Euphoric, expansive, and electrifying, The Charlatans never fail to deliver a soul-stirring and heart-pumping set and their gig at the O2 Academy was no exception.
The ‘We Are Love’ tour is a stellar showcase of the tracks from the album of the same name, released last October. Kicking off with the first three songs from the record, the night opens with the atmospheric, captivating ‘Kingdom of Ours,’ setting a reflective mood before seamlessly transitioning into the anthemic joy of ‘We Are Love.’
Charlatans’ frontman Tim Burgess was as charismatic and effervescent as ever, raising his hands in the air and tapping his chest as he delivered the lines ‘This is the Place, These are the Days, We are Love’. The perfect track to symbolise the beauty and brilliance of live music, I would challenge even the most perpetual pessimist not to raise a smile when listening to ‘We Are Love’ and watch Tim engage with the crowd.
The psychedelic vibes of ‘Many A Day A Heartache,’ with its hypnotic backdrop and bright, breezy energy, were lifted by the rich, swirling fuzz of the organ. Tony Rogers’ enveloping Hammond lines and Mark Collins’ smooth, groove-driven guitar riffs added to the track’s irresistible charm.
It was a case of ‘out with the new, in with the old’ for the next part of the set, as The Charlatans took us almost (gulp!) twenty years back in time with a magnificent rendition of fan favorite, the kaleidoscopic ‘North Country Boy,’ which went down a storm. Despite being almost two decades old, the seminal track from ‘Tellin’ Stories’ still feels as vital and compelling as ever.
The career-spanning set showcased the full range of their back catalogue, from the infectious energy of ‘Weirdo’ and the anthemic power of ‘One to Another’ to the psychedelic haze of ‘Sproston Green.’ Each track is a pure delight, a heady dose of love and joy, performed with the precision and dedication that has always defined their live shows.
Segueing back to ‘We Are Love’, it was wonderful to hear ‘Deeper and Deeper’ and my personal Charlatans new favourite ‘For The Girls’ live,’ which sat effortlessly alongside fan favourites like ‘One to Another’ and the rich textured sound of ‘Toothache’.
They closed out their consummately crafted set with a powerful rendition of ‘Tremelo Song’, ‘Judas’ and the aforementioned anthemic ‘Sproston Green’. This was a high-energy and unforgettable set that demonstrated The Charlatans’ unwavering ability to deliver crowd-pleasing anthems with the same passion and precision that always defined them as one of the best live acts in the UK.
Bournemouth was the place, this was a bloody good day and thanks to an incredible gig from The Charlatans, we are all most definitely love!
The Charlatans’ ‘We Are Love’ tour resumes this Tuesday in Cardiff, where fans can expect another electrifying performance as the band brings their high-energy set to the Welsh capital. Following Cardiff, the band will make their way to Nottingham’s legendary Rock City on Wednesday, April 29th, before heading to other key cities across the UK, including Birmingham, Sheffield, and Newcastle. The UK tour will culminate in a thrilling finale with two highly anticipated dates in Scotland in early May, before they head Stateside for their US tour.
For up-to-date tour details, behind-the-scenes action, and exclusive content, follow The Charlatans on Instagram.
Photo Credit: Tim Burgess
