An unforgettable night which set off with Blackwolf, the first support act, jumping on stage in good time at 7:30 and rocking the crowd for about half an hour. There is no questioning their showmanship. There are elements that are still a little shaky, but there is definitely a lot charisma under it all somewhere, waiting to come alive and slap everyone in the face. Then a band called Beware of Darkness appeared for the second support slot and everyone was a bit confused... I can't really report any more than that because it was all a bit odd. But that soon ended and The Union graced the stage with their presence almost bang on time at 9:30 and in the darkness, singer Pete Shoulder slowly said into the microphone, "Right... where were we?". The lights faded up and the place completely erupted; the band had reluctantly needed to curtail the show a few weeks prior due to the flu taking over, and they were clearly determined to make this unforgettable.
They were absolutely fantastic and the vibe was just astonishing. They started with Step Up to the Plate, and You're My Jesus; a personal favourite. Then into Tangled up in You for a more mellow twist. Song number 4: they played Cut the Line where towards the end of the song, Pete held a note that almost shattered the windows and as it echoed off the walls and resounded throughout the Academy, the crowd cheered and clapped as he proved that he could make quite the comeback. A personal highlight of mine would have to be Obsession. A sing-a-long prior to Pete nearly breaking the microphone and blowing the speakers with a mighty, "You're my obsessioooooooon!" made it memorable to say the least. Black Monday, always a crowd pleaser, saw the entire population of the venue singing every word from start to finish as the song built up to a crescendo of Pete showcasing his incredible range with that last note. Then a nice low point as they picked their way through Fading out of Love; letting everyone get their breath back for Black Gold; by the looks of it a crowd favourite. They ended the main set with Sirens Song and it was enough to send shivers down your spine and left everyone wanting more. Once again, the last big note's delivery can be described as nothing short of absolute perfection. Come Rain, Come Shine welcomed the band back onstage as the encore opener and was simply blissful, then Watch the River Flow was rocking, loud and no-nonsence; the perfect way to end a perfect set.
The whole setlist, © setlist.fm:
