Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *
Kate Bush’s songs root deep into the heart and soul of her fans. She is a genius, a strange phenomenon, an enigma and most importantly an artiste in her own right. Knowing what Kate and her music means to her fans, she does not disappoint from the first moment she steps onto the stage to thunderous applause and cheers taking the audience on a most incredible journey that ends in a most climatic explosion of rapture and delight.
Opening the evening with Lilly, the barefooted Goddess commands the stage and audience and from here on is greeted with standing ovation after standing ovation. The show unfolds with dazzling lighting which included a dynamic helicopter with search lights, actors, filmed sequences, media images, creative sets and a wooden puppet creating a theatrical extravaganza. The Ninth Wave was powerful in most parts but had some weaker moments.
Kate performed Waking the Witch with conviction however the priest disappointed with his role as he was more wooden than the puppet. The scene in the living room between the father and son did not lend a hand to the power and poignancy of Watching you Without me and left some arguably feeling numb rather than the emotions this song evokes even with Kate singing it beautifully. Apart from the weaker moments The Ninth Wave was breathtaking visually with Kate singing every song note perfect capsizing the audience and just before the interval tells the audience “This is all about you”.
The second act began creating more magical moments with the complete songs from A Sky of Honey. Kate’s voice is incredibly powerful and coupled with her band and backing singers gives an electrifying second half. Kate quoted to her audience that the band and the backing singers were “S**t Hot” and that, they were. Credit also goes to Bertie for his solo performance which he sang note perfect and captured the mood.
Kate was majestic performing and singing Nocturn and leading into a very powerful Aerial that peeked into a climax combined with her voice, band and Kate appearing through a massive door through the air dressed as a magnificent raven and with this, took the audience up, up on the roof. The night ended with the entire audience on their feet to Cloudbusting and joining in at the chorus, united in their love and admiration for this woman of perfection. It is only right to say “Worship at the altar of Kate.” as you will never see a show like this.
Donna Lesley Price