Concert Review: Fish's Return to Childhood, Manchester

I would love to have seen this, Misplaced Childhood has always been one of my favourites. Along with all the other Fish/Marillion albums of course. I guess Clutching at Straws is my favourite favourite, but Childhood must be a close second - especially Milo on side 2 :-)

I shall need to think about the concept of a Marillion item 'dragging a little' - although I'm open to new ideas this one is proving difficult to fit inside my head. A bit like that woman in a Woody Allen film who claims to have had the wrong kind of orgasm ;-)

He's playing Stourbridge on Thursday! That's somewhere on the left-hand side of Birmingham, like Telford.

Your comment ..."Fish's voice will never be what it was twenty years ago, but it was far from the disaster I feared it might be.." makes it sound like you were expecting this gig to be some kind of joke.
I have to agree with Steve Jones...if Misplaced Childhood "drags" then I kind of guess you aren't much of a fan. Curious why you chose to review a gig that appears to have disappointed you by it's success.
Just for information, and you appear to be lacking in it......
You mention the line-up including "a returned Frank Usher" ...??? Where has Frank been? He was on the last tour, and the tour before that, and the tour before that...(get the jist?).
The reference to a magpie sighting being a sign is significant if you know anything about the Misplaced Childhood lyrics, artwork and indeed concept.
Performing Misplaced Childhood in its entirity is not a new novelty. Fish performed this in 2002 at 4 concerts; 2 in Liverpool and 2 at The Company convention at Enschede, Holland.
Sorry if this is blunt and sorry if a succesful Fish gig isn't what you expected. I have been watching him for 22 years now and have never gone home disappointed. If you aren't keen - then that's fine - each to their own taste, but kindly desist from posting patronising, sarcastic comments under the title "review"

Comments like that remind me why I quit the Marillion mailing list years ago. It was too full of obsessive fanboys who needed to get a life.

If I was really expecting the show to have been a disaster I would not have paid good money to see it! If you're offended by reviews written from the point of view of an ordinary punter rather than that of the obsessive hardcore fan, then just don't read them!

I stopped reading Marillion lists many, many moons ago, for the same reason. Not worth this sort of agita.

Fugazi remains my favorite Fish-era release, and I feel the band is better than ever these days.

Some day I'll see Fish. My wife would loathe it, though...

A balancing comment comes from a colleague at work, who says my review makes it sound far better than it possibly can have been.

I too have been going to fish gigs for over 20 years and have never been disappointed. The first half of the set reiterated to me that Fish is a true genious lyrically. Yes he sang some songs that not all the audience sang verbatum they are still great songs though. The first half of the set just reminded us of the volume of fantastic songs he has produced over the years and made me want to re-listen to all his albums again. The second half was even better with the crowd on form in true fish concert style. The big man is definately still on form and long may he continue.

For the record, I've seen Fish 8 times over twenty years; the last time (Mean Fiddler in 1999) he did have quite a bit of voice problems that led to him cancelling the rest of the tour.

I certainly wasn't in the least bit disappointed in the Manchester show, and Steve Ainsworth is completely wrong to imply that I was.

Going to see Fish tomorrow in Stourbridge. I have followed his solo career since day one. Seeing him live more times than I can count and my only worry after reading your review, is that his solo material will not be apprieciated by a crowd that maybe there to relive Marillions highest moment. I know it is now 20 years and we all like to remember but Fish`s solo material has always been underestimated and I for one don`t miss Kayliegh or any other top Marillion song not been performed by the big man.

I definitely got the impression that a proportion of the crowd were 80s Marillion fans on a nostalgia trip who were a lot less familiar with his solo material, especially the most recent stuff. Still plenty of Fish solo fans there, though.

Don't shout for Grendel, though. The Big Man won't like it....

I have been in love with this mans music since I was a young, impressionable 16 year old, and first heard Script.
I have been going to his solo gigs since he left Marillion, and can`t think of a time when this hard, dynamic big Scot has not made me cream my y-fronts at a live performance.
i am going to see him in Stourbridge tomorrow on the 28/04 and just know that he will once again blow my socks off!

Honestly don't want to enter into a slanging contest here, so in an attempt to explain...
My responses are not those of what you term "an obsessive fanboy" but merely someone who read your review and felt its tone to have been set in an unfairly negative vain before you've heard a note played.
Your review states you feared Fish's voice might be a disaster. A question you ask..."would Fish's diminished voice fail to do the old material justice?"
Appears to be a rather negative preconception to have before the gig even starts.
Can you appreciate how that might read to somebody else?
Your comment ..."The band made a good job of reproducing Marillion's complex music, with Frank Usher making a credible stab at Steve Rothery's guitar parts" ... has the tone of demoting Fish and his band to the status of an amateur Marillion tribute.
Your remarks just struck ME as a tad biased.

Soapbox away.

Anyway I will not be advised to get a life by someone who plays with trains and thinks the state of the railway network is an election issue! ;-)
PS That is a tongue in cheek remark and not an invitation to further roasting.

Tim, you'll appreciate this. I first saw Marillion on their first US tour. The second time around, for the Fugazi album, I took my then two best friends, both of them hardcore Gabriel-era Genesis fans.

We were up front, and when Fish finally showed up (the band had played all of side one of the Lamb during sound check, which we sat in on, and Fish was doing a radio interview, hence his tardiness), my friend, Craig, yells out between two songs when it was oddly quiet, "The Knife!"

You should have seen Fish's face. Classic. It was a cross between disgust, anger, and humor.

I like the story I heard from my brother-in-law about a guy who shouted "A flower?" during the quiet bit of Grendel.

Just come back from the Bristol Bierkeller gig. Sh*te soundsystem, but a great gig. Fantastic encore of 'Fugazi' to round off the evening. Huw rates it in his 'Top 5' (which includes 'Magnum' at the Astoria last week!!!!)!

I was at Fish's Manchester gig.

I'll be honest - I've never really been into his solo work - sure, I got "Vigil..." more out of a sense of duty after the Marillion split and I bought the compilation "Kettle of Fish" a couple of years ago too.

So it was with a bit of trepidation that I went along, more as a Fish-era Marillion fan than a dedicated follower of the big man himself.

It was quite amusing to see the type of people in the audience - basically the same sort of folks I used to see whenever I saw Marillion live nearly 20 years ago...and I mean EXACTLY the same people!!

His solo stuff I thought was great. I recognised about 60% of it from the bits I had. I suspect that he knows which of his material is better and sticks to playing that.

I guess that of those who'd come along purely to hear "...Childhood" a fair few were won over. (The merchandise queue on the way out seem to be throbbing with customers bedecked in fading Marillion t-shirts anyway!)

The rendition of Misplaced Childhood was awesome. Like you, I think the band did a terrific job. Although I wouldn't place Steve Rothery amongst my top 10 guitarists, some of his stuff is pretty complex and the guitarists on the night did a splendid job of imitating his style whilst maintaining an individuality of their own.

One minor niggle about your review. Apart from on the "...Childhood" tour (1985?) I can't remember the whole album being played live by Marillion before - I seem to recall they usually played either side 1 or side 2.

I was amazed though as a room full of 35-50 year olds still sang out loud the words of a record that is 20 years old, verbatim!!!

I was the cheeky scamp at the back of the crowd who, when for the encore the big man said they only had time for one more song, shouted "GRENDEL!!". I don't think he heard me though...
But who would have believed it - Market Square Heroes! There wasn't a dry pair of pants in the house...

All in all I thought it was a tremendous gig for Marillion and Fish fans alike. You're right though - the voice isn't the same as it was.

Nice review from Lee - who admits to buying Vigil out of a sense of duty! and ..."went along, more as a Fish-era Marillion fan than a dedicated follower of the big man himself."
I like his comment .."I suspect that he knows which of his material is better and sticks to playing that..." when referring to what solo material Fish plays.
From personal experience I find there is a considerable difference in opinion as to what stuff is preffered or works best. My best mate and one of my companions at the the gig would probably have picked a different set while I was pretty happy. I love Goldfish and Clowns, Long Cold Day and Numbers where my mate may have preferred different tracks from the same choice of albums.
Glad you enjoyed it, that's the whole point. As for shouting for Grendel - it is officially frowned upon (ho ho) but I have despite being a fan since 1983 never heard it performed live! So if you keep shouting, I'll let you!
As for the crowd knowing the words - Fish's now famous song book was called into question when he admitted he needed glasses to see it! And doesn't wear them on stage!! Priceless.
Just for the record, can anybody shed light on the question when did Marillion last play Misplaced right thru?
As for the voice? Whose voice can remain unchanged over 20 years of debauchery?
Can anyone suggest a singer who has performed over 20 years without any claim on the vocals?
Anyone who says "Cliff" needs to reread the debauchery bit!
Just for example I have seen of late (last few years) Roger Daltrey (with The Who) and Tony Bennett - both singers of note who have been around a while. The style of both has been adjusted slightly by the years - its a fact of life. It's a compromise - change or quit. I'd rather they change than quit personally. I'd rather hear the adjusted version than nothing at all. People age and their ability to deliver a sound ages as well as their bodies change. Doesn't make them worse artists does it? In fact I'd suggest if they have the humility to admit they themselves submit to the same human frailties of passing time, they would have a greater connection to their listeners.
Same goes with Fish only more so. Fish isn't just about singing. He holds an audience in the palm of his hand and talks to them. Too few artists have that connection these days in my book.
Would be in an interesting thread though maybe?
PS Milli Vanilli not allowed

As for the incontinence for MSH, we are considering starting a support group. Its been around since 1982 but back then we thought pissed meant being drunk!

"So here I am once more..."
Steve A.......The Jester never dies

How niiiice to find human beings enjoying this music! :-D

My explanation: Fish is coming to Argentina (the bottom of the world, yes) so I've been trying to drag any of my friends to the show, for I don't want to go alone, but they kept telling me " 'Marill�n'?? what's that?" or worse: "ajjj!!! so you REALLY like that??".
Even my boyfriend is a little horrified with the idea that I even consider it as music. :-p

Gee... I really find it... mmm... hypnotic somehow! But it seems it's not "on fashion" or even known here! :-(

Okey... Anyway, the thing is that I finally found a good-soul-friend, who's coming with me, so... High Expectations! :-D
I hope I won't be disappointed.
The place where the show is carrying out is quite small, so he'll be singing quite close I guess.

Er... well, I have to admit that I like the old Marillion... maybe I'll try to dive into the new one. It's obviously not the same...

I've been listening to this guy since I was 16 (I'm 29 now) and his voice spitting that poetry or whatever you may call it, is so... so rawly fascintaing.

Well, sorry if I wrote too much :-p It's just that I'm excited about this. And sorry if my English stinks.

I hope the "Sala de las Americas" (Cordoba, Argentina) will be full of good-taste people this Sunday!

Read you soon!

PS: do girls like old-marillion?? I feel like here I'm the only one! I'll see it in two days...
Bye!

Hi,

Fish was in my country (Chile, wednesday 18 th). first thing I thought, I can�t miss this show, it would be the first time I could be in a show of the Big Man. Disappointed? NEVER, as the matter of fact, IMO Fish's show gave me more than I expected (I just knew,Fish was in Chile by Monday 16 th).By some reviews that I read (in spanish medias)I though that Big Man will play the solo material and a couple of Misplaced's songs (maybe the most popular stuff ie: Kayleigh and Lavender). I invited my girlfriend (she became fan because of me, since I hear marillion-fish era every time).

The important thing,Fish was conected with crowd all night. The stadium was full, people sang every song he played. But the best came when Misplaced started (all songs in a row, just as appear in CD). It was awesome. It's so hard, that these kind of artists came to sing to our continent. That's why my comments are not so critical than yours. I know Fish is old and his voice is no the same as it was, but he is a great icon in the music and I went to the stadium to see the show, the band, the man, the leyend,ie: to see FISH

Off to see Derek at Manchester, as in a few hours looking forward to it, front row seats,
I will enjoy his excellent lyrics, music and atmosphere.
Amanda
can't wait
the url fan site rush is my husbands.

Just returned from the �FISH� gig in Bolton and I�ve only got one word to say: AWESOME!

Furthermore, Steve Hogarth, Dream on�

FISH is, and will always be Marillion

saw fish at the garage,glasgow,yes he may not be the singer he was 20 years ago ,but he is still great ,and what a showman,awesome!!!!!!

any idead WHY marillion and specially Fish do hate Grendel soooo much? is it only because it sounds to genesis for them and reminds them of a copy phase? I would really love to know. Much more than a copy of Genesis I think it is a copy of the band Grey Lay Down- is this the point? Who knows the story?

I read up on the reviews here last night. I've just got tickets for the last night here at what must be the least glam venue of the tour - Scunthorpe Baths (yes it exsists and no it's not totally shite). After reading this lot I got the impression that I'll be looked down on. Why? Because I'm going because I want to turn back the clock to be 17 again, before marriage, divorce, becoming a mum and having to settle down into life after crashed dreams. The Misplaced Childhood album has been a shining light to me in those years, it's become music that matters in my life, so OK it's not Donnington, it's not twilight and it will be just the 2nd time I'll have seen him but I'm as excited as hell, and so what if you lot think I'm a saddo, I know that this concert will mean more to me than it has done to most of you. So what if his voice may not be as crisp, we've all changed, isn't that the point? A tour like this says to me "Life's gone on, but hey even the crap bits had some good to them, even if it was only having this album to keep you going!"