Liam Fray, Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton - review
After playing to 50,000 people at Old Trafford this summer, lead singer of Courteeners Liam Fray brought his solo tour to a sold out Wolverhampton’s Slade Rooms last night.
Having experienced the full band playing the much larger Civic Hall a couple of years ago, I was excited to see what the Courteeners catalogue would be like through the eyes of Fray in terms of a solo acoustic show.
As chief lyricist and songwriter for the band, performing the band’s most well known songs in an acoustic setting allowed the audience to focus more on Fray’s renowned lyrical content and song writing craft.
Taking to the stage to Hushabye Mountain among chants of Liam and various Midlands football teams, Fray took the audience on a twenty song set spanning Courteeners tracks from across all five of their Top 10 albums.
Performing with both an acoustic and electric guitar as well as being accompanied by a pianist for tracks such as Chipping Away and Lose Control, Fray provided little chat between tracks letting the music do the talking.
Tracks such as Acrylic, Bide Your Time and Please Don’t sounded great being given an acoustic treatment, with the sweltering and packed room singing as though their lives depended on it.
Returning for an encore of The Rest of the World Has Gone Home and Smiths Disco, Liam then treated the audience to a cover of Pulp’s Disco 2000 before going into arguably the band’s biggest track Not Nineteen Forever.
A showman and a fantastic songwriter, upon leaving the show, as people were singing the lyrics down the street it’s clear that Fray’s songs have cemented their space into British culture. And from last night’s reception it’s clear that the Courteeners will be welcomed with open arms upon their return to the city. And why wouldn’t you go. You’re not nineteen forever.
