Love with Arthur Lee

Friday 24th January 2004, Liverpool Academy

The current vogue is for nostalgia tours for bands trying to eek out one last big payday before Butlins and summer season beckons, bands who meant nothing in the first place trading on perceived former glories. You can see it now – summer 2010 - Blue, Busted and Blink 182. Performing on Hear and Now 2010.

This is certainly not the case with Love who are touring an album that was released thirty years ago and still sounding fresher and more interesting than anything that is currently being released. It’s payback time for Arthur Lee whose life can certainly be described to be colourful, to say the least.

Arthur Lee released a couple of years ago after a twelve year stretch in prison, having fallen foul of the three strikes and you are out rule, Lee is certainly is in the mood to make up for lost time.

Though not strictly Love - Arthur Lee’s current incarnation backed ably by the band Baby Lemonade are about fulfilling the legendary status of Arthur Lee.

It could be argued that Liverpool is Lee’s spiritual home and tonight’s audience was certainly a who’s who of the Liverpool music scene – both new and old. It is one of the requirements in this cities musicians apart the obvious albums to own a copy of ‘Forever Changes’.

The band was greeted by a rapturous reception by the audience much to the delight of Lee. The night started off with a storming version of ‘Little Red Book’ and a few other tunes warming up to the main part of the show. Love were soon down by a string quartet for the start of the run through of ‘Forever Changes’ from start to finish.

The familiar tones of ‘Alone Again or’ written by Brian McLean (sadly no longer with us) prompted the crowd to acknowledge their appreciation. They continued to do so at every change of tempo during the song. The band could have gone of there and the ticket price would have been more than covered.

Thankfully they didn’t and the rest of ‘Forever Changes’ was brilliantly played by the musicians on stage and received by the Liverpool crowd. ‘A House is not a motel’ was superbly executed and was given a fresh impetus by the band. Though liberties weren’t taken with the music, the band did add their own stamp on the songs. Even the string quartet seemed to be enjoying the songs as much as the audience.

The later section of the gig saw other Love albums showcased – songs such as ‘signed DC’, ‘My Flash On You’ and ‘She Comes in Colours’. He paid tribute to his friend John Lennon, before playing ‘Everybodies Gotta Live’ which segued into ‘Instant Karma’.

Lee even slipped in a new song ‘My Anthem’ though sounding a little too much like Big Country for comfort; this was well received by the audience. To be fair he could have played a Spice Girls song tonight and the reception would not have been any less ecstatic.

The sad part about tonight’s gig was certainly that it had to end, but not before the promise of a return from Arthur Lee. If that gig is half as good as tonight’s then it will be one that I won’t want to miss. Tonight was nothing short of brilliant and was well worth leaving the house on a cold January night.