Paul Buchanan
Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, 23 May 2006
Review Snapshot:
God exists. He's 50, looks like Andy Townsend, and is from Glasgow.
The CLUAS Verdict? 10 out of 10
Full review:
When Paul Buchanan is the subject of a review, it's best to call up The Blue Nile template that comes free with all good word processing packages. The
opening paragraphs set the scene, and it's here that you'll find all the stuff you've
read a hundred times before, about how Buchanan's band The Blue Nile released their
first album in 1985, and since then, have released an average of one song every
twelve months, over three subsequent, heartbreakingly beautiful records. Next comes
the bit that says that their music is revered by those who hear it, yet ignored
by most. We'll mention that this is at best a shame and at worst criminal. Rosanna Arquette's name will occasionally crop up.
Even if you're not a believer, you will at this point realise that, for those people
to whom his music speaks, Buchanan is something of a treasure. For this, his first
proper UK tour in about a hundred years, the sense of expectation was high and,
among his devoted, there was a feeling that an anti climactic outcome was inevitable,
even in the unlikely event of him emerging on the back of a Harley and putting on
a show that involved flamethrowers, dancing girls, sex dwarfs and hurley carrying
dominatrixes.
Of course none of this happens, and predictably, Buchanan shuffles on almost apologetically,
with head down and tugging nervously at the back of his neck to deliver one of the
best five gigs of my (looooong) gig going career.
"I Would Never" is perhaps an odd one with which to start but, by the time Paul
sings, "I have raised a precious child to be a man" with that perfect voice of his
that seems always to dangle by its fingertips on the exquisite edge of breaking
down completely, the chin wobbling has started in earnest. Sensibly jumpered men
with grey hair, pot bellies, a child or children in the care of a babysitter and
eyes filled with tears look on blissfully, their smiling expressions a mixture of
affection and awe. But mostly affection - I have never seen an audience express
its love for a performer so unashamedly. "We love you Paul" is the night's rallying
cry.
After a glorious "Happiness" from "Peace at Last", something extraordinary happens.
Not for the gentle Buchanan a shouted "WAN TOO TREE FAW", even if the music demanded
it. He turns his back to the audience, and with a whispered "Thank You" to his band
while bowing ever so slightly in their direction we are on our way, and the wonderfully
downbeat "Over The Hillside" begins.
The struggles of the ordinary Joe, trapped in a job which crushes him, but pays
the bills, is a recurring theme for Buchanan. "Working, night and day, I try to
get ahead. But I don't get ahead this way" he sings, his voice soaring above the
lush keyboards and understated drums, cries of "Tomorrow I will be there" reverberating
around the room, dislodging any spiders that live in the uppermost recesses of the
grand old Liverpool Phil.
For what remains of the two hours he spends with us, we are treated to luscious
slices from one of the most remarkable back catalogues in popular music. A starkly
beautiful "Walk across the Rooftops", an edgy "Heatwave" an almost funkadelic "Tinseltown"
a bare and gorgeous "Easter Parade" and a spellbinding "Saturday Night" have the
crowd in raptures. Buchanan turns down several offers of sexual intercourse from
audience members of all genders, flashing a rake thin stomach at us in an effort
to ward off the advances. "I don't look good naked".
He encores, as befits his status as Glasgow's Sinatra, with "Strangers in the Night".
Buchanan, somehow looking exactly the same as we remember him, yet more uncannily
like Andy Townsend than ever before, even manages to endow the shooby-dooby-doos
with greatness. And then he's off, but only after shaking hands with almost everyone
in the room. One of the greats. One of the great nights. God Bless you Kid
Michael
O'Hara
Check out
the CLUAS review of the Blue Nile album 'High'
