Originally published by L.S. Media. November 20th 2011.

L.S. Media Rating *****

The songs may be stripped back, the venues obscure, however there is no doubting the fire and commitment that emanates from the Morecambe stage as Fish gave a performance of such unbridled passion mixed with a healthy dollop of raw emotion that shows that even after thirty years of performing for some of the most loyal fans in music, he still has that unique ability to charm and use effectively superb musical cynicism, that is much needed in a world that seems very, very wrong.

There is something very special about the way Fish has gone about this tour, by taking out only the guitar playing genius of Frank Usher and the gentle relaxed keyboard player Foss Paterson, the songs have become fresh, new meaning can be interpreted behind the lyrics and Fish has once again become the voice of a disaffected and angry populace. Sure the audience has grown older, but the times seem stuck in a cycle that haven’t moved on since Fish first put scorn to ragged paper and it’s that cycle of neglect that the brooding presence on stage attacks with vigour.

The atmospheric venue of The Platform may have the feeling of the long since forgotten still waiting to catch their trains to other parts of the country but as the three men on stage delivered songs of intense sincerity no doubt the ghosts would have had heartily agreed and whispered along with the lyrics on such songs as the vaunted Somebody Special, the sensational Brother 52 and raised their arms in mutual anger at the despair, loathing and stormy Slainte Mhath.

There was no getting away from how good the gig was, each song delivered with a lead punch wrapped up in iron swinging glove that was greeted with as much passion as Fish had sang the track. Jigsaw was greeted like an old friend whose last shock inclusion on a tour had been many moons before, the brutal feeling in Family Business was palpable to even the most ignorant and as for Vigil… there was no getting away from the contempt, the fear, the neglect that is rife…it takes one person to say enough, and it is now enough.

A dramatic, brilliant display of what can be done with electric driven songs which can be stripped back lovingly and carefully to reveal a song that is full of more scorn than you initially thought.

A fantastic evening which ended on a cracking high note with the songs Fugazi and the beautiful and tear-jerking Sugar  Mice.

Ian D. Hall