Richard Ashcroft and the United Nations of Sound, Manchester Academy, 15/06/10

The gospel according to Richard Paul Ashcroft.

If the melody’s timeless
It won't let you down
Feel the air moving
Submit to the sound
– Richard Ashcroft, Music Is Power

We get both Old and New Testaments tonight in the form of classics from The Verve, Ashcroft’s solo albums and new material from RPA and the United Nations of Sound.

After the most tedious of DJs (dude – if you look miserable when you’re playing records, what do you expect us to be like listening to them?), the atmosphere builds for the entrance of a modern day icon.

The band takes to the stage before Ashcroft appears, looking proper up for it tonight. They open with new track ‘Are You Ready’ from forthcoming album United Nations of Sound, due out on July 19th. It’s a belter: full of strings and joyous melodies.

‘Song For Lovers’, gets the first big sing-along going, and you can see Richard Ashcroft playing off the vibe of the crowd – launching his fist into the air and leading the crowd in handclaps, turning the Academy into some kind of Northern Soul Baptist Church.

‘How Deep is Your Man’ speeds along on a John Lee Hooker ‘Boom Boom’ rhythm and sounds full of power, and so far the new album is looking like a definite purchase.

I’ve got to admit it was the lure of hearing some classic Verve tunes that brought me here tonight, and a perfect rendition of ‘Lucky Man’ doesn’t let me down, sung as passionately by Ashcroft as it is everybody else in the room.

He introduces another new tune with equal passion, stating ‘you’ll be shouting for this one in the future’. He’s not wrong. ‘Let My Soul Rest’ sounds all kinds of epic. An instant classic.

After a brief disappearance we are treated to an Ashcroft acoustic set which consists of Weeping Willow and Sonnet. And a storming Lonely Souls sees the band retake the stage to close the night.

Due to a late(ish) curfew and badly-timed last train home, I miss what I can only imagine was a rousing version of ‘Break The Night With Colour’, but left feeling completely uplifted and ready to take on the world.

That’s the power music has.

Big thanks to Kate @ Work It Media

www.richardashcroft.co.uk

Author
Frank Ralph

20/06/2010