Entering the sold out Podium at Harderberg I feared for the worst. The place was absolutely packed and in the back, where I was standing, one could hardly see the stage. The only way to see what was going on was on TV screens on the walls! We had no other choice than to work out way through the crowd, something that worked out rather well. We finally ended up right in front of the mixing desk, our favorite spot at any concert. By this time the support act had already left the stage and the waiting started. After half an hour the first notes of the first song filled the room: “Splintering Heart” the ultimate opening track. I was rather surprised that the band picked an old song (1990) to start the show. This looked promising…

One of the best things of this opener is that it immediately makes two things clear. You can tell whether the crowd is in the mood and, more important, you can tell whether the band is in shape. Listening and looking at the first Steve Rothery solo (guitars) it was obvious that the band was in the best of shape. Steve Hogarth (vocals) who spoiled most of ‘Somewhere Else’ for me, proved to be a great singer once again. His contributions during the new songs were so much better than on the album. I don’t exactly know what it is with Marillion but somehow I always get the feeling that the sound of the studio material could be much better production wise (the 2005 gem ‘Marbles’ being the exception to the rule).

The band played a broad selection of songs with quite surprisingly the emphasis on the first two Hogarth-era albums Seasons End and Holidays in Eden. I was especially impressed by the pure joy that the five musicians showed on stage. This band seems to be getting tighter and tighter over the last couple of years. I remember seeing the band after This Strange Engine was released (1997) and doubting whether the band would stay together much longer. A lot has changed. Smiling faces, a lot of movement, a dynamic performance of bass player Pete Trewavas (since his Transatlantic experience a pure revelation on stage) and some fooling around … a lot has changed. I even caught Mark Kelly smiling after hitting a wrong key, blaming drummer Ian Mosley for it.

As the songs followed each other it became clear that this was going to be yet another impressing Marillion gig. The set list, one of the main worries white traveling to a Marillion gig was in one word perfect. Yet in another way than months ago at the convention where the band played a collection of all time favorites. This night there were a few tracks that do not fall in this category, yet you need these tracks to fully appreciate the highlights. It’s impossible to experience highlights at a all time favorites night. In that way tonight’s set list was better … probably the best I’ve ever heard (and I’ve seen this band for about 40 or 50 times). The only true low point was the performance of the new song “Faith” a horrible and childish track that should have never been written. Only the fans who entirely lost objectivity towards their favorite band will feel some appreciation with the bands crap.

Where the band started off with the ultimate opener, they finished their regular set with the ultimate closing song, “King”. The first two encores were cleverly chosen, the hit singles “Beautiful” and “Waiting To Happen, another prove that Marillion finally figured out how to build a proper set list. The final song played was “Neverland”, a track that is simple astonishing no matter how often you hear it. I wonder what would have happened if the band released this nine minute epic as a single.

As you can see by the length of this review – I usually do not need this many words to write about something that impressed me – I was blown away by tonight’s performance. The songs, the band, the sound, the lights and the crowd were in the best of shape. The only two critical notes I can think of are “Faith” and the poor sights in the back of the hall (the latter didn’t bother me standing on an ideal spot right in front of the mixing desk. Tonight has left me with a problem though. Expectations for the Utrecht gig are high, very high…

(Review: Geert Oldenmenger)