Marillion - Aylesbury Waterside

After all the fun and craziness of the Tring Natural History Museum we arrive in Aylesbury. We get parked up close by to the Waterside Theatre. A new venue for me but not for Marillion who have played here 11 times previously. Mostly when it was the site of the legendary 'Friars Aylesbury'. Which seems to have had almost as many incarnations as the Deep Purple line up over the years.It's an impressive looking building from the outside. Can't wait to see what it is like on the inside. There is already a gathering of a couple of dozen or so patiently queuing for the stalls just after 4 pm. Several I suspect will have been there much earlier. We instead make our way over the road to the Wetherspoons 'The White Hart'. They were serving a good selection of Ales from the Tring Brewery.

Walking up to the historic Market Square we pass the fantastic David Bowie statue entitled "Earthly Messenger"It was unveiled on 25th March 2018. The plaque reads as follows 'Following the untimely death of David Bowie on 10th January 2016, a groundswell of opinion surfaced in Aylesbury to celebrate his Art in a permanent way. In recognition of the strong connection he had with music club  Friars Aylesbury'..There is a lot more information on the the two plaques.  It was here that Bowie debuted his Ziggy Stardust character. Apparently a David Bowie song is played every hours from the speakers above. 

We catch up with some fellow Marillion friends at the Kings Head pub. One of the oldest medieval pubs in the south.  pint of Chiltern IPA goes down well in the courtyard. Even the drizzling rain can't dampen the excitement mounting amongst the Marillion fans gathered.. 

Inside the venue only cold drinks are available. A shame as we could have done with a warm up. Speaking of warm up, we are just in time to see the excellent Luke Jackson start his support set. We are on the second row of the circle and have an excellent view. The Theatre opened in 2010 replacing the Civic Centre. The auditorium can seat 1200 people. As long as the couple next to me and the couple behind stop talking, it is going to be a great night ahead. I don't think that it is any great secret that the new album ' An Hour Before It's Dark' will be played in it's entirety tonight. Fulling running order which is just how it should be. It's a great album that I really like .

It's a dark album, morose some might say? 'The ultimate death album' as singer Steve Hogarth puts it. Twin themes of the Coronavirus and the Climate crisis dominate the album narrative. With the darkness there is also light. 

Songs such as 'Murder Machines' and 'Be Hard on Yourself' are excellent.
There isn't a weakness on the album, of course this is my opinion only. I remember my favourite song fluctuating with each different listen of the album. 

 However, tonight is Marillion with a slight difference.

There is an extra band member on the stage! Luis Jardim is providing an extra percussion element. He holds a mighty musical CV and has collaborated with musicians wide and varied over the years. It reminds me a little bit of when multi-instrumentalist 'Troy Donockley' joined Nightwish in 2007. By 2013 he had become a full time member in the band! 

Hogarth was a little worried that age might not suit the tour bus life style that Luis may not be used to?  'What a way to go' came the emailed response to the polite enquiry.  

He looks to have fitted in well whatever the travel arrangements. I suspect though that the appointment will remain temporary. 

The first set of songs finishes of course with the epic 'Care'. It builds into a majestic celebration of the work of the NHS. 

For once possibly ? hearing the new album from a band in full has been an absolute pleasure. It is usually the case of putting up with a few songs from the new album, and then enjoying all the old favourites. It just feels so appropriate to hear in full. 

My highlights in the next set of songs were, 'Somewhere Else', 'Afraid of Sunlight' and 'The Great Escape'. Hogarth is as enigmatic as ever, posing , posturing, larger than life. By comparison Steve Rothery is almost motionless, his playing immaculate, a master of his craft. Pete Trevawas seems an uncomplicated sort of chap. Bouncy, full of enthusiasm, the glue that holds the band together. 

We have a little bit of a stop start, 'after you Claude' situation. For once keyboardist and Hogarth are not quite on the same wavelength. 'I'll sing it if you really want me to quips 'Hogarth'.

 

The concert continues with an encore of the New Kings in full from the FEAR album. 

We have a flurry of activity as 'Mr Friars' David Stopps and the resplendently attired  Mayor of Aylesbury take the stage. 

Marillion are presented with the FA Cup. An award that David is free to dish out as he sees fit. In the 21st Century it has been given to Mike O'connor for all the work he has put into the Friars website. Steve Hackett has also received the award and now it is the turn of Marillion. It is a lifetime achievement award.  The band seem truly chuffed to be the recipient of such a prestigious trophy.

It is entirely appropriate and fitting that we finish with a rousing rendition of 'Market Square Heroes' with everyone up on their feet clapping and joining in with the words. 

It has been a fantastic night and you can feel the buzz of the audience as they make their way towards the exit doors. 

Many thanks to fellow Marillion fanatic Alison Higgins, for her generosity in sharing many of her photos used in this write up.