFM Records)
SKAM Selfish Friend (indie)
SORRY X Bring Me To Life (SBG Records)

Featured Albums w/c 25 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)