WaterboysFans - Review

THE ACOUSTIC WATERBOYS 
UNIVERSAL HALL, FINDHORN, SCOTLAND
29TH JANUARY 2002
REVIEW BY PETER LENNIE

I set off at 9 on Tuesday morning. I have to admit I hadn't realised quite
how far it was to Findhorn. The RAC route planner site reckoned on just
short of 8 hours, or 400 miles. The gale force winds and heavy snow of the
last few days were a bit of a concern too ;-) Anyway, I had a collection of
CDs to keep my mind off things. The winds were a bit high, but starting to
die down, passing half a dozen trucks that had been blown over made sure I
concentrated that bit harder. North of Perth there was still plenty of snow
about but the rain was clearing the bulk of it.

About 4 I reached Findhorn village. I had a little drive about just to get a
look at the bay and the other sites. I drove back to the foundation, the
rain was pouring down and I tried to get my bearings. I found the little
shop selling all sorts of books and things. They had a few signs around
advertising 'Mike Scott and Waterboys CDs' for 10 pounds each. I found the
cafe which was up near the Universal Hall although with the pouring rain and
lack of signs, I didn't know that yet. As I was scanning the football scores
in my paper and drinking a cup of coffee I heard a familiar voice behind me.
Mike was looking for a spoon to stir his tea, making his way down to the
soundcheck.

After a while I met Mr Rafferty and his friend and after another visit to
the village we made our way into the Universal Hall. It wasn't much bigger
that a school hall but with quite steep banks of seats. Down at the bottom
there were a variety of instruments and amps, alongside the grand piano
which was the beneficiary of the night. I perched on a little plastic chair,
strangely reminiscent of the ones in a primary school, 2 rows from the
front, pretty much dead centre. The place looked pretty full so the
inclement weather must not have kept too many away.

A gentle man from the foundation took the microphone and after asking
everyone to turn off their mobiles, and mentioning the collection buckets
for the piano, introduced The Waterboys. They strolled out from the side and
took their places. Mike in the centre, Rich to the left behind the piano and
Steve stood to the right, as I looked at them. The first song was Open, with
Richard's piano playing a beautiful melody, Steve's fiddle sounded as fresh
as ever, with Mike's guitar filling out the sound.

Mike started up the guitar intro to When Ye Go Away and just as he was
reaching the first line there was a noise from the amp, some sort of faulty
contact. Mike called for a new lead, between guitar and amp, which arrived
swiftly, then said they would start 'exactly' where they left off. The new
lead held up for a couple of lines before the same problem returned. There
was a quick debate with the guitar tech before it was decided that the
guitar itself was at fault. This was replaced and the song got going at the
third attempt.

Before the next song, Mike mentioned that this was a special day for him,
being 8 years since his first date with his wife. In her honour he wanted to
play her a love song. The chosen song was a powerful rendition of The Pan
Within. The song which first brought Steve into the band and the soaring
violin took this version up into the ethers. The singing was powerful, with
Mike's head thrown back for the 'Close your eyes' line knocking you back in
your seat and totally filling the small hall.

The next song was introduced as another love song, 'written right here in
Findhorn'. She Is So Beautiful followed, full of feeling and Richard's piano
sounding pure and stunning. The piano may be in need of urgent restoration
but it certainly didn't harm the sound. Richard's playing was beautiful
throughout, with a quality you almost take for granted from him.

Mike told the crowd about a time, a few years back, when he had taken a
course in 'Inner Listening'. Something very strange had started to happen
towards the end of the course. He started to see God in all sorts of
people's faces. He asked the 'vocaliser' what was happening and she told him
that 'He was starting to see God in all his wonderful disguises'. Mike had
mused on this for a while and it had come out in a song. Some may know how
highly I rate Wonderful Disguise but for the record I think it's one of
Mike's greatest achievements. I hadn't expected to hear the song this night
and it was a tremendous version. Steve on mandolin and Rich's piano playing
the rolling melody perfectly. The lyrics and the tone used give that feel of
amazement and you can imagine Mike, trying to put these visions into order
and come to terms with them.

A new song followed, Vampire Man. An echoing, haunting note on the violin,
cutting straight through any of the thoughts I was still having about
Wonderful Disguise. Strange Boat followed, dedicated to Peter Caddy. It
seemed almost odd to hear the song at it's normal pace, rather than the
faster electric version that the band have been playing recently.

Mike said they would like to play an old folk song, which may have been
Irish, may have been Scottish or 'could even' have been English, called the
Raggle Taggle Gypsy. Steve's trademark Irish fiddle sounds lit up the whole
hall as I sat a few feet away watching his hands and bow flying. Mike then
introduced 'An old English language poem' that Steve had put to music,
'Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening'. Steve had sung this at Maidstone but
this time Mike provided the vocals. Steve played banjo adding some delicate
sounds.

Lonesome Old Wind came next, poignant and soulful. The sound grew and grew
throughout until the hall was near bursting with it. I had to keep reminding
myself that were just the 3 of them playing as the sound they produced was
so full. The first set ended with What Do You Want Me To Do. Steve played
harmonica but it seemed his microphone wasn't working as most of the time it
was barely audible as he gestured to the sound man. The song ended with a
whispered "I'm listening", with the crowd perfectly silent clinging on every
word.

About half an hour later, Mike and Rich returned although there was no sign
of Steve. Mike commented that they had lost a fiddler and that he was
'getting some barbecue'. The second set opened with a song inextricably
linked with Findhorn, Long Way To the Light. The words seemed to take on
extra meaning given the location, hearing Mike sing about Findhorn Bay. The
next song was introduced as a 'grotesque tale' entitled 'The Wedding'. The
crowd burst out laughing a few times with Mike really hamming up the joke
lines.

Following the light relief the tension was cranked up again with the slow
version of Don't Bang the Drum. Richard gave the piano a good workout on the
intro. Standing eerily still, with his hands motionless at his sides, Mike
belted out the song with huge power, punctuated by seemingly huge silences
that made you hold your breath.

Another Findhorn song followed, Bring 'Em All In. Halfway through Steve
walked back on stage, picked up his violin and seamlessly joined in with the
song, adding a fiddle part that fitted so well you had to remind yourself
that it wasn't on the original. Mike asked Steve if he had enjoyed his
barbecue. Steve looked slightly puzzled before answering 'Great sausages'.
Then came Fisherman's Blues followed by Savage Earth Heart.

Next Mike introduced a new song. They'd played it the night before and he
didn't know what people had thought of it. At the moment it was called
'Universal Hall'. The line 'I sacrifice my power on the alter of your love,
that it may be born again... in another world' was repeated over and over.
The song also name checked a few authors and their works, including George
MacDonald's Phantastes and one of the Silent Planet books by CS Lewis. The
song left me thinking of 'Everlasting Arms' although I'm not entirely sure
why. The band left the stage with applause ringing round the hall.

A couple of minutes later they returned. Before they could play anything the
man from the foundation made his way to the stage, with an accomplice,
carrying a box full of paper bags. he thanked the band and crew and said
he'd like to present them with the bags as a token of their gratitude. Mike
asked if they were 'Findhorn lucky bags' before he got his and had a look.
Presentations over Mike said they'd like to play an Irish jig, written by
himself and Steve. Richard joined in on the flute for Kings of Kerry.

For the next song Mike brought out the guitar tech and violin tech to play
along on On My Way To Heaven. One of the verses was changed to "I'm on my
way to Findhorn, Don't you want to go". Mike thanked a long list of people,
commenting that he didn't normally go through a big long list of thank
you's. The show was brought to an end with Saints and Angels. As lovely as
ever, there were some new lines added, something like "We'll sail the ship
that never goes to sea', followed by a whispered 'friendship'.

With that the show was over and I watched the crowd filter out. A mix of
foundation people and Waterboys fans who had travelled in for the show. I
don't know much about Findhorn but it's clear that Mike has a special
affection for the place and also that the people there are just as fond of
him. I got to my car, with my mind rushing with thoughts of the show and
also the next night in Glasgow.