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22/10/2004 Last night's magnificent Sweet Thing
Last night's magnificent Sweet Thing was one of the most enjoyable ever witnessed by some of the Van Morrison fans present. It was certainly the hardest rocking version they'd encountered, even if it was played on acoustic, with only piano and fiddle in support. The rest of last night's acoustic Waterboys set in Reading had to be very good to match the vibrancy of the 35 year old Van Morrison classic - Sweet Thing's one of the top half dozen songs in the rock canon - but The Pan Within, Savage Earth Heart, and Fisherman's Blues, with jaw-dropping ten minute improvised codas (the Waterboys' first jazz shows?), ran it mighty close. The rest of the two hour-plus show presented some of Scott's tenderest ballads - A Man Is In Love and Open stood out, running the gamut of the Waterboys' 20-odd year career. Even songs betraying Scott's occasional tendency to settle for weak writing - the new composition, Dunderhead, and The Christ In You - were saved by impassioned vocal performances and exquisite playing by Richard Naiff and Steve Wickham. The setlist sagged slightly in the second half, but the skilful programming of a mighty finale banished any memories of weakness. Apart from delivering a witty (if awful) Cockney impersonation (and a threat to a boorish heckler that he'd sing in it), the supremely self confident Scott read two poems by an obscure 14thC Iranian poet, performed his arrangement of a WB Yeats poem, and defused disruption by a restless minority (what is it with rock fans?) with aplomb - he's a consummate showman, dominating any theatre he plays. The unique character of any Waterboys show - joy through music - shone through all evening. Catch this tour. www.mikescottwaterboys.com
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