Originally published by L.S. Media. October 19th 2011.

L.S. Media Rating ****

In the 80’s Dire Straits were by far one of the biggest bands on the planet. They were loved by people who just bought one album, adored by millions who had followed the band’s career and adulated and remembered for one particular song that had a cutting edge video, insanely brilliant riff attached to it and lyrics that resonated with an audience ready to throw off the shackles of the 1970’s.

Then it went quiet, the lead singer went solo and was recently on stage with Bob Dylan and it seemed that for fans of Dire Straits they would no longer here the blues rock orchestration and well thoughts lyrics again other than on radio or music television.

It may be a decade late but the music that captured the imagination of a generation, not less to say those that have continually bought one of the first available C.D.s to be released in Britain, finally made a welcome return to the Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool and thrilled the fans again. The Straits, as they are now known, consist of several members of the fabled band but play with a conviction that had been sadly missing as Dire Straits seemed to go their separate ways.

From the creeping, prowling and almost sinister start of Private Investigations, the band, which included Dire Straits first keyboard player Alan Clark, Phil Palmer, the legendary Chris White, Steve Ferrone, Terence Reis, Mick Feat and the unmistakable talent of Jamie Squire, took the audience by the hand to when it seemed Dire Straits could do no wrong and even play tracks that would fit on one whole side of a record without making their fans turn off.

The group of session musicians and main stays from the days of Dire Straits played all the hits and much loved songs with a firmness and free flowing spirit that made the audience beg the question, where has this music been hiding. Amongst them were the seminal Telegraph Road, the haunting Romeo and Juliet, the delicate Latest Trick and the incredible Brothers in Arms.

If ever there was a fan base that deserved to be entertained after so long of musical hunger then the Philharmonic couldn’t have played a bigger part than allowing The Straits to come and play these timeless and stunning pieces of musical works.

Ian D. Hall