The Verve played an epic headline slot at the T In The Park festival tonight (July 11), bringing 'Bitter Sweet Symphony' to the masses in Scotland.
During the set, frontman Richard Ashcroft slammed critics of the band, referring to an article in a newspaper published earlier today that had criticised them.
The show included old favourites such as 'The Drugs Don't Work' and 'History' as well as two new songs.
Shortly into the set, frontman Richard Ashcroft declared the T In The Park crowd to be the greatest audience on earth.
Ashcroft was wearing blue jeans, a yellow t-shirt and a leather jacket. He sank to his knees and gestured to the crowd as he took to the stage at 10.15pm (BST), leading his band through opener 'This Is Music'.
The singer then donned a semi-acoustic guitar to play 'Sonnet' with the band, making a hugging gesture as the song ended.
"Thank you, greatest live audience in the world," he said before playing 'Space And Time'. "That's something Guardian writers don't understand."
He was referring to an opinion column that appeared in the newspaper today, in which the band's relevance was questioned.
Later in the set, Ashcroft mysteriously asked the crowd: "Which lead singer of a '90s band told me he was now a mod? 'I've been baggy but now I'm a mod.' Any guesses?"
The band then played 'Sit And Wonder', a the opening track from the band's forthcoming album, 'Forth'.
Ashcroft later dedicated 'The Rolling People' to "['Scarface' character] Tony Montana, ['The Sopranos' character] Tony Soprano and all the haters."
He then shouted, "it's Friday night at T In The Park, let's have it!" before leading into the song and upping the ante of the set.
A large cheer erupted from the crowd as the singer later announced 'The Drugs Don't Work', while similar applause was heard for 'Lucky Man', which Ashcroft dedicated to his wife, Kate Radley.
"Do you know what it's like to write a classic?" he then said, triggering screams from the crowd as they guessed which song was coming next.
"Some of you in this crowd are going to write a classic tune," he added, before playing 'Bitter Sweet Symphony', which had fans in hysterics as they waved their hands in the air and sang along.
The song bled straight into new single 'Love Is Noise', which saw Ashcroft dancing down the wings of the stage then dropping to his knees and roaring, before heading off backstage.
The Verve played:
'This Is Music'
'Sonnet'
'Space And Time'
'Sit And Wonder'
'History'
'Come On'
'Life's An Ocean'
'The Rolling People'
'The Drugs Don't Work'
'Lucky Man'
'Bitter Sweet Symphony'
'Love Is Noise'
Sunday, 13 July 2008
Watch 'Love Is Noise' Now
The Verve have made the video to their forthcoming single 'Love Is Noise' available to watch on the internet.
The first single to be released from the band's album 'Forth', their first since 1997's 'Urban Hymns', 'Love Is Noise' is out on August 4.
The video mixes up shots of the band performing in a dimly-lit room, with frontman Richard Ashcroft sitting on the floor, with montages of other images, including snow-capped mountains, a dancer and a woman with a falcon.
You can watch the video now on The Verve's MySpace page.
The first single to be released from the band's album 'Forth', their first since 1997's 'Urban Hymns', 'Love Is Noise' is out on August 4.
The video mixes up shots of the band performing in a dimly-lit room, with frontman Richard Ashcroft sitting on the floor, with montages of other images, including snow-capped mountains, a dancer and a woman with a falcon.
You can watch the video now on The Verve's MySpace page.
Monday, 7 July 2008
Festival Shrugs Off Verve Comment
Glastonbury organisers have played down comments by Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft that festival founder Michael Eavis opposed the band's headline slot.
Eavis's daughter Emily rebuffed the claim, saying "that's not true at all". "We've liked The Verve for ages and we were really pleased to have them on," she told the BBC News website, adding that the group "really pulled it off."
The Verve closed the festival on Sunday night with the anthemic Bittersweet Symphony and new single Love Is Noise.
Addressing the crowd in front of the Pyramid stage, Ashcroft said: "I want to thank Emily Eavis for inviting us to play Glastonbury.
"I hope her dad realises why she booked us now. I think he was a bit worried we wouldn't be as good as Keane or something."
But Emily Eavis, who co-organises the event, refused to respond to the jibe, saying it was "not a big deal".
"I'm not sure where the Keane thing came from because Keane were never an option this year."
Eavis's daughter Emily rebuffed the claim, saying "that's not true at all". "We've liked The Verve for ages and we were really pleased to have them on," she told the BBC News website, adding that the group "really pulled it off."
The Verve closed the festival on Sunday night with the anthemic Bittersweet Symphony and new single Love Is Noise.
Addressing the crowd in front of the Pyramid stage, Ashcroft said: "I want to thank Emily Eavis for inviting us to play Glastonbury.
"I hope her dad realises why she booked us now. I think he was a bit worried we wouldn't be as good as Keane or something."
But Emily Eavis, who co-organises the event, refused to respond to the jibe, saying it was "not a big deal".
"I'm not sure where the Keane thing came from because Keane were never an option this year."
Thursday, 3 July 2008
New Album Artwork Revealed
The below image was shot by Uwe Duettmann and designed for cover-readiness by Stephen Kennedy (for Studio Fury).
Wednesday, 28 November 2007
Verve Re-Release Best Of
The Verve are planning to re-release their best of album with a bonus DVD.
This Is Music: The Singles 92-98 was originally released in 2004, but will now feature an extra disc of promotional videos.
The album features unreleased tracks 'This Could Be My Moment' and 'Monte Carlo', along with hits 'Lucky Man', 'The Drugs Don't Work' and 'Bitter Sweet Symphony'.
The band, who have just finished a small venue reunion tour, are currently preparing for a series UK arena gigs this December.
The re-issued best of is released on December 3.
This Is Music: The Singles 92-98 was originally released in 2004, but will now feature an extra disc of promotional videos.
The album features unreleased tracks 'This Could Be My Moment' and 'Monte Carlo', along with hits 'Lucky Man', 'The Drugs Don't Work' and 'Bitter Sweet Symphony'.
The band, who have just finished a small venue reunion tour, are currently preparing for a series UK arena gigs this December.
The re-issued best of is released on December 3.
Saturday, 3 November 2007
Verve Return With Barnstorming Show
The Verve played their first show as an original four-piece in almost a decade tonight (November 2) with a much anticipated reunion gig in Glasgow.
During a 90 minute performance, the band, who reunited in June, stormed through a 17 song set that included favourites such as 'Bittersweet Sympathy' and 'The Drugs Don't Work'. However there were some boos at the end of the Carling Academy show when, after a three song encore, fan favourite 'History' wasn't dusted down.
There were no support acts tonight. Instead DJs played ahead of the hugely in-demand show - tickets were trading on eBay for £250 a pair.
The band took to the stage to the strains of 60's maverick David Axelrod's 'Holy Are You' (a track that frontman Richard Ashcroft re-recorded with the composer) alongside a screen flashing images that included Lou Reed, Bob Dylan and comedy character Reginald Perrin.
The show started with a classic Verve moment.
As the band strode on the shamanic Ashcroft moved to the mic and announced "this is music" to cacophonous yelps - introducing their classic track of the same name.
It was a night that saw little said from the stage. At one point Ashcroft announced simply that it was great to be back in Glasgow after nine years, though physically The Verve looked to have changed little. Any thoughts that animosity lingered between Ashcroft and his foil Nick McCabe were extinguished early on when, in a simple gesture, the frontman acknowledged his guitarist during a solo on the first track.
The band also unveiled one new song. Seven tracks into the gig Ashcroft announced "we're going to try something new here" and, apologising for reading from a sheet of paper.
He and the band worked through an untitled track that was distinguished mostly by a rumbling bass. The song owed more to Gorillaz and The Stone Roses second album than The Verve's back catalogue. Lyrics included: "I should have warned her/I'd fall to pieces".
The Verve finished their set with a massive 'Bittersweet Symphony' before returning for a three track encore. They play the same venue tomorrow (November 3).
The set-list in full was:
This Is Music
Sonnet
All In The Mind
Weeping Willow
Life's An Ocean
Space And Time
Sit And Wonder
Velvet Morning
Already There
Let The Damage Begin
Northern Soul
Drugs Don't Work
Rolling People
BSS
Man Called Sun
Lucky Man
Come On
During a 90 minute performance, the band, who reunited in June, stormed through a 17 song set that included favourites such as 'Bittersweet Sympathy' and 'The Drugs Don't Work'. However there were some boos at the end of the Carling Academy show when, after a three song encore, fan favourite 'History' wasn't dusted down.
There were no support acts tonight. Instead DJs played ahead of the hugely in-demand show - tickets were trading on eBay for £250 a pair.
The band took to the stage to the strains of 60's maverick David Axelrod's 'Holy Are You' (a track that frontman Richard Ashcroft re-recorded with the composer) alongside a screen flashing images that included Lou Reed, Bob Dylan and comedy character Reginald Perrin.
The show started with a classic Verve moment.
As the band strode on the shamanic Ashcroft moved to the mic and announced "this is music" to cacophonous yelps - introducing their classic track of the same name.
It was a night that saw little said from the stage. At one point Ashcroft announced simply that it was great to be back in Glasgow after nine years, though physically The Verve looked to have changed little. Any thoughts that animosity lingered between Ashcroft and his foil Nick McCabe were extinguished early on when, in a simple gesture, the frontman acknowledged his guitarist during a solo on the first track.
The band also unveiled one new song. Seven tracks into the gig Ashcroft announced "we're going to try something new here" and, apologising for reading from a sheet of paper.
He and the band worked through an untitled track that was distinguished mostly by a rumbling bass. The song owed more to Gorillaz and The Stone Roses second album than The Verve's back catalogue. Lyrics included: "I should have warned her/I'd fall to pieces".
The Verve finished their set with a massive 'Bittersweet Symphony' before returning for a three track encore. They play the same venue tomorrow (November 3).
The set-list in full was:
This Is Music
Sonnet
All In The Mind
Weeping Willow
Life's An Ocean
Space And Time
Sit And Wonder
Velvet Morning
Already There
Let The Damage Begin
Northern Soul
Drugs Don't Work
Rolling People
BSS
Man Called Sun
Lucky Man
Come On
Friday, 2 November 2007
The Verve On Tour With Comeback
The Verve return to the stage tonight for the first time in a decade.
Wigan's greatest ever band surprised even their most staunch fan by reforming at the end of June.
And at around 9pm this evening, singer Richard Ashcroft, bassist Simon Jones, drummer Pete Salisbury and guitarist Nick McCabe will grace the stage at Glasgow's Academy, and excited fans say they just can't wait to see their heroes together at last.
Bass player Simon said the band was preparing a set full of new stuff, as well as old, old favourites.
He said: "We started rehearsing with Life's An Ocean and I've got to say, it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. We've got a shortlist of 20 tunes to pick from for these first gigs."
And the list is sure to set the mouths of the staunchest Verve-lovers watering. Simon said the tunes included songs from first album A Storm in Heaven, such as Gravity Grave, She's A Superstar and All In The Mind.
He also revealed some of The Verve's new song titles; Sit And Wonder, Appalachian Springs, Judas, Mona Lisa and Rather Be, and hinted the band may well be playing them live. A new album is expected in January.
The Verve formed in 1989 at Winstanley College. The
first album – 1991's A Storm in Heaven – was a huge underground hit. Songs such as Blue and Slide Away reached the top of the indie charts. The follow up, A Northern Soul in 1995, is now regarded as The Verve's finest work, with such tunes as On Your Own, History and the title track remaining firm favourites among fans.
Wigan's greatest ever band surprised even their most staunch fan by reforming at the end of June.
And at around 9pm this evening, singer Richard Ashcroft, bassist Simon Jones, drummer Pete Salisbury and guitarist Nick McCabe will grace the stage at Glasgow's Academy, and excited fans say they just can't wait to see their heroes together at last.
Bass player Simon said the band was preparing a set full of new stuff, as well as old, old favourites.
He said: "We started rehearsing with Life's An Ocean and I've got to say, it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. We've got a shortlist of 20 tunes to pick from for these first gigs."
And the list is sure to set the mouths of the staunchest Verve-lovers watering. Simon said the tunes included songs from first album A Storm in Heaven, such as Gravity Grave, She's A Superstar and All In The Mind.
He also revealed some of The Verve's new song titles; Sit And Wonder, Appalachian Springs, Judas, Mona Lisa and Rather Be, and hinted the band may well be playing them live. A new album is expected in January.
The Verve formed in 1989 at Winstanley College. The
first album – 1991's A Storm in Heaven – was a huge underground hit. Songs such as Blue and Slide Away reached the top of the indie charts. The follow up, A Northern Soul in 1995, is now regarded as The Verve's finest work, with such tunes as On Your Own, History and the title track remaining firm favourites among fans.
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