More about: The Coral

The year is 2002. Halle Berry has become the first every Black actress to win an Oscar for best actress, the first Spider Man is one of the biggest films of the year, Ben Affleck has been voted as People Magazine's sexiest man alive and The Coral have released their massively popular self-titled album. 

Fast forward 20 years and we find ourselves in Kentish Town, its O2 Forum steadily filling as fans of the band enter the venue in order to commemorate two decades of the album. The cover drapes across the back of the stage, its font so cool that you almost don’t notice how much the gap in the C looks like an ovary as the crowd gather around the stage waiting for the music to start. 

Only a third are here for the first support but that doesn’t stop Marvin Powell from taking to the stage and delivering a peaceful, almost serenade-like set. He has a lovely voice that teases high notes like they’re nothing as the crowd sip on overpriced beers and get into the mood for live music. His Scouse accent cuts through the room at intervals as he thanks people for coming out and gets everyone more and more excited for the night ahead. 

Next, almost in complete contrast, Cut Glass Kings head on to the stage, taking the calm atmosphere that Marvin created and tearing it a new one. As soon as the two start playing, it’s clear the next 30 minutes will be packed with attitude as heavy riffs and chaotic drums ring out through the venue. 

After Cut Glass Kings leave the stage, there is movement in the crowd as people make one last dash to the bar to get a drink before The Coral head on. You have to give the band and the album credit because there's a real mix of people from a range of generations assembled for the show. It’s a testament to how timeless the sound that The Coral managed to capture on this album is as half the people there, myself included, were dreaming of the purple teletubby when The Coral initially started dreaming of you. 

Finally, the lights dim as jet black silhouettes fill a red backdrop and the whole O2 erupts with cheers. Given the show is to commemorate the album's 20th Year Anniversary, the gig is set up as a simple play through of the album, with some other songs making an appearance in the encore. The band start with 'Spanish Main' before heading into 'I Remember When', 'Shadows Fall' and so on. The tracks are tuned out as perfectly as two decades of practice will allow, and this mixed crowd hang on to every single second of it. 

There is, as is to be expected, a massive reaction when the hit 'Dreaming Of You' starts playing. James Skelly can hardly be heard as a backing band of 2,000 take over, every lyric accounted for as: “I still need you but I don’t want you” gets shouted to the high heavens. 

A lot of the songs played are a real treat to listen to as thanks to the way that The Coral strum upwards on their guitar with accompanied bass lines, the music tickles trippy. This, paired with the psychedelic mosaic album cover and technicolour stage lights make for what could feel like the beginning of a PSA deterring people from using LSD. 

The set is well put together too as you are given breathing space from that atmosphere thanks to stripped back introductions to songs, again, masterfully accompanied by an adoring crowd who want nothing more than to sing along. The music is one thing, but there's no doubt that the attitude of those in attendance made this a magnificent night.

Where some decided to dance frantically and head bang, others gently swayed, whilst some just tapped their feet and the odd few complained about the queue to the bar. Regardless though, all of them were united in their love for this band and this album. 

All in all, the gig was a great night. From the opening support of Marvin Powell, added to by Cut Glass Kings and polished off by The Coral, the three hours in the Forum was a joy from start to finish. The Coral perfected the sound of an album that means so much to so many, clearly touching a lot of people in the room that night. All of those emotions and all of the different individuals that love that album were treat to it being played as if it was only recorded yesterday, and the surreal feeling that comes with the scary passage of time but the joy of nostalgia was summed up perfectly by Skelly, who took to the mic and aptly said, “as if it’s been twenty years, eh?” 

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More about: The Coral