Calling It A Day
This is perhaps an unusual gig review in that much of what I will write will end up being a look at the history of the singer and my personal link to his words and music. Of course many might know Fish as “the ex-singer in Marillion” or “isn’t that big bloke that sang that “Kayleigh” song?” There is of course much more to him than that. He has released 11 studio albums through the years since 1990, from which he played tracks from 6 of on the night.
For those unaware, the “big man” has decided to call it a day when it comes to music, or at least gigging, etc. He is moving into a croft away on the Outer Hebrides far away from the hustle and bustle of life. The show in Aberdeen was part of his farewell tour (for only the second time I actually believe an artist on this😂). He is mixing the shows up quite a bit and he is focussing more on his solo material every night.
Old Band
Personally, I first saw him singing with his “old band” back in early 1982 at a place called the Kaim Park Hotel in Bathgate and I was hooked. Then I saw them in what was an old club on top of a theatre in Edinburgh called the Nite Club. Before long he and the band were playing the theatre downstairs. Their rise was pretty impressive to say the least.
For music that punk was meant to have killed, it seemed the murder hadn’t been successful! For me, a large part of my love was Fish‘s lyrics. In fact, he did comment in Aberdeen that he was more a “writer than a singer“. Whether it be the broken heart love songs or the political/social commentary ones I have found much to connect with. He made me think and look at the world a little differently or at least expressed how I felt better than I could.
Powerful, Emotional Song
In Aberdeen he played 6 songs from his fabulous debut, Vigil In A Wilderness Of Mirrors, including a very moving and powerful “Family Business“. Keyboardist Mickey Simmonds (back playing with him for the first time I think for a while) and guitarist Robin Boult both excelled on this with the latter doing a beautifully emotional solo. The song itself was the first one I had heard of its ilk, dealing with both the subject of spousal and child abuse.
For those that don’t know it Fish sings about a woman who wears “sunglasses in the shade, averting your eyes from those staring questions of how were those bruises made” along with a harrowing line that gets me every time “cause when daddy tucks the kids in, its taken longer every night“. The song concludes about how he says nothing, we say nothing, so we “become an accessory” without an “alibi” with our only justification that it is “family business… how long do we keep it family business“. I found tears in my eyes as happens with this track.
Good Times, Bad Times, Always 100% Given
I have, through the years, seen many Fish gigs (also saw plenty of him with his “old band“) and one of the things that is true is that whatever
the setlist, no two nights are the same. He handles shouts from the crowds like a professional comedian and tells different stories or anecdotes every time. I have seen him play venues big and small as his career fluctuated. He never gave up. Even when things were shit for him and he was traipsing around tiny venues he never gave less than 100%, even on bad nights where his voice struggled.
I know he has said he wished he had taken vocal coaching long before now to make his shows even better as well as making sure his vocal chords would be less harmed. On this tour I had been hearing good things and by god, it was all true. He was in excellent voice in Aberdeen. OK, things are down tuned, but they sounded great and the melody and emotion was never lost.
Clever Ending To A Track
He has been alternating epics and we got “Plague Of Ghosts“, a 6-part suite from Raingods With Zippos album. The crowd seemed to be completely focussed on it, which, considering the beer that had been consumed before the show by many in attendance was impressive. The last “track” or part he had each member leave the stage one by one, till all that was left was himself and the audience singing the last chorus of “we can make it happen, we can make it happen, make it happen, forgive, forget, forever means today“. Then slowly dancing he moved offstage leaving the crowd singing it on their own. After a minute or two he came back on (we were still belting it out) and he finished it with us. Absolutely stunning.
Some Banter
During the night, he regaled us with stories about things coming “full circle” as he said that it was whilst living in the area near Aberdeen he first got the nickname that became his stage name. He chatted about getting older (I know the feeling) and had a laugh about heritage bands who say “oh we get lots of young folks at our gigs” by saying that was “bollocks“.
He asked how many young folks were in. Then how many are there because of their parents liking him. Nearly every younger person said yes. I did love his story about his accountant or bookkeeper phoning him to ask if he had done some acting or something as money had come in they couldn’t work out why. He tried to figure it out then it came to him, it was his pension! As he said “the first time the government has given me anything” which got loud cheers.
Lovely Duet
One of the highlights (in amongst many) was the duet with Elisabeth Troy Antwi on the song “Just Good Friends“. What a wonderful singer and she really shone through the gig coming in on choruses elsewhere too to help Fish along. It was good to hear her on her own on this song. The interplay was fun between them too. There were points elsewhere where she sang the melody line (no words, just the melody) under him as well which sounded excellent.
How It Ended After All These Years
We were given 4 Marillion songs tonight, 3 from Misplaced Childhood (“Kayleigh“, “Lavender” and “Heart Of Lothian“) along with a scathingly biting “Fugazi” with the line about “decriminalised genocide” feeling very pertinent to me. This was another moment where the crowd sang the final refrain and the band go off, they kept going and the band came back onto it. That chorus for those unaware is “Where are the prophets, where are the visionaries, where are the poets, to breach the dawn of the sentimental mercenary” which might seem a weird singalong, but the melody with it is superb and it is prog so what does anyone expect?
He bowed out to the fan’s song “The Company” which led to loads of people attempting to do ballet dancing, twirling around and around with their hands above their heads. Some of us might not have been that graceful but who cares? This was the end of the road for many of us fans and we were going out in style.
Grounded Performer
As I type this he is due to do his last gig tonight. Sadly I don’t have a ticket but I take solace in that I saw him play an absolute blinder of a gig and I was standing with two of my best mates who also went to some of the tiny shows up north including one in a castle where there was not even a stage so we all had to sit on the floor.
I admit that I shed some tears on the night. Fish has been a part of my musical life for over 40 years and his lyrics as I said have moved me, whether it be with sadness or in joy, making me think and helping me to release some of my pent up anger at how the world is going by spitting lyrics along with the man himself.
I also am grateful that throughout the years he has always come up to chat when he has seen me (even if it is to call me rude names over my choice of football team😂) and the concern he has shown in the last few years due to my health issues. Not all performers or artists are that grounded (funny one time he saw me, he grabbed me up, gave me a bear hug asking how I was only for me to wheeze at him “its my breathing”, only for him to let go off me whilst saying “sorry“. It was a long way down for a short arse like me😂)
Final Thoughts And Thanks
I wasn’t at the gig as an actual “reviewer”; I was there as a fan. However, I just felt I had to write some thoughts and put them out there. I have used photos taken by a mate who was with me “in the crowd”.
So thanks to him for that. Personally, all I can say is thank you to Fish for his words and music, the shows I have enjoyed, the friends I have made and places I have ended up in (Pontardawe anyone?) and the kindness he has always shown, especially to me. It is indeed the end of an era for me but I am glad to have the experiences.
I imagine tonight as I type there will be a lot of tears shed by the man himself, the band and fans. What a journey it has been. I hope he enjoys a bloody long and happy retirement.
Slàinte Mhath.
Tom Cornell
