Lloyd Cole – Buxton Opera house 22nd jan 2025
The home town gig of a British isles mini tour comprising Aberdeen, Buxton Glasgow Manchester, London and Dublin. He played in Buxton barely a year ago in Oct 23. Having grown up and gone to school locally I guess it is a chance for him to catch up with his friends, although his American links where and Scottish ones are equally significant. Strangely during the evening he never once name checks his local connections.
The Royal opera House is one of the most beautiful concert venues in England, a Victorian jewel nestled in the Peak District
WIth around seventeen albums to his name he has a burgeoning songbook and still writes prolifically. Consequently the chances of a fan encountering unfamiliar material are high, as are the chances of discovering previously unheard, or forgotten, gems. A Lloyd gig will never be predictable. The band is unchanged from the last tour, as is the format, Two sets, no support, loads of songs, mostly unchanged from last time, but with Wolves opening and Jennifer she said closing. “speedboat” makes a welcome return, “Charlotte st” doesn’t.
The setlist, pacing and timings are erratic. The first half starts at 19.30 and finishes at 2010, the second half commences at 20.30 and finishes at 2200.
Their significance is unknown, the first half does not require Lloyd to play bass guitar, the second half does played by a three-piece band comprising former Commotions and long-term collaborators Blair Cowan and Neil Clark along with drummer/percussionist Signy Jakobsdottir.
Wolves opens the show almost as a soundscape and is disarmingly effective. Therfeter Lloyd plays what he fancies without rhyme o reason., or theme. To the die hard fan this is a part of lloyd’s appeal, to the casual observer it can seem chaotic.
Wolves
Don’t Look Back
Trigger Happy
On Pain
No More Love Songs
Why I Love Country Music
2cv
Undressed
Warm By The Fire
Rattlesnakes
Are You Ready to Be Heartbroken?
2
Past Imperfect
Night Sweats
Speedboat
Blue Like Mars
Minor Character
The Young Idealists
Woman in a Bar
The Over Under
No Blue Skies
Perfect Blue
Perfect Skin
Myrtle and Rose
The Idiot
Brand New Friend
Forest Fire
Encore:
Mainstream
Jennifer She Said
Garyswordz 