Paul’s Gigography

Support from Wynona Bleach and Brand New Friend

This time last year we were celebrating 30 years of Ash when they returned to the Ulster Hall.  A year later they are back (where they belong!) and a new album to boot, the 80s themed Race The Night.

I missed the first support band Wynona Bleach and Brand New Friend was still on stage by the time myself and my friend Paul arrived. 

The two standard intros start blaring out the PA as Ash are about to hit the stage – The A Team theme tune along with the Flash intro.

Straight out of the traps, the band launch into Like a God from the new album and what a proper banger of a tune it is.  Tim coming on stage dressed almost like a homage to Don Johnston from Miami Vice and sporting shades.  At this point I though he was looking a lot like Nicky Wire from Manic Street Preachers.

Without a breath, we have another new song, Race The Night which was the lead single from the new album.  Both new tunes are well received by the crowd.

This was followed up with a trio of older songs Angel Interceptor, A Life Less Ordinary and Goldfinger which all go down a storm.

You would be forgiven for thinking we are in for a treat of a greatest hits night, but the band are very proud of the new album that we get another new song, Reward In Mind which breaks up the frantic pace of the three previous songs.

The guitars are turned up to ten for a blistering version of Orpheus from Meltdown again another well received number from their back catalogue.

Confessions in the Pool from Islands is up next.  I spotted a cassette version of the album at the merchandise stand and that was one of my favourites from that album.

We are halfway through the gig, and you know it’s Christmas when Shining Light starts up prompting a mass singalong from the crowd.

Despite the bleak midwinter, we are treated to two summer tunes, Walking Barefoot from Free All Angels and the one song that gets everyone on their feet, Oh Yeah.  It might not be the start of the summer now, but those two songs really brighten up any dark winter night.

Race The Night which came out in September is a brilliant album and we four more songs from it Usual Places, the wonderful Oslo (with Rick on vocal duties), latest single Crashed Out Wasted and Braindead.  A sign of a band full of confidence that they don’t rest on their laurels with the older songs.

However, with the gig coming up to the encore old favourites Kung Fu (no Santa on stage this year) and a riotous Girl From Mars brings us to a close.

Of course, with all things being encores there are going to be more songs.  The stage crew get everything sorted while the band are off stage and when they come back on complete with Santa hats, they are joined by members from both support bands Brand New Friend and Wynona Bleach for a great cover of Wham’s Last Christmas with glitter blowing into the crowd.

Two more songs bring the evening to a close.  Old favourite Uncle Pat is up next and when Tim reveals that the next song is the last one (we hate endings!) we are treated to a frantic version of Burn Baby Burn which brings down the house.

Just like last year the PA starts up again with Harry Belafonte’s Jump in the Line (Shake Senora) as Rick leads the merry dance when he vacates the drum stool.  The band have really enjoyed themselves tonight.

Overall, another fantastic performance from Ash.  We had no special guests this year.  Maybe Jimmy Nesbitt wasn’t available!  

Here’s hoping they will be back for another traditional Christmas gig at the Ulster Hall.