Frank Turner - O2 Academy, Newcastle - 17th November 2012 (Live Review)
Friday, 23 November 2012
Written by Ben Bland
Seven months ago, Frank Turner completed the feat of a lifetime. Having secured himself a, well-deserved, reputation as one of the hardest working men in the business due to his constant touring, he sold out Wembley Arena. No mean feat for an ex post-hardcore frontman that, just four years ago, was playing many venues that make the word ‘dive’ look like an overly generous descriptor.
Not only did Frank sell Wembley out, he absolutely nailed the performance in a manner that many, including this reviewer, did not expect. Somehow he took the charm that he had always exuded in the smallest of venues and brought it on to the big stage, making the cavernous space seem as intimate as many of the nation’s more charming venues. In typical Turner fashion he has not taken much time off since then and, true to form, here he is on another mammoth jaunt around the UK, stopping off at all the places he has failed to visit for, oh, at least a year or so. How good of him.
Even better, he has brought Jim Lockey & The Solemn Sun along for the ride. The Cheltenham based singer-songwriter and his band are probably going to head skywards in a similar direction to Turner at some point but, for now, the better songs off latest album 'Death' are pleasantly received by a Newcastle crowd largely unfamiliar with Lockey and his avowedly punked up take on the folk ethic. Tim Barry, meanwhile, is a born entertainer, but his songs frequently ramble, and he is probably a bit more than anyone other than the most avowed ‘three chords all the way’ devotee could possibly take.
By way of introducing himself to the crowd Barry makes a big deal out of how good he thinks Frank Turner is live, about how imposing it was the first time he saw him - unfortunately when playing directly before Mr. Barry himself, in New Jersey. Of course, Turner’s live reputation is pretty well deserved. He has won himself plenty of detractors along the way but you simply do not reach the stage where you are invited to warm up the crowd at the Olympic Opening Ceremony without having something about you. He just is the best around right now at what he does.
However, it is becoming alarmingly apparent that Turner is becoming a victim, perhaps of both his own hype and sudden success. He has, in no way, abandoned his roots and he is still the genuinely down to earth nice guy he always has been, but it is beginning to feel like he is trying to prove it in a manner that comes worryingly close to self-parody. You see, part of Turner’s live approach has always been to rouse the crowd into singing and dancing and having a brilliant time, but he is now big enough that almost everyone inside the Academy tonight knows the words to almost every song he plays. As such, the fact that almost every other song is preceded by a brief spiel about how everybody is supposed to be having a good time gets wearisome to the extreme.
Some might say that, as Turner has broken through to the big time now, he almost has a responsibility to act the showman more than ever, but such a perception ignores the fact that he is far more capable a songwriter than most who get to play large stages. The quality of tracks like 'Father’s Day', 'Photosynthesis' and 'I am Disappeared' should be allowed to speak for itself. Nobody really needs Turner to transform into a banally tiring Dave Grohl-esque figure, where his nice guy image becomes an excuse to spend half the show living up to the image on stage and pausing every goddamn song to incite another bloody sing-along. Especially grating is new song 'Four Simple Words'. It may be one of the catchiest things that Turner has ever written but it seems essentially like a song dressed up as an excuse to hold a mid-set dancing competition, which has to be one of the lamest ideas since Weezer decided to drop any pretence at songwriting and just churn out toddler-friendly powerpop without a care in the world.
The best moments at this show are the ones where Frank and his band, the ever dependable Sleeping Souls, just get on with it. At points Turner still produces the intensity of a proper punk show, no more obviously than during the frantic ‘heavy version’ of 'Dan’s Song' that ends the night with Turner diving into his adoring fans. Sadly though, too much of this show seems more concerned with trying to produce an unnecessary artificial ‘vibe’ in the room rather than letting Turner’s songs speak for themselves, which they did wonderfully at Wembley earlier in the year. Not a lost evening by any stretch of the imagination, but perhaps food for thought.
Frank Turner is (still) on tour around the UK at this very moment. Every show is sold out but he will probably be back early next year or something, along with a new album. Also be sure to check Frank’s official twitter feed (@fthc) as he cares about his fans enough to retweet every person who contacts him with spare tickets - something that you should probably send thanks to him for.
The ‘Live from Wembley’ DVD is out now via Xtra Mile Recordings.
Fri November 23rd 2012 - Wolverhampton Civic Hall, Wolverhampton
Sat November 24th 2012 - The Assembly, Leamington Spa
Sun November 25th 2012 - Lincoln Engine Shed, Lincoln
Mon November 26th 2012 - O2 Academy Oxford, Oxford
Wed November 28th 2012 - Corn Exchange Brighton, Brighton
Thu November 29th 2012 - Southampton Guildhall, Southampton
Fri November 30th 2012 - Hall For Cornwall, Truro
Sat December 1st 2012 - Bath Pavilion, Bath
Thu August 16th 2012 - Cheese and Grain, Frome
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