Bryan Ferry - Royal Albert Hall 2020

The last gig I went to was Bryan Ferry’s March 13th 2020 show at the Royal Albert Hall, the second of two dates at the venue. The gigs were Ferry’s final performances on a run of tour dates that would be cancelled due to the pandemic, and more poignantly, the final full-capacity events to take place at the iconic venue – and quite possibly anywhere else – prior to lockdown. The concerts have now been released on a live album with all proceeds being shared between Ferry’s band and crew members in an effort to support them during what has been an extremely challenging time for the live music sector.

This live release is a welcome memento of what was my favourite Ferry show in recent years. While the musicianship is always excellent, the setlists in the past few tours had not differed all that much, with each passing tour offering up just a few new song additions among a sea of setlist staples. However, the 2020 shows were hugely refreshing with revitalised setlists that drew largely from the early Roxy Music catalogue; ‘Pyjamarama’ (complete with Jorja Chalmers outstanding sax solo), a sublime rendition of ‘Just Like You’, and the fabulously eerie ‘The Bogus Man’ were my favourites on the night, and it is wonderful to revisit these rarely played songs on this live recording.

While the focus remains largely on the early Roxy Music material, their later work is touched on with a small, but diverse selection that finely represents the smoother sounds of the band’s final era, including a blistering version of ‘Same Old Scene’ and a heartfelt ‘Dance Away’. Ferry’s solo catalogue is also well-represented, from the slick, jazz-inspired ‘Limbo’ from 1987's Bête Noir, right through to the seductively haunting ‘You Can Dance’ from 2010’s Olympia.

The wide-ranging setlist makes this live album an ideal companion to last year’s Live at the Royal Albert Hall 1974 release, which captures Ferry on his first ever solo tour – the two recordings effectively showcase the longevity of a career spanning nearly 50 years. Given this time span, it is perhaps inevitable that Ferry’s vocal is noticeably weaker than that of the 1974 recording, however his softer vocal delivery on the 2020 album has a distinguished, sentimental quality that seems a natural fit for the more relaxed tempos that are present. Ferry’s vocal is strongest on a stripped-down reworking of Dylan’s ‘Make You Feel My Love’, however, even when backed by fuller arrangements such as on opener ‘The Thrill of It All’, his vocal remains at the forefront of the mix, and is enhanced but never overshadowed by the impressive musicianship of the backing vocalists and fellow band members.

Everything that made this tour so brilliantly unique is perfectly captured on Royal Albert Hall 2020 – from the refreshingly varied setlist to the subtle, yet effective arrangement tweaks that breathe new life into the fan favourites. Listening to the album brings back memories of a fantastic night, while also sparking a major sense of excitement for the return of live music. 

 

Setlist
The Thrill Of It All
You Can Dance
Pyjamarama
Out Of The Blue
The Bogus Man
Casanova
Limbo
Just Like You
Same Old Scene
Hiroshima Mon Amour
Your Painted Smile
Don't Think Twice It’s Alright
Make You Feel My Love
Dance Away
Avalon
Street Life
Virginia Plain
Editions Of You