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The Divine Comedy - Usher Hall, 29/4/04


I went to see the Divine Comedy on Tuesday night in the plush surroundings of the Usher Hall. Very civilised it was too with comfy seats and an interval. Very peculiar when you're used to being at the front near the band and standing up. I like to see the whites of their eyes.

When we went out for the interval to get a drink we passed a guy who I was 95% certain was Billy Boyd or 'the Scottish hobbit' for those unaware of who he is. No-one else seemed to pay him a second glance and I glanced but didn't engage in any witty banter. 'Cool, I thought, he must be a fan'.

The second half begins and almost the first song played is The Booklovers. On the original the verses consist of a long list of writers I seem to remember. Neil thought this was now a bit...'shite?' as someone shouted out. I think he meant pretentious. For the live version on this tour they were getting a different reader out at each date to read something over the verses. Since they were in Scotland they thought it would be appropriate to have someone Scottish. Inevitably it was Billy Boyd. He proceeded to read the first few pages of The Hobbit while Neil Hannon sang the choruses. It actually worked pretty well and was a nice surprise to top off an already good gig.

In summary - suit, shades, hangover, Queens Of The Stone Age cover, front row singalong on National Express, 15 piece band/orchestra, better after the interval than before, the 'Scottish hobbit', nothing from Regeneration, crowd full of old/overweight people who were not to be seen at any of the standing gigs DC have done, imperfect sound, overall not half bad.

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