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I'm only a casual fan of Marillion, if I can even call it that. I've got a couple of their early albums, but only on vinyl, and they're a different band now. I've got two of their later albums, but I seldom listen to Marbles. But Anoraknophobia is one of my most favorite albums. So when I heard they were coming to Chicago, I decided to go. They never play Milwaukee, so I figured this was my only chance to find out what they were about.
They were playing two shows, the second of which was on a Friday night, which made it easier to go. As it turned out, it was the same night as the first World Series game at Wrigley field since World War II, which was only a few blocks away. That made parking very expensive, but we walked up to the stadium before the show, to see the crowds. Walking up the street past the theater, with the Cubs fans, we heard more than once, "Marillion? Who the hell is that?"
They opened the doors before 7:00. We went in around 7:30, and got a good place to stand, just in front of the sound board. The crowd was very prog. Mostly old (like me). Both male and female.
The opener was solo guitarist John Wesley. Wesley is a longtime Marillion opener, and Fish, Hogarth, Porcupine Tree and Sister Hazel sideman. I did not enjoy his set at all. I kept counting the songs, wondering how many more there would be. He redeemed himself a bit with the last one, which was listenable. He had a lot of fans, though, who would cheer for certain songs.
Marillion is five guys, Steve Rothery (guitar), Mark Kelly (keyboards), Pete Trewavas (bass), Ian Mosley (drums) and Steve Hogarth (vocals and other instruments). They're a very tight, smooth, prog-ish sort of band.
The show opened with "Invisible Man" with Hogarth's face projected onto the backdrop while singing the first part of the song. I didn't realize at first that it was not recorded video, and that he was actually singing live from backstage. They closed their main set with "Neverland", so they opened their set with the opening track from Marbles, and closed it with the closing track from Marbles. Those were the only two songs I could have recognized, but I did not, since I don't listen to that album much. About two thirds of their set was from their latest album Fuck Everyone and Run (F E A R). One of the few criticisms I have of the band is that most of their music tends to sound the same. But in this case it was nice, since I felt like I knew all the music, even though I hadn't really heard it before.
Not too far into the second song, "Power", Hogarth was striding toward the front. When he reached the corner of the stage, he turned and strode back to the back of the stage between the keyboard and drum risers, turned toward the audience and made a dramatic throat-cutting gesture and left the stage behind the keyboards. After a moment, Kelley looked after him wondering what just happened. The band slowed down like they were going to end the song, then started up again, like Hogarth was coming back. Then they stopped. And waited until he returned. He did, and was all smiles. They started up a new song in a bit more casual an atmosphere. He sat down at his keyboards and they played "Sounds That Can't Be Made". Here's Mosely's explanation of what happened: "After the first track they always do a jam. During the jam, Mark triggered the click track for Power and the rest of the band weren't ready and h couldn't start singing as it was all over the place. So he left the stage. Then they started again before h had time to get back to the mic. So he said let's give up and do another song instead! So all Marks fault:). No diva."
A couple of songs later, they did "Sugar Mice", Hogarth said it was a song about Milwaukee, though it was only set in that city. It was the only Fish-era song they played, and was probably the dullest song they played.
"Neverland" was introduced as winning a poll for the fans' most favorite song. I thought it was a bit long and repetitive.
So the show was a learning experience for me. I really did quite enjoy it.
( photos and set list )
They were playing two shows, the second of which was on a Friday night, which made it easier to go. As it turned out, it was the same night as the first World Series game at Wrigley field since World War II, which was only a few blocks away. That made parking very expensive, but we walked up to the stadium before the show, to see the crowds. Walking up the street past the theater, with the Cubs fans, we heard more than once, "Marillion? Who the hell is that?"
They opened the doors before 7:00. We went in around 7:30, and got a good place to stand, just in front of the sound board. The crowd was very prog. Mostly old (like me). Both male and female.
The opener was solo guitarist John Wesley. Wesley is a longtime Marillion opener, and Fish, Hogarth, Porcupine Tree and Sister Hazel sideman. I did not enjoy his set at all. I kept counting the songs, wondering how many more there would be. He redeemed himself a bit with the last one, which was listenable. He had a lot of fans, though, who would cheer for certain songs.
Marillion is five guys, Steve Rothery (guitar), Mark Kelly (keyboards), Pete Trewavas (bass), Ian Mosley (drums) and Steve Hogarth (vocals and other instruments). They're a very tight, smooth, prog-ish sort of band.
The show opened with "Invisible Man" with Hogarth's face projected onto the backdrop while singing the first part of the song. I didn't realize at first that it was not recorded video, and that he was actually singing live from backstage. They closed their main set with "Neverland", so they opened their set with the opening track from Marbles, and closed it with the closing track from Marbles. Those were the only two songs I could have recognized, but I did not, since I don't listen to that album much. About two thirds of their set was from their latest album Fuck Everyone and Run (F E A R). One of the few criticisms I have of the band is that most of their music tends to sound the same. But in this case it was nice, since I felt like I knew all the music, even though I hadn't really heard it before.
Not too far into the second song, "Power", Hogarth was striding toward the front. When he reached the corner of the stage, he turned and strode back to the back of the stage between the keyboard and drum risers, turned toward the audience and made a dramatic throat-cutting gesture and left the stage behind the keyboards. After a moment, Kelley looked after him wondering what just happened. The band slowed down like they were going to end the song, then started up again, like Hogarth was coming back. Then they stopped. And waited until he returned. He did, and was all smiles. They started up a new song in a bit more casual an atmosphere. He sat down at his keyboards and they played "Sounds That Can't Be Made". Here's Mosely's explanation of what happened: "After the first track they always do a jam. During the jam, Mark triggered the click track for Power and the rest of the band weren't ready and h couldn't start singing as it was all over the place. So he left the stage. Then they started again before h had time to get back to the mic. So he said let's give up and do another song instead! So all Marks fault:). No diva."
A couple of songs later, they did "Sugar Mice", Hogarth said it was a song about Milwaukee, though it was only set in that city. It was the only Fish-era song they played, and was probably the dullest song they played.
"Neverland" was introduced as winning a poll for the fans' most favorite song. I thought it was a bit long and repetitive.
So the show was a learning experience for me. I really did quite enjoy it.
( photos and set list )
