Thursday 25/09/03 Long-View, Elbow @ Carling Academy 1, Liverpool

Long-View, they’re the kind of band you’ll have heard on the radio or TV, popular for their modest indie roots and comprehensible lyrics. However, you’ve probably no idea who they are when you do hear the singles ‘Further’ and ‘When You Sleep’. Chances are though you’ve heard the name, and scoff in mockery when you’re friends mention them. It’s a shame, because they make excellent company for tonight’s headliner’s Elbow, who remixed 'Further' for a promotion EP given out at the end of the show.

Despite the occasional technical errors in their performance they still managed to churn out a satisfactory performance Guy Garvey could easily become intoxicated on the success that has come with his band’s latest release. Having launched their restrained campaign on the Great British public; including scaring a number of passing-motorists with two giant sculptures mistaken for extra-terrestrials; Elbow are headed across the wider world to promote 'Cast of a Thousands'. Still cautious of the dangerous waters that follows such exploits; Garvey seems surprised at the end of each song that the crowd is still interested, let alone singing along with such enthusiasm, commenting more than once that “so far so good”.

Having already warned the audience of technical problems and potential power cuts it is with baited breathe that the crowd listens, worried that it could end at any moment although a chorus of Cum-by-ah had been promised (and later given). Maybe the most striking feature of the night was that instead of relying on backing tapes or simply stripping down their songs, Elbow brings on stage with them half an orchestra and a female vocal group. Tonight served to prove that it is a great injustice that such a commanding group should be support for a second rate act as Granddaddy when they cross the Atlantic later this year.

Photos by Sakura Henderson