musicOMH
Lou Reed
@ Hammersmith Apollo, London, 30 June 2007
3.5 stars
With the likes of the Don't Look Back season now a permanent fixture in London's gig-going calendar, it appears we're never short of a chance to see our favourite records being dusted off and given a new lease of life in the live spectrum. (Or, for the cynics among you, a chance for people who attend two gigs a year to ponder how [insert artist name here] never did better that record.)

One long-player more than worthy of such treatment however is Lou Reed's Berlin, repeatedly considered to be one of contemporary music's darkest albums and a stark contrast to its predecessor, the celebratory glam rock classic Transformer. Given the grand surroundings of the Hammersmith Apollo and the fact that people have paid the equivalent of a monthly shopping budget to be here, expectations are understandably high.

Joined by a 30-piece band, including original band member Steve Hunter, and dressed in a sleeveless top and jeans, Reed ensures all minor aspects from the record remain – from the deceptively elevating opening chorus of Happy Birthday to the chilling cries of children in The Kids (widely and wrongly rumoured to be a recording of producer Bob Ezrin's children sobbing after he'd told them that their mother had died).

Caroline Says and Men Of Good Fortune both bellow powerfully, the latter accompanied by footage of American soldiers in conflict.

Also joining the ensemble is a 12-piece children's choir. Draped in white gowns and swaying from side to side, they add a deeply sinister tone to proceedings. This is most evident in The Bed, undoubtedly the night's highlight, in which the choir echo Reed's chorus of "Oh what a feeling" - not quite what's expected in a song about suicide.

A surprisingly uplifting Sad Song closes the set, and is greeted by an ecstatic and lengthy standing ovation which continues into the encore with a rare airing of the Velvet Underground classic Sweet Jane getting people on their feet. It's excellent, and a stark contrast to the flat and lifeless rendition of Satellite Of Love that follows, making that awful 2004 remix of the same song seem almost forgivable.

The closing Walk On The Wild Side saves Reed's bacon and he, who has been silent bar the singing for the majority of the evening, appears humbled and thanks each member of his band individually before wishing us good night.


  share with:  Facebook | Digg | other sites


  BUY Lou Reed - Berlin

TOP ARTICLES NOW
ALBUM REVIEW: The Killers: Day & Age

ALBUM REVIEW: Amadou & Mariam: Welcome To Mali

GIG REVIEW: Florence And The Machine flower up the Fuzz

GIG REVIEW: Fleet Foxes raise a west London roof heavenward

FEATURE: Rough Trade: 30 Years Old

MORE LIVE MUSIC REVIEWS
Guillemots @ The Plug, Sheffield

Florence & The Machine @ The Fuzz Club, Sheffield

Fleet Foxes @ Shepherd's Bush Empire, London

Lambchop @ Union Chapel, London

Antony And The Johnsons @ Barbican, London

Neon Neon @ KOKO, London

Snow Patrol @ Bloomsbury Theatre, London

BBC Electric Proms: Africa Express / Africa Now @ KOKO/Barbican, London

RELATED ARTICLES
ALBUM:
Lou Reed - Berlin: Live At St Ann's Warehouse

ALBUM:
Lou Reed - Berlin: 2007 Tour Edition Remastered

ALBUM:
Lou Reed - Animal Serenade

GIG:
Lou Reed @ Hammersmith Apollo, London

DVD:
Lou Reed - Spanish Fly: Live In Spain

EXTERNAL LINKS
Lou Reed



  more live reviews...
about us | staff | write to us | mailing list | copyright | home page

© 1999-2008 OMH. all rights reserved