With their catchy tunes, stirring harmonies (of the kind siblings seem to effortlessly produce) and matching spectacles, The Proclaimers have been major players in popular music – not just in the UK, but worldwide – for nearly 30 years.
Their assured material has regularly been used in films, adverts and TV programmes and a stage musical, Sunshine on Leith, featuring a number of their songs, premiered in 2007. A film version released in 2013 received rave reviews.
Will Varley, a 29-year-old folk singer, was tonight’s opening act. He impressed with his singing voice and thought-provoking songs, but ruined it by talking about the recent EU referendum.
“I’m so proud my generation voted to remain,” he announced before performing a song about division entitled “To Build a Wall.”
This declaration was met with applause from much of the crowd, but provoked an angry exchange among other audience members, culminating in one rather hysterical woman being yelled at to “Shut the f**k up!” I think Varley would be wise to avoid this subject at future gigs…
To the strains of Buck Owens’ “Act Naturally,” the boys and their excellent four-piece backing band took the stage at 20:30 and immediately launched into “Sky Takes the Soul,” track seven on their debut album, 1987’s This Is the Story.
They continued to draw from their first album, following the opening number with a passionate rendition of “Over and Done With” and the timeless “Letter from America,” a number three hit on the UK charts.
The Proclaimers’ latest album – their tenth – is called Let’s Hear It for the Dogs. Ahead of “Tuesday Afternoon,” a tune off the new record, one of the brothers (I’m never sure which is which) announced that they were pleased to be “playing indoors in Croydon for the first time.”
“Let’s Get Married” (dedicated to “all those about to get wed”), “Forever Young,” the Beautiful South-esque “Spinning Around in the Air,” “Misty Blue,” “Shadows Fall” and moving football anthem “Sunshine on Leith” – complete with steel guitar – were further highlights.
The hits “I’m on My Way” (memorably used in Shrek) and “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” were understandably included in the thrilling climax and had the crowd up on their feet, clapping along and dancing in the aisles.
Just when I was thinking, “How can they possibly follow those two songs?” the six musicians came back out for the encore and more-or-less managed it with “Make My Heart Fly” and “Life with You.”
Admirers of guitar-based, singer/songwriter-driven popular music would be well advised to check out albums one to 10 and then go and see The Proclaimers next time around. Hopefully we won’t have too long to wait.
For information on The Proclaimers, visit their official website.
