The Coral returned to Liverpool for a homecoming, career-spanning, genre-juggling, twenty-song performance at Mountford Hall.
Support came from Skeleton Key Records’ She Drew the Gun who gave a performance to rival the main act. Compelling frontwoman Louisa Roach captivated the crowd with her politically-charged Scouse poetry. Tracks off the new album, Revolution of Mind (produced by The Coral’s own James Skelly), occupied most of the set list, kicking off with punch-packing lead track Resister. The set concluded with their most well-known track Poem, as well as No Hole in My Head, proving these politicians of pop are on fighting form.
Mountford Hall was now jam-packed from the floor to the balconies and the home crowd were raring to be rocked by the much-loved Merseyside musicians. Out walked ex-Zuton, Paul Molly, followed by frontman, James Skelly, and bandmates Paul Duffy, Nick Power, Ian Skelly and Jack Prince. They jumped right into their performance almost immediately with Sweet Release; indeed their first from latest album Move through the Dawn.
Then came the powerful, bass-driven track Chasing the Tail of a Dream from previous album Distance In Between, immediately contrasted by the more light-hearted Something Inside Of Me from their 2005 hit record The Invisible Invasion. This stylistic dichotomy continued throughout the evening.
To the crowd’s delight, a concentrated bunch of handpicked classics ensued: Jacqueline, Pass It On, Bill McCai and In the Morning; a treat for any seasoned Coral fan. Even, the dulcet tones of 1000 Years made an appearance in the set list. Newer tracks Reaching Out for a Friend, Eyes like Pearls and Stormbreaker were solid performances too, but it was the older tracks that reigned supreme on the night. The main set concluded with beautiful rendition of Rebecca You.
The band received rapturous applause for the beginning of their encore opener Goodbye, with its own rocket launch-type countdown, only for Duffy to burst into the bassline of Dreaming of You, filling the room with a final blast of euphoria. The adoration felt for the band in this city is undeniable.
A fantastically feel good evening.
12th October 2018
Words by Rebecca Worthington
Image by Getintothis’ Lucy McLachlan
