What we need in the pre-Christmas period is a warm and cosy festive gig, maybe in an unusual location, to lift the flagging spirits. To help us take our mind off political posturing, the smell of Musk, Black Friday overspend, and Masterchef misdemeanours (alleged).

In former times, we have enjoyed Thea Gilmore’s pre-Xmas hoolies when she warmed us up with her good cheer and a great selection of seasonal tunes (do go investigate ‘Strange Communion’ our regular pick for a festive playlist).

So it came to pass that the object of our Christmas pilgrimage this year was one h, aka Steve Hogarth. He occasionally moonlights from his regular job fronting Marillion, sits himself behind a piano and treats the faithful to an intimate solo gig, inviting requests and with general bonhomie.

I was looking at Marillion’s Piss Up In A Brewery video recently, recorded in Burton on Trent in 2000 and was shocked that Hogarth – over a decade after he joined the band – still seemed somewhat shy and not particularly effusive, almost like a rabbit in the headlights. He also looked very young.

No such worries now, maybe it takes another 20 years to firmly mature into the role of raconteur troubadour? Hogarth has natural charisma and is one of the great frontmen (and vocalists) of the age. A solo gig should be a piece of (Christmas) cake, shouldn’t it?

The show was informal, although an 8:15 start and an extended intermission meant we had to cut short our second half reverie. Note to self: in future don’t take the bus. And it was only after a disciple directed us to a “secret door” that we avoided a rather undignified scramble for seats.

Steve’s opening spiel revealed quite a bit about these intimate performances. These end of year sorties started when he panicked about a rather large looming tax bill and it was suggested that some solo gigs might help balance the books. It’s an honest revelation, certainly.

Having got hammered at the legendary The Crooked Billet a few days earlier he was by his own admission rather delicate, suggesting that these gigs go better when fuelled with some of the hard stuff. Certainly it may have loosened up more inter-song banter whilst the set list he told us was unpredictable. But you got a sense that h knew exactly what he was going to play and in the first half several shouts for ‘Somewhere Else’ went unactioned.

Stripped back and personal, this was a chance to hear some classics reinterpreted, both cover versions and those of his band. If Marillion’s music matures like fine cheese, Hogarth is able to breathe new life – a secondary fermentation if you will.

It was especially heartwarming hearing the more obscure band stuff in this way. ‘Nothing To Declare’ for example was given greater heft with the use of laptop accompaniment whilst the simple arrangements of ‘Fantastic Place’ and ‘Beautiful’ revealed an inner quality found in all the best songs.

Amongst the other highlights a slowed down version of ‘Dry Land’ with a suitably impassioned delivery enhanced one of Hogarth’s best tunes (written in his pre-Marillion band with Colin Woore).

As Hogarth intimated at the start Liverpool has become almost a “second home”, playing host to many a Marillion gig and his solo shows (although his earlier band gigs appeared to be tagged on to the main tour as a warm-up and are sometimes not listed) and the band have used the local Parr Street Studios.

In the hallowed portals of a cathedral crypt, I was half expecting a confused Justin Welby to leap out at any minute waving his P45. If Marillion and their frontman invoke almost religious zeal amongst their fans, this was another second coming from h warmly welcomed by those that keep the faith.

Review and photos by David Randall

Marillion: The Grotto of Greatness (July 2023)

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

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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 24 November 2024.

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)