Spiritualized – Royal Albert Hall

This week I saw Spiritualized at the Royal Albert Hall. I think this post needs some more history.

I first saw Spiritualized at Glastonbury 1992. I didn’t really know who they were. I was sat in a field and I heard the beautiful sound of Spiritualized, and thought I would investigate further. I saw them again at Glastonbury in 1998, The Eden Sessions, underground at Bristol Bierkeller, in the old church of Salisbury Arts centre, Portmouth Pyramids, Exeter Lemongrove and The Royal Festival Hall. In total, I know that I have seen them at least 10 times.

The opportunity arose to see them at the Royal Albert Hall. I jumped at the chance because the 1997 gig was a classic. I think that the 1997 concert was not advertised very much and only really became famous after the release of the live album. Touted as a ‘career spanning event’ I could hardly sleep for weeks.

The gig started when the 50 musicians and choristers walked onstage. Then Jason walked on and took his usual position seated at the stage right. For the next hour they played entirely new material. This makes it difficult to comment because I do not know the names of the songs. Spiritualized songs tend to grow on you, so having so many new songs unleashed on you was a very bold move. I suppose if I wanted a more predictable experience I could go and see Status Quo next year. The first and last song of this part of the concert were very good. There was not the wall of sound or soundscapes in these songs. One of features of Spiritualized are Jason's soft reedy vocals, this was not visible here. His voice was very strong. The musicians and choir exited, and came back for the encore.

The encore was the greatest hits; Sway, Cheapster, Shine a Light, Good Times and Take Me to the Other Side. It was not that the first part of the concert was bad; it was very good, but it did not give me the Spiritualized feeling. The hairs on the back of your neck standing on end and your heart in your mouth There are always a few people at Spiritualized gigs who shout things out in between songs. I restrained myself from shouting out, Why Don’t You Smile, which is my favourite song, because it sounds like I am attacking Jason’s solemn onstage presence. They came back for a second encore and played a rousing rendition of Oh Happy Day.

I left the Royal Albert Hall happy, and with a rather nice t-shirt. On a downside, I caught conjunctivitis while in London.

Spiritualized : Royal Albert Hall October 10 1997
Disc 1
Disc 2