CityLife

Doves

Doves

Doves
Manchester Central
December 18, 2009

THIS time last year, there was little doubt which band would ‘do an Elbow’ and dominate 2009. While Messrs Goodwin and the Williams brothers have hardly hit the same heights, this has been their most prosperous year – culminating in what was billed Doves’ biggest hometown gig to date.

It’s been a long journey here for the trio and it’s clear to see just how much this means as the band head into opener Where We’re Calling From/House Of Mirrors.

Songs as grand as Here It Comes, Pounding, Black & White Town and recent comeback hit Kingdom Of Rust deserve to be played on this scale, and it’s heartening to hear each backed by a crowd of thousands. The group have also invited along the London Bulgarian Choir for the majority of their near two-hour set, with mixed results, illuminating the likes of old favourite The Cedar Room, but too often going unnoticed.

But while the songs are epic the group themselves look somewhat awkward, with softly spoken focal point Jimi Goodwin never commanding the hangar-like venue. In addition, most of the warm production from their studio albums was lost.

As a career highlight, this wasn’t quite the climactic celebration it should have been, no matter how well deserved it was for the group.