Review: Ian McNabb at Telford’s Warehouse

Nov 19 2008 Chester Chronicle

IAN McNABB/Telford’s Warehouse, Chester, 17.11.08

REVIEW/By Grahame Rhodes

FRESH from his triumphant book launch/gig in Liverpool a couple of weeks ago, Ian McNabb made an overdue return to Telford’s Warehouse in Chester, and just armed with his acoustic guitar and rack harmonica put on a great two hour show – just his own material – with not a cover version in sight!

Out doing a few gigs and book signings locally to promote the excellent “Merseybeast” autobiography, McNabb was in fine form, and after a low-key first set before a hushed, listening, full-house, delivered a rousing second set, complete with obligatory audience participation on the more well known songs.

Always my favourite Liverpool songwriter of recent times and criminally ignored by radio, he must be one of the best ballad writers about, as evidenced on the opening brace of “All Things To Everyone” and “Lady By Degrees”, two songs from his “The Gentleman Adventurer” album; before a dip back into The Icicle Works days for the great “Out Of Season”, with some great guitar work.

Other first set standouts were the new-ish “The Absentee” and also “Absolutely Wrong” from “The Emotional Party”, which I think I am right in thinking doesn’t feature too often in the live shows. The set ending with the epic “Fire Inside My Soul” – his semi-autobiographical song, recorded in the company of Crazy Horse on the Mercury Prize nominated album, “Head Like A Rock”.

After a short break the second set contained more of the live favourites – from the opening “Little Girl Lost” , to a cracking “Hollow Horse”, and audience participation on “Evangeline” and “When It All Comes Down”. A stripped-down country style “Understanding Jane” – all wheezy harmonica and strummed guitar – was superb.

The “Merseybeast” album was represented by two favourites – the sing-along “You Stone My Soul” and a quite stunning vocal on “Heydays” – usually delivered on the piano, but just guitar on this occasion.

It’s usually encore-time when the fun starts, but on this occasion McNabb stuck to his own songs – a lovely “Unfinished Business In London Town” and wrapping things up with “You Must Be Prepared To Dream”. A very different show from Liverpool, but nonetheless, still most enjoyable, and great to see him in Chester again!