Why Anathema are not yet selling out arenas around the country, or at least the Apollo's of this world, is a total mystery. An unsurprisingly sold out and sweaty Academy 3 was my first chance to catch the Liverpudlian band who are now on their 10th album and were touring on the back of new release Distant Satellites. I may have been the only member of the crowd without an Anathema t shirt on, so clearly they attract a devoted fan base.
After complicated Austrian prog rock band Mother's Cake had cleared the stage, on came the main act, all 6 of them, including 2 drummers no less, crammed into the tiny space, and immediately launched into The Lost Song Part 1 and 2, from Distant Satellites. The powerful, symphonic prog rock continued with Untouchable Parts 1&2 from Weather Systems and we were well and truly warmed up. Even the band was struggling with the heat, with Dan Cavanagh asking for the air conditioning to be turned on. Fat chance, there isn't any.
The rest of the first act, wonderfully, was more of the same, playing most tracks from the new album, and selected tracks from Weather Systems and We're Here Because We're Here. The interaction of Vincent Cavanagh's and Lee Douglas's vocals is even more fabulous and powerful live, and a real highlight of the night. Anathema's doom metal past seems well and truly buried.
Surprisingly, most of the on stage banter was from Dan Cavanagh, not brother and lead vocalist Vincent, and he really excelled when all stage sound was lost at one point, so he led the crowd in an acoustic version of Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here. That went down well with the prog centric audience. The synth vocalled Closer, closed the main set, one of only 2 songs performed from their pre 2010 catalogue.
The first 3 songs of the 5 played as encores were the last 3 off Distant Satellites, and a slight change of pace from the rest of the night. All twitchy programmed drum beats, and synth heavy, I'm not yet in love with these tracks, especially as Lee's vocals are also absent. Maybe they'll grow on me yet.
Finally, old track Fragile Dreams had us bouncing and sweating some more as they completed a more than satisfying set and everyone around me had a smile on their face.
Yes, it's a pity from a commercial perspective Anathema is not selling out arenas when they tour, but from a selfish viewpoint, I'm delighted to be able to get up close and personal and feel the real power and passion of this wonderful band.
Keith
@kjsmith4082
