Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

To watch Roddy Woomble on stage is to realise there are two different versions of the man who thrills so many people with his music. There is the one who is energetic and pumped full of adrenaline as part of the great Scottish band Idlewild, a man who throws himself into the action and who gives a charged performance that is exciting but also exhausting to watch. Then there is the man who gives off a relaxed air, a man in tune with his audience and the nature of his surroundings that he exudes class with air of solemnity. For the crowd at Leaf on Bold Street, on stage sat in a tranquil and cosy position was the latter and it was a gig that was just inspirational and powerfully uplifting.

Alongside Roddy sat three musicians of some very high quality and in the extraordinary talent of Seonaid Aitkin on violin and keyboards, the tantalising sight of Gavin Fox on bass and the expertise of Sorren Maclean on acoustic guitar, Roddy was able to give the gentle setting of Leaf an unruffled but musically beautiful evening.

Opening the night with the opening track of his latest album release, Listen To Keep, the brilliant Making Myths cut through the air in a tangible and almost unique manner. Only at the end of each song did the crowd give their applause, there was no calling out in between by anyone in an unruly mood, there was no barracking at those on stage, this was pure and unadulterated joy and freedom of expression in the belief of the song.

Even though Roddy has a wealth of tracks that he could choose from under his belt, with half a dozen Idlewild albums to his name and a clutch of solo recordings into which dip the audience’s satisfaction into, quite rightly the band went through some of the songs of the new offering to whet the appetite of those assembled with.

Songs such as The Last One of My Kind, Trouble Your Door, Travelling Light and the encore of The Universe Is On My Side were all greeted with the affection of old friends but also with the reverence that suggests the audience appreciated them for the musical worth.  There was also a moment for a cover of the American folk song Green Rocky Road for which Roddy’s voice was perfectly suited. It was a magisterial effort to bring that classic song to the audience’s attention and it was just as cherished as every track played on what was to be a sensational set.

Idlewild may not have come to Liverpool for a while but when Roddy Woomble is in this sort of laid back, devil may care train of thought, it doesn’t matter, and the music is, for Roddy’s fans, king.

Ian D. Hall