With performances equally moving as they were brilliant, Ben Howard’s sold out show at Usher Hall in Edinburgh was a triumphant start to ‘A Retrospective Tour: Celebrating 10 Years of “I Forget Where We Were”’.
The show started with an atmospheric intro consisting of two brass instruments playing delicately, and low gold-coloured lighting. The first song of the set was ‘End of the Affair’, starting off softly and building to its angry conclusion, and was received very well by the crowd. This was the perfect way to start the concert, and my favourite performance of the show.
For the second song, ‘She Treats Me Well’, acoustic and electric guitars were paired with orange lighting and a swirling blue and yellow sunflower on the screens. The song’s vulnerability, owing to Howard’s introspective lyrics, was very touching during this performance. The next song, ‘Time Is Dancing’, was a fan favourite. As the lights were pulsing with the beat, the crowd started clapping along and cheering loudly.
To me, ‘Rivers In Your Mouth’ sounded even better live. The bright backing lights and flashing colourful visuals added to the euphoria of the song. A couple of songs later, Howard slowed things down for ‘Oats In The Water’, playing it solo with his acoustic guitar. This was an emotionally charged performance that no doubt stirred up the feelings of everyone in the audience.
In-between songs, Howard described album-making as consisting of “different pathways”, something which was represented within the concert. The setlist, stage setup, visuals, instruments, and musical arrangements were clearly carefully selected to create a perfectly crafted show. Had any one of these elements been done differently, it could have changed everything.
The first song of the encore, ‘Conrad’, was the crowd’s favourite. The use of three electric guitars made this performance more impactful. Finally, Howard finished the show by playing the title track from the album. This was an apt ending to the show and a captivating performance.
Minimal speaking from Howard between songs allowed for maximum immersion in the music. As the songs seamlessly blended into each other, the audience felt as though they were being transported back in time to when ‘I Forget Where We Were’ was first released. Additionally, the mix of colourful psychedelic and black & white visuals that were projected onto screens hanging in the shape of a tree, fit the retrospective theme of the tour perfectly.
This was more than a regular concert; it felt like an experience. Howard’s soulful voice and the musical talents of everyone on stage stoked feelings of nostalgia, euphoria, and sentimentality. It was the perfect tribute to a much loved album.
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