The Stone Roses, The Wailers - Phoenix Park, Dublin
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The Stone Roses
Phoenix Park, Dublin
Thursday July 5th, 2012
After 16 long years in the making, one of the most unforeseeable and widely sought musical reunions is firmly underway.
Breaking all records to become the fastest-selling concerts in UK history, Madchester pioneers are together at last to offer a long-awaited dose of nostalgia to their elated legions of fans. Now, a mere four days after their rapturous three-date homecoming stint at Manchester鈥檚 Heaton Park, the thirteenth date of the band鈥檚 headline-stealing reunion tour comes to Phoenix Park, Dublin.
With reggae legends the Wailers having instilled a feel-good atmosphere in ways only they can, The Stone Roses, innumerable days since their split in 1996, emerge via the glorious opening chords of 鈥業 Wanna Be Adored鈥 to nigh on euphoric applause. All thanks to the song鈥檚 timeless anthemic quality, 45,000 people are effectively transported back to 1991, a typically 鈥渟elf-assured鈥 Ian Brown parading the stage and working the crowd with absolute ease. A brief thank you and a defiant waved fist in the air later, the band launch into the simple jangle-pop of 鈥楳ersey Paradise鈥 (an early highlight) and the serene groove of 鈥(Song For My) Sugar Spun Sister鈥. Whilst perhaps lacking a certain liveliness, there is no denying that the magic is still there.
With Brown waving jingle sticks in unison to his trademark monkey-style dance, and Squire stood supremely self-possessed to his left on guitar, the band鈥檚 much-loved, eccentric rhythm section in Reni and Mani lock in during the joyous 鈥楽ally Cinnamon鈥. With Brown鈥檚 passionate 鈥榊ou are my world鈥 being bounced back to him by an ocean of fans, a riff-heavy Who-esque interlude impresses before 鈥榃here Angels Play鈥 sees a slight lull in spite of its crowd-seducing chorus. Indeed, only three songs in and Brown coolly saunters down to interact with the crowd, wearing their hats and shaking outstretched, ecstatic hands like a prophet. The man is, as ever, duly adored.
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听Regaining upbeat momentum via the beautiful chord changes of 鈥楤ye Bye Badman鈥, it鈥檚 apparent that the Stone Roses cannot be faulted musically tonight, even if Brown鈥檚 vocals fall a little flat on numbers that are essentially quietly sung. That said, with his asking for a wave from the masses 鈥渁t the back鈥, it soon feels like the whole crowd are involved just before 鈥楾en Storey Love Song鈥 stirs the biggest response since 鈥楢dored鈥 and the all-out guitar rock of 鈥楽hoot You Down鈥欌 crashes off into the night with Brown abruptly muttering in characteristically cool, Mancuncian fashion, 鈥淭hank you, yeah?鈥.
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Working their way through a set comprised of hits and lesser known material the Stone Roses are a band that have unquestionably recaptured the spirit and anthemic vigour that warrants their legendary status. Sounding as tight as they鈥檝e ever been 鈥 Reni, in particular, never missing a trick 鈥 well-rehearsed breakdowns and psychedelic interludes on the likes of a wonderfully extended 鈥楩ools Gold鈥 鈥 probably the four-piece鈥檚 most recognisable song 鈥 sees Hendrixian solos, a groove-heavy, jam-like approach akin to Cream and a little bit of the Beatles鈥 鈥楧ay Tripper鈥 thrown in for good measure.
As night had suddenly fallen during its fifteen-minute unravelling, coloured lasers burst through the smoke before Brown summons massive cheers by muttering, 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the Co. Kildare genes鈥 in reference to Mani鈥檚 Irish heritage. With a tangible feeling of overjoyed unity having set in, the bobbling glory of 鈥榃aterfall鈥 and 鈥楧on't Stop鈥 rear their head next, the latter basically the rhythm track to the former run backwards with different vocals. With legendary Pogues鈥 frontman Shane MacGowan suddenly seen to be happily mingling amongst the hoi polloi, the Zeppelin-like slide blues of 鈥楲ove Spreads鈥, with Brown鈥檚 passionate refrain of 鈥淭he Messiah is my sister鈥 and the ecstatic 鈥楳ade of Stone鈥 proving two real latter-day set 鈥渕oments鈥, Mani and Squire trading coy and 鈥 dare it be said 鈥 jovial glances as seen on the big screen.
With the set nearing its end and Brown having suddenly shed his jacket, 'This Is The One' crystallises the long-awaited, deliriously-anticipated sense of occasion tonight, its whispered crescendo and release seeing all four members of the Stone Roses yield to a new-found display of energy and intent. Chilled and belting at the same time, with the crowd chanting the in choral fervour, it鈥檚 self-evident that 5 chords, 7 words and a 4/4 timing is more than enough to sway and enamour thousands. 鈥淒edicated鈥 to "Queen Elizabeast 鈥 the Queen of Queen Witches", the familiar anthemic surge of 鈥楽he Bangs The Drums鈥 precedes brief fingerpicked ballad 鈥楨lizabeth My Dear鈥, Brown鈥檚 clear-cut anti-royalist sentiment meaning little to tonight鈥檚 crowd; the music itself, by far and away the main occasion for the fans.
At the end up, just under two hours since they took to the stage, one of the band鈥檚 most loved songs and the closing track from the legendary 1989 debut album, 鈥業 Am The Resurrection鈥 concludes proceedings in what is the most intense and passionately well-received song of the night. With its blissful, hairs-on-the-back-of-the-neck refrain, it鈥檚 a ten-minute culmination of what鈥檚 been building up over almost twenty songs tonight. Having adorned Mani in an Irish tricolour and shouted, "Ireland, you鈥檙e the best 鈥 don鈥檛 forget it鈥, Brown and the rest of the Stone Roses huddle together to hug in a wonderful display of unanimity. With the former starting the crowd to sing 鈥楳olly Malone鈥 and proudly uttering 鈥淭hank you. Like Fu Manchu we will return", the end of this chapter of the Stone Roses鈥 long-awaited new beginning has begun.
Brian Coney
Pic: David Barry
Stone Roses play Vital in Belfast at Boucher Playing Fields on August 22
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