Razorlight makes their first appearance in Newcastle in over ten years.
The band’s last appearance on Tyneside was at the Metro Radio Arena in 2007, but tonight’s show is somewhat of a more intimate affair. Despite their absence from the touring circuit, the band’s North East fans haven’t forgotten about Razorlight, and subsequently, tonight’s show at the O2 Academy Newcastle is a complete sell-out.
Johnny Borrell and company are currently out on the road in support of their new studio album Olympus Sleeping. This being the band’s first long player since 2008’s Slipway Fires.
Despite the fact that the band has a new album under their belt, this evening’s show features predominantly a greatest hits set, whereby the group are reintroducing themselves following their prolonged hiatus. As a result of which, only a small smattering of tracks from Olympus Sleeping feature in the show this evening.
As the band hits the stage they open with old favourites “Rip It Up” and “In The Morning”, which in turn sets the tone for the night ahead. The crowd sing along wholeheartedly, as Borrell leads the Newcastle faithful through back to back classics from the first two Razorlight albums.
A lively version of “Japanrock” is the first track to feature from the band’s latest offering, and this song doesn’t feel like it’s out of place, but rather it sits perfectly side by side tracks from earlier in the band’s history.
Having been out of the spotlight for so long, it’s easy to forget just how many hits Razorlight have actually had. But tonight, they come in thick and fast, from “In The City”, “Before I Fall To Pieces” through to “Stumble and Fall”. Tonight’s setlist is all killer and no filler.
The band close out their main set with a keyboard infused airing of “Wire to Wire”, before returning to the stage for the first of two encores. The first of which centres on Olympus Sleeping, with both the hard rocking “Got To Let The Good Times Back Into Your Life” and the infectious slice of indie rock that is “Carry Yourself” both featuring.
One of the many highlights of the night is the band’s set closer “America”, which in turn, blows the roof off the O2 Academy Newcastle. The band and the crowd come together in song, and a sea of swaying cell phones illuminate the room.
On the strength of tonight’s performance, it’s fair to say that it may well have taken ten years for the return of Razorlight but it was certainly worth the wait. Johnny Borrell has most definitely still got the ‘Golden Touch’.
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Razorlight
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Event Date: 17-Dec-2018