The March Violets

Academy 3, Manchester - 2nd June 2023

Well, we reckon they owed us big time. On the last three occasions we set off to see The March Violets all we were met with were notices saying the gig had been cancelled. Twice we journeyed to London only to be disappointed, and once to Canterbury. At least when we travelled to Kent the promoter managed to bring in another band at the last minute and we watched Junk, newly formed by Psychedelic Furs' sax player Duncan Kilburn, which was fine but not very violety.

When the Violets reformed around 2010, the hope of seeing them playing live again was raised, though we thought the chance had passed when Si Denbigh suffered a stroke in early 2016 and could no longer perform. We were hugely excited then when the band announced a tour this year, with Denbigh's vocal duties being taken over by bassist William Faith, but there was still a nagging doubt in our minds that something would get in the way somewhere. We trekked to Manchester Academy half expecting to be greeted with signs saying "Gig Cancelled", but instead we bumped into Rosie Garland and had a brief chat, so all was looking good.

It's easy to forget just how big a stage can look without drums and keyboards, and it was an easy interchange between support act and the Violets as they finally emerged. We were waiting for a meteorite to hit just at that moment, but when the words, "Power death and buy your soul with pennies in the god machine ..." broke into the night it was clear that the moment we had dreamt of for so long had finally arrived. It's forty years now since 'Crow Baby' was released but few songs have ever touched it and though Rosie admitted that the band were now "old fuckers" they certainly didn't lack for power and presence as they went on the attack. We've seen so many bands, reformed or not, over those years but few have inspired us to shout out the words to their songs like the Violets did. Most of the audience may have looked like a Saga funeral party, but they were there to take joy from the night and taste the sweet fruits of darkness.

The set was a mixture of old and new. 'Radiant Boys' and second single 'Grooving In Green' were included along with 'Made Glorious', the best track from the album with the same name released in 2013. There were also new songs, 'Heading For The Fire' and 'Crocodile Teeth', the latter of which was being played for the first time. It all sounded superb. Rosie has always been a great performer; she prowled the stage with malevolent grace, flashing out evil stares and capturing the audience with her enchantments. She urged the crowd to live life to the full as it was so short and couldn't be wasted, and offered up thoughts for Violets-past, no doubt with Denbigh in mind.

The intensity of the joy we felt when the band played their greatest songs caught us by surprise, but there have been many hours spent in dark rooms singing along to 'Walk Into The Sun' and the utterly supreme '12 I Love You' so they are carved into our souls. There may have been some speed on hand when the band wrote their early songs and when we danced around to them, but it wasn't needed in the Academy where the rush was constant. William's vocals and timing were excellent, his stage presence imposing. The man who has played in "every band except The Sisters Of Mercy" must be six foot twenty or something and he seemed like a giant on stage, with cropped hair and shades. He was the anchor as Rosie danced, with guitarist Tom Ashton more lively, occasionally wandering to the front and rear.

We have long said that Tom is the greatest guitarist of the goth genre. The man who has been the only constant in The March Violets over the years claimed his proficiency was down to forty years of playing but, no, it was always the case. He has a lightness of touch that mesmerises. As these dark songs spilled over, he was calmness personified, every flick of the strings creating riffs that cut right through you, or played with your brain. He appeared to be enjoying himself immensely as was the audience who were grooving along. Somebody even called for 'Snakedance' as if they were going to miss that out. Of course it was the last track of the encore, not just a true goth anthem, but a song that is rather cleverly pieced together and still sounds immense.

Rosie called for everybody to get the things done in their lives they want to do before they run out of time. She urged people to get to every gig they wanted to see as one day it would be too late. Of course, she was right; days change, all things pass and in a few years time every band may sound like Genesis. So bloody make sure you get to see The March Violets while they are around; Tom hinted at further shows in the autumn and you can't afford not to be there. Glorious.

Set List: Crow Baby, Made Glorious, Radiant Boys, 1 2 I Love You, Crocodile Teeth, Grooving In Green, Dress 4U, Mortality, Heading For The Fire, Walk Into The Sun, Virgin Sheep, Snake Dance.

Thanks to Tony Hiscox for the final photo.