Deacon Blue, St David's Hall
South Wales Argus - 15th September 2013
From their first album Raintown in 1987 to latest release Hipsters, Deacon Blue
have stood the test of time and are as fresh and versatile as in the days of
their (and our) youth. This is a mature and reflective band with nothing left to
prove, nowadays they tour because they love what they do.
When Ricky Ross took to the Cardiff stage, all the memories of their first
Glasgow Green gigs came flooding back. His harmonies with Lorraine McIntosh are
instinctive, unsurprisingly, as they've been married for the last twenty-two
years.
This band love nostalgia but still have a passion for the new. This was
demonstrated by a set-list which initially opened with their new material.The
band and audience may have matured but from the opening number Laura From Memory
through to an acoustic version of Wages Day,made personal for one member of the
audience who was brought up on stage to play guitar, the audience were on their
feet.
Over the years the original band members have diversified with Lorraine McIntosh
taking time out to develop a successful acting carer and Ricky Ross and Dougie
Vipond venture into radio and TV presenting, but this seems to have added to the
intensity and insight of their music.
Stand out moments of the evening for me were, Real Gone Kid, The Hipsters, I'll
Never Fall In Love Again and of course Dignity.
Let's hope the band manage to put those other careers on hold again... here's to
the next time. Steven Healy