MONEY

The cliché about “MONEY” infers that the only problems are not enough, or a glut of it....
MONEY : Live

MONEY : Live

The cliché about “MONEY” infers that the only problems are not enough, or a glut of it.  After their performance at The Corner on Friday, November 15th, I sit firmly in the pocket of the former.  The projected saviours of Manchester’s position at the top of the U.K.’s musical excellence league performed in an unassuming venue in the heart of Nottingham’s historic Lace Market, and the seekers of the next big thing were all here, leaving no rock (or pop?) unturned in their quest.

Jamie LeeThe last night of the current tour showcasing the release of the majestic Shadow of Heaven album left the boys looking a little careworn.  When what appeared stage left to be one of Nottingham’s vagrants, with bottle of cheap wine in hand, we eventually realised that it was lead singer, Jamie Lee.  He mumbled a few lines and then is off into a mesmerising, unaccompanied rendition of The Pogues melancholic classic, “A Pair of Brown Eyes”, sung in a voice that Shane McGowan would trade his last bottle of Q.C. for.  The crowd were held engrossed in the moment.  No muted conversations, no mobile phones held aloft to capture the scene (Savages et al. take note, you don’t need polite signs asking not to take pictures, just a stage presence and a delivery to keep the audience rapt).

MONEYFeelings of looseness and joy continued as the set progressed, with the full band dealing with their subject matter of dead gods, holy blood and all the love in the world.  They provided a perfect backdrop for Lee’s soaring falsetto, with understated drums and a reverb drenched lead guitar reminiscent of The xx.  The only nod to the unwarranted orphans of Joy Division tag were a couple of the more ‘rockist’ numbers where we got the odd Hooky-esque rumble from the almost hidden bassist.

MONEYShowtime was over and Lee unassumingly put down his guitar, climbed off the stage for a drink (still clutching his wine bottle) and a chat with the crowd.  I made my way over to him, shook his hand and offered my congratulations, which he was genuinely thrilled to hear, turning away to make my way home, hoping to retain at least a few loose change memories to keep me going until the next payday.

MONEY

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