Jon Butler reviews Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel at the Grand Opera House, York
With the passage of time Steve Harley has lost a lot of his early seventies affectations – but none of his edge.
Indeed his voice has held up well, very well in fact, and the new material from his latest album, Stranger Comes To Town, is strong stuff and worthy of closer inspection because Harley has something to say that’s worth listening to.
His lyrics reflect where he’s at along the journey of life, and his vigour for performing live is undiminished. For this current tour he has assembled a great band that really allows his work to become extremely expressive.
It’s hard to pigeon-hole his enigmatic music and that remark is meant very much as a compliment.
His songs perhaps fall somewhere between Anglo-Eagles ballads and Mr Soft rock, but that does not capture what Harley’s music is all about because this modern minstrel’s work is full of the aspirations and frustrations of us all, but articulated in a style that has evolved from the days he busked the London Underground.
Those experiences have armed him with a palette full of both colour and shade from which he draws his lyrical inspiration.
Of course he played the hits that included the likes of Judy Teen and Here Comes The Sun (the later being particularly good live) and the set closed inevitably with Make Me Smile, and he did.
Normally here would endeth the review, but as a caveat to the whole performance it has to be said that one song, Sebastian, stood out head and shoulders above all the rest.
It is Harley’s defining musical legacy and nothing short of a
prog-rock masterpiece.
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written by steve moon , June 08, 2010
Just back from seeing Steve at Brighton and as usual they didn`t dissapoint! All the favourites and the new stuff too. Steve and the Band just seem to get better and better. Support band very good as well and did superb job on Steve`s set. We were lucky enough too meet Steve and the band after the show for a quick chat ans some autographs. Told him we named our Beagle after Sebastian, I think he found it amusing! Cannot wait till the next tour, just hope there is one next year. Steve and Becs...
written by Sue Rogers , June 11, 2010
Shepherd's Bush Empire last night was, as always, great for Steve and the band.
The venue really suits them.
Decided to stand rather than sit this time, and really enjoyed it.
I took my son for the first time, as he lives in Steve's old flat, and he is now a convert !
I like the addition of the two girls in the band.
It has always worked for Leonard Cohen, and works for Steve as well.
Don't listen to criticism of the Daniel Johnston track Steve, I thought it was great !
Didn't manage to meet the band after the show, but would love to one day.
Can't wait for the next tour - maybe Newmarket nights ???
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