FM’s busy touring schedule took on a fresh twist when they announced an acoustic tour for the first part of 2025. it was not a totally new venture for them, indeed in the early nineties they released a successful live album in ‘No Electricity Required’, but apparently this was the first tour in this format for 32 years!

With no London date scheduled, I took an eastbound train to the opening night in Chelmsford at a well-appointed and spacious social club, albeit not the most rock and roll of environments. There was an unusual seating layout with the band some distance from rows of long tables, set out like a boarding school refectory. I half expected one of the covers FM had promised in the set to be ‘Food Glorious Food’.

After an introduction from promoter Nick Garner, who brings an impressive array of acts to the county town of Essex, FM opened with ‘Tattoo Needle’ and my immediate impression was how the stripped back format brought out some great vocal harmonies, including from drummer Pete Jupp. There were a few differences with Jim Kirkpatrick’s acoustic guitar driving the song’s insidious melody, and he and bassist Merv Goldsworthy seated, but it was recognisably FM.

Bringing things up to date, ‘Black Water’ followed, its rootsy feel well suited to the format and after Steve Overland asked if we might recognise the next song, ‘Does It Feel Like Love’ was instantly familiar and a reminder of the strength of their back catalogue.

One of the other advantages of the acoustic format was that the sense of fun and camaraderie you always pick up from their live performances was given fuller reign in this more relaxed and less amplified setting. Fans were invited between songs to ask questions, and we gained a variety of insights, from the fact a new album is in development, their musical influences and current listening habits, the song Steve finds hardest to sing, and even band members many and varied TV appearances.

While fan favourite and early B side ‘Say It Like It Is’ had people clapping along, the format also gave them a chance to play some mellower songs never before deemed suitable for the live set, including ‘Incredible’ with some beautiful Eagles-like harmony singing and the sunny melodies of ‘Whatever It Takes’. The first of two sets that had whizzed by ended with another fan favourite and sing along opportunity in ‘Killed By Love’.

Returning from an interval which saw the band mixing freely in the crowd, initially it was just Steve supported by keyboardist Jem Davis. ‘Love Lies Dying’, in many people’s eyes the weakest link on ‘Indiscreet’, was transformed in this naked format and had me thinking that in the hands of Journey it would have been a massive US hit in the eighties, fittingly as he shares with Steve Perry not just a first name, but a love of the great vintage soul and Motown singers.

There was a curveball as he handed over most of the lead vocals to Jim on ‘Hollow’ which he executed very decently, while ‘Crack Alley’ was another superb song benefiting from some spot on vocal harmonies, and after starting with a gentle swing feel, ‘All Or Nothing’ still boasted its big chorus.

However, the biggest and boldest move was to reinterpret arguably their signature song, ‘That Girl’, slowing the tempo to what seemed like half speed. However, the pace picked up with ‘I Don’t Need Another Heartache’, Steve summoning fans down to that big area in front of the stage to move around and several of us keenly responding.

Actually, despite the pre tour blurb, there was only one cover and not the Bad Company one I was convinced we would get. Instead, accompanied only by Jem, Steve gave a superb rendition of ‘Desperado’, before the band returned for a second encore of ‘Turn This Car Around’, a perfect live favourite even in this format.

Especially allowing for any first night nerves, the evening proved a complete triumph. The format allowed FM to do something a little different from the norm and give fuller reign to their vocal and songwriting skills, and their engaging personalities, yet it was not too different in that it was still very recognisably them.

Review and Photos by Andy Nathan

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

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Power Plays w/c 24 March 2025

HARRI LARKIN Too Close To The Sun (Robot Distro)
SANDNESS Not Your Dog (Rockshots Records)
DOCTOR BLACK Drag Me Down (indie)
COHEED AND CAMBRIA Goodbye Sunshine (Virgin Music Group)
LEONI JANE KENNEDY Closer (indie)
SMALL TOWN POLITICS Red Lights (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 24 March 2025

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

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