Mr Punch - The Musician Leicester

I've just passed a late fitness test and have made it to 'The Musician' in Leicester. Just hoping that my knee will take the strain.Not to mention my bunged up ear.  Looking forward to seeing the Italian 'Mr Punch' who pay tribute to the 'Fish' era of Marillion.Tonight we will be celebrating the 40 year anniversary of the 'Fugazi' album. I will be wearing my 'Fugazi' T shirt in honour of my favourite Marillion album. It is also the Birthday of local Promoter 'Danny Dokter Dyper' so a full on  party atmosphere is expected.

There is a reasonable sized crowd already gathered as we arrived just after 8 pm. No support act tonight and the band are expected onstage at 9pm. Plenty enough time to enjoy a beer or two. We get a good vantage point left of stage. There are a few stools as well which would have been handy. Unfortunately they are all taken. I ponder briefly about telling them about my knee, in the hope of some compassion. I decide against it though and will tough it out. At least I can lean against the wall for some support. A tall man in a kilt is now on the stage. He is looking inquisitively at the drum kit. He seems happy enough and disappears behind the stage curtain.

The Set kicks off in track listing order of what was the second Marillion Studio album. The crowd respond to the keyboard intro to 'Assassing' as we are transported back in time to 1984. Something quite 'Orwellian' about that if you think about it. 'Punch and Judy' and 'Cinderella Search' follow. Singer 'Marco Vincini' is spot on with the 'Fish' vocals.

Marco Fabbri

Andrea Grumelli

 

It is turning into a fantastic night as we are treated to a superb version of 'Incubus'. Guitarist 'Marcella Arganase' putting in a great effort with the 'Steve Rothery' solos. Tonight is the middle date of the short three date tour. Lat night they were down in Camden , tomorrow the venture North to Hull.  The band are no strangers to Leicester though having played as part of the 'Marillion weekends'   previously. A rousing first Set ends with the beautiful 'Sugar Mice' from 'Clutching at Straws'. The band depart behind the curtain for a short break. 

A bit of a surprise after the interval! I wasn't expecting the to hear the keyboard intro to Grendel. Is this just a tease perhaps? Amazingly we get the full rendition of the Marillion epic. A Roller-coaster of a song, that is written from the point of view of the monster in the Beowulf Poem. Marco goes fully into character as he wears the mask just as 'Fish' once did.    

The title track from the first Marillion album 'Script for a Jesters Tear' is a worthy follow up from Grendel. 'Chelsea Monday' also from 'Script' is next giving Marcella the opportunity to show her prowess on the guitar. The highlight for me and probably always will be is the song 'Fugazi'. It's just conjures up so many images, extremely powerful and emotional. 'Fish' has to be one of the greatest lyric writers, his work is pure poetry. The opening lines of the song 'Vodka intimate an affair with isolation in a Blackheath cell. Extinguishing the fires in a private hell. Encapsulates some poor soul battling their drinking demons in abject loneliness. The whole song continues with such power and emotion, truly moving.

Do you realise .. this world is totally..Fugazi

That really was something special, it is turning out to be quite a night! According to my set-list (acquired after the show) something called 'Pippone' comes next. According to my translation search it means 'a long pedantic and possibly patronising explanation' ? Maybe It is a private joke within the band ? Who knows?  What I do know is that we had 'Kayleigh' 'Lavender' and part of ' heart of  'Lothian' next. Just like the Shopkeeper in the Children's TV series 'Mr Benn', Marco disappears  behind the curtain once more. Only to re-emerge in 'Army Getup' as the band launched into 'Forgotten Sons'. A powerful rendition it was too. This is far more than a nostalgia trip for those who were there in the early days. This is as close as we will ever get to the Fish years experience. We are coming towards the end now, and  Birthday Danny and his son join the band for an impromptu Jam session. A version of the 'Led Zep' classic 'Rock and Roll breaks out .

It's all great fun as we end in traditional Marillion style with 'Garden Party' and 'Market Square Heroes'. By this time I have taken advantage of a vacant stool temporarily to rest the knee. Goodness knows what the ear will be like later .... But I don't really care because It's been such a fun and enjoyable night. The band are all excellent Musicians in their own right, and look like they were having a great time too. I would recommend you go and see 'Mr Punch' when you get the chance. You won't regret it!