The Divine Comedy at the Roundhouse 02/11/06

First of all, what a fantastic venue, very surreal, wooden dome - and I found out at the gig that it used to be where the trains turned around before going off again - always good to go to a venue with a bit of history!!

And secondly, Duke Special were most probably the best support band I've ever seen (apart from James Brown supporting the Chili Peppers…but that's not really the same) and would recommend seeing them / buying their album(s) as soon as you can!

I was debating with myself whether to leave at about 5 and get there early for a good standing position, or just fuck it and leave at 6.30 to hover near the back, with a drink or three. Apart from the St James' Church gig a few months ago (the best gig I've ever been to), I always end up near the back, getting a good view (as the venue is never huge) but not a really good view, anyway, after much thought I ended up going at 5.45 so I needn't have put so much effort into thinking. I wasn't that near the front of the queue outside and yet, when I got in, I headed straight for the stage and was second row…only a handful of people there before me, I thought this was very odd but was pleased with my position (obviously hundreds of people having to stand behind a 6 foot 3 guy weren't happy with my position, but when all's said and done, they should have got there earlier!).

As always, Neil was on top form wearing a cranberry coloured shirt with suit. The highlights of the gig (as they often are) were the old classics, especially Your Daddy's Car and Don't Look Down, finishing off with one of my personal favourites Sunrise.

One of the great things about The Divine Comedy live is that it doesn't feel like an advert for the album. Mr Hannon manages to mix in enough of his new stuff (from Victory for the Comic Muse the new album - BUY IT NOW if you haven't already!) with old crowd pleasers, making it feel like a brilliantly thought out performance he's perfected over his impressive career.

Midway through he decided to ask the audience for requests…maybe this wasn't the best idea, as, although it was very funny watching, he couldn't really remember the words to a lot of the songs (presumably because he rarely plays - which might be why they were the ones shouted out!). He made several attempts at different songs - so full marks for not being up his own arse to mind looking stupid in front of his fans! Of course he's a humble man, but there's a slight cocky / cheekiness that comes out when he's buzzing in front of a delighted wide-eyed audience - and I love that side to him!

He did a couple of encores and a couple of covers, bowing with his band at the end. The guy is a genius, this is what pop SHOULD sound like!

Having grown up listening to The Divine Comedy over the last 10 years from the age of 14 to 24 (first seeing him being interviewed on the Ozone talking about the Casanova album), going to his gigs and hearing songs I've held in the highest regard - It makes me want to shove the music down everyone's ears who only know him as "that man who did National Express", and yet, in a totally selfish way, I'm glad he's not a superstar for the masses, because then there'd be no way I'd be able to get as close as I was last night!