Page 49 - Black Velvet Issue 95

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BUSH / RAVENEYE - BIRMINGHAM O2 INSTITUTE, 22.09.17
It’s been way too long since Bush have done any just a one-off show in London. Thankfully that wish
kind of proper touring on these shores. Frontman was granted!
Gavin Rossdale boosted his profile earlier this year, As opening act RavenEye begin their set the
when he graced the TV screens as a judge on The crowd is looking very sparse; looking around, you
Voice. It’s a move that regenerated a spark of interest can’t help but wonder whether Bush really did leave
in the band again, in time for the release of their latest it too long - the place is virtually empty. Fortunately,
album ‘Black And White Rainbows’. Fans eagerly RavenEye do not seem to let it affect their perform-
waited for news that the band - whose current incar- ance as they showcase songs lifted from their debut
nation includes Robin Goodridge (drums), Chris album ‘NOVA’. Their solid-sounding, guitar-laden
Traynor (guitar) and Corey Britz (bass) - would em- melodies come with groove and a whole lot of swag-
bark on a tour; one that would consist of more than a ger. By the time charismatic singer/guitarist Oli Brown
has perched himself on bassist Aaron
Spiers’ shoulders, the audience figure has
swelled somewhat and there are plenty
more heads nodding along to the music
and watching the pair stroll around the
stage during the catchy ‘Hey Hey Yeah’. It
may be the trio’s first time in Birmingham
but judging by the reaction they received,
the band will be welcome back to rock
some more.
When Bush take the stage, the famil-
iar notes of ‘Sixteen Stone’ favourite
‘Everything Zen’ play out and the magic
onstage begins. Unfortunately throughout
the evening that magic doesn’t really tran-
scend off the stage. The crowd are, for the
most part, lacklustre. Undeterred, Ross-
dale - who spends the night leaping
around the stage with such a youthful
vigour that you forget that you’re in 2017
not 1997 - is determined to please. This is
achieved with songs such as ‘The Chem-
icals Between Us’, ‘Greedy Fly’ and ‘Swal-
lowed’, but it’s obvious that Bush aren’t
just here to take us on a musical nostalgia
trip back to the late 90s. ‘Nurse’, ‘Lost In
You’ and ‘The Beat Of Your Heart’ from
the ‘Black And White Rainbows’ album
sound great live and deserve their place
in the set. A robust new song - ‘This Is
War’ - also receives a nod of approval
from the crowd. Rounding off the set,
Bush bring it full circle with an array of
tracks from ‘Sixteen Stone’; the scorching
‘Little Things’ closes the main set as
Rossdale jumps over the front barrier,
continuing to sing as he makes his way
through the crowd. ‘Machinehead’ keeps
the momentum going before a cover of
R.E.M.’s ‘The One I Love’ comes into play.
As his bandmates disappear off stage,
Rossdale talks to the audience and takes
time to thank everyone for coming to the
show, his speech coming across as gen-
uine. The singer goes on to perform the
ever-stunning ‘Glycerine’ - goosebumps
every time.
Finishing the show with ‘Comedown’,
Bush really gave it their all tonight. A great
show with plenty of on-stage energy - it’s
so good to have them back in Birming-
ham; let’s hope they don’t leave it so long
to return.
YYYYY
Penny Gower

Gavin Rossdale (Bush)
Photo By Shari Black Velvet

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