Elbow at the Hammersmith Apollo

It’s been years since Elbow last headlined a tour of small shows in the UK. The five-piece band had grown accustomed to playing packed-out arenas, yet decided to opt for more intimate venues for this short tour, after rediscovering how much calmer they felt with a smaller crowd in the US last summer. Tonight is the first of three sold-out shows at the Hammersmith Apollo, an indication – before they’ve even played a song – that this band definitely haven’t lost any of their charm.

Even though this venue may have a much smaller capacity than that of the O2 Arena, the Manchester Arena and Liverpool Echo (to name a few of the many iconic places they’ve played), the atmosphere and the performance delivered by the friendly-faced frontman Guy Garvey, supported just by a small orchestra, are all still that of the highest level.

The elegant light display that accompanies the show help radiate the instant familiar comfort of Elbow’s sound even more, along with the adoring faces of the crowd staring back at the champion musicians, who manage to capture relatable notions in almost every single one of their songs. The most dedicated fans sway along to slower numbers such as Real Life, yet proudly roar in sync with Garvey to the most famous tracks, like Grounds for Divorce and One Day Like This. 

It’s clear to see that this is one of those rare bands who don’t need to splash out on expensive stage gimmicks and sets: the music speaks for itself. The love handed out to Elbow tonight proves that, unlike other artists who have no choice but to downgrade to smaller venues, this band will always be deserving of a place in those arenas. 

 

Chloe Sheppard
Photos: Melissa Harper

For further information about Elbow and future events visit here.

Watch the video for Grounds for Divorce here: