Now 25 years on from the release of their first studio album, The Charlatans' triumphant performance at the sold out Roundhouse in Camden is testament to a band who are not only still relevant but full of fresh new ideas.
Armed with an arsenal of bona fide indie anthems and with an exciting new album to showcase, the band which included former Verve drummer Pete Salisbury got to work right away in whipping the crowd into a frenzy.
Mixing old with new throughout the near two hour set, ‘Weirdo’ and ‘North Country Boy’ provide the first of many sing-along moments of the night, as lead singer Tim Burgess’ polished vocals resonate around the venue.
Frontman Burgess has an amazing ability to make everyone in the venue feel loved. Sauntering around stage with his unmistakable blonde locks swinging from side to side, he is a frontman who you can’t help but adore. In between riling the crowd up with his wonderful dancing and in an act far removed from a Charlatans gig twenty five years ago, Burgess was ‘live tweeting’ the experience to his near 90,000 followers online.
As the set went on, the beautifully crafted soulful lead single ‘So Oh’ from their 2015 album Modern Nature was well received along with new dancefloor-filler single ‘Let The Good Times Be Never Ending,’ where the band was joined by backing singers Melanie Marshall and Sandra Marvin along with Jim Paterson from Dexys Midnight Runners on brass. No stone was left unturned as the five piece rattled through the hits. ‘One to Another’ nearly blew the roof off, ‘Just Lookin’ into ‘Just When You’re Thinking Things Over’ sees the crowd at near fever pitch before ‘How High’ and ‘The Only One I Know’ round the evening off perfectly.
Returning to the stage for a triumphant encore, closing number ‘Sproston Green’ certainly proves that this band can still mix it with the best of them and long may it continue?
