It was just too good. My friend and were the first to arrive at 3:30pm that day (and were joined by less than half a dozen people in the next 3 hours) and despite the mild weather had painfully frozen feet by the time the doors opened some 5 hours later. A girl came by from Ryerson student radio to interview a few people. She got plenty of enthusiasm from the half frozen line. However we hardly noticed in our rush to claim a prime spot just left of centre. I was surrounded behind and to the right by people who had waited in line with us earlier that day, every one an avid fan.
Starsailor put on a fine show, and I look forward to seeing them again in February. But it was the Charlatans I had waited almost 2 years to see. The gig seemed to just get better and better as Tim ranged the length of the stage, grooving to the music. He gave small bows with his arms criss-crossed across his chest throughout the night and even got down on his knees to reach across the gap to touch a few hands.
The setlist was a great mix of new and old material, giving something for everyone. I and everybody I had met in line earlier in the day got right into the gig, dancing and singing along to the songs. I agree with the other reviewer that there was some lack of enthusiasm from those to my left but I hardly noticed at the time. As I told my
friend later that night, when the Charlatans are on stage the whole world seems to become Tim Burgess. I managed to pry my eyes away to see the rest of the band (with Jon Brookes in particular beating the drums with incredible energy) proving to me once again that the Charlatans are truly one of the world's most under appreciated bands.
This seemed a definite good night for the band despite some feedback from the mic and the good hearted laughter (from both band and audience) when Tim forgot the occasional lyric. Tim also coughed a few times, raising a few concerns about whether the long use of falsetto might be straining his voice. It didn't manifest itself in any real way however (anybody who was Chris of Coldplay's voice go in New York at Irving knows what real strain sounds like) and barely a second thought was given to it. Some said that the sound system cut in and out a few times that night but up front the sound was fine. The Kool Haus/Warehouse may look nicer now but it's clear their sound system still needs work.
In the break before encore everybody but Tim made their way back onstage and then waited for their lead singer to show his face. Somebody must have asked where he was because Mark made a circle with his forefinger and thumb then made a back and forth movement. I took me a few seconds to get it but it was a big laugh when I did. Answers the question of what the band does in the downtime...
Unfortunately sometime at the end the friends standing behind me were replaced (shoved aside?) by some much more rowdy types, including some crazy guy climbing up on someone's shoulders to wave his shirt around. Somebody even started splashing around water and alcohol before finally throwing the empty bottle (plastic) at Tim. Thankfully Tim took it with good grace and didn't let it bother him too much. The thrown water and alcohol was the low point of the night which had been nothing short of perfect until that time. However it was a relatively small flaw in what was a fabulous gig. I walked home with every muscle in my body exhausted but my mind still spinning with exhilaration. A friend said they managed to get into the Orange Room (exclusive club attached to the venue) and found the band there. No doubt fufilling what James from Starsailor noted "they get messed up every night, so it's fun to see them in the morning." This was a fabulous gig to start off the new year with and I dearly hope that the Charlatans will return sometime soon because less than 24 hours later I'm already dying to see them again.