Photo: WENN
Almost a year ago The Stone Roses embarked on three night stint in Manchester’s Heaton Park. The shows will go down in history as the iconic British band entertained over 200,000 people as part of a very triumphant return.
This time around it is the second of the Roses shows in North London’s Finsbury Park and although slightly smaller in numbers, the performance was still massive.
The Stone Roses took to the stage and launched into a blistering rendition of ‘I Wanna Be Adored.’ The instantly recognisable bass line from Mani was enough to spark a frenzy which had been building up throughout the day. Second track ‘Elephant Stone’ was a treat that kept on giving and as the anthems kept rolling out the atmosphere was incredible.
Watch The Stone Roses perform 'I Wanna Be Adored' below
Ian Brown is not the best singer in the world and his vocals were not superb but with a 40,000 strong choir in front of him and three gentlemen behind him who displayed the highest levels of musicianship, it really didn’t matter. A point typified to perfection during ‘Fools Gold.’
Watch Stone Roses perform 'Fools Gold' in Finsbury Park below
Fans were treated to a near ten-minute jamming extravaganza as Reni, Mani and Squire intertwine beautifully to create a sound like no other. Reni’s astonishing drumming, Squire’s effortless caressing of his guitar and Mani’s bass parts that slot between rock and dance provide Brown with a platform to do what he does best as he struts about the place almost orchestrating the band.
The shredding guitar work of John Squire continues as he somehow keeps it together in a field full of madness. The powerful ‘Love Spreads’ riff goes into ‘This is the One’ before his crowning moment as the swooning chorus of ‘Made of Stone’ hits its peak, and grown men are brought to tears.
There are still no new songs in the set but with rumours from within and teasing footage from the recent Shane Meadows film, there is a sense that it won’t be long. That being said they could probably play this set for ever and sell gigs out for the foreseeable future to the devoted fans.
Watch 'I Am The Resurrection' in Finsbury Park below
With a very merry crowd in full voice it was left to set closer ‘I Am The Resurrection’ to see things out and leave fans still wanting more. As Brown, Squire, Reni and Mani embraced each other, the cheering was as loud as it was throughout the set and it was clear that after a year of reform, the band are still revelling in their renewed love for the live stage.
Below: live shots from The Stones Roses' Finsbury Park gig
