Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
Opening up for legends might be the finest double edged sword possible, not so much a weapon of Damocles, the weight of the movement swaying precariously and with a semi inclination towards amusement, but one that comes out of the lake held aloft by a woman with excellent lung capacity and with all the drama of Camelot at her disposal; The Feeling may not have been anointed Kings of Pop in Liverpool for the night but they did a damn marvellous job of opening for the regal elect inside the Echo Arena.
Not that The Feeling are slouches when it comes to performance, their music is highly infectious, they offer their fans the chance to be heard vocally and with sincerity, they are the soft Rock/Pop band that you could take home and allow to meet the neighbours with and their set list is one that would carry home any evening’s musical entertainment with certain pride.
That double edged sword quivers slightly as the excitement of the night in Liverpool builds up and it is to the absolute credit of The Feeling that they undergo their set with a sense of honour attached to their impressive frame. Anybody can open for a legend, not everybody can be as entertaining or carry the evening off to such a great start; especially when the band in question on the night could almost walk into any venue and rifle other people’s beers and they would be cheered as if they returning heroes.
With the group perhaps mindful of the enormity of what the night might hold in store, it was to The Feeling’s credit that they gave such a very beautiful set the build up it deserved, full of splendour, of popular taste and hands on heart adoration to those in the crowd who made their way into the auditorium early. With songs such as Fill My Little World, Never Be Lonely, Spiralling and Join With Us all capturing a certain emotion, the intended buoyancy before the Jeff Lynne spaceship hovered into view, The Feeling was exactly that, one in which to revel before the main ceremonial gathering.
The Kingdom is safe once more, The lady in the Lake’s aim was true as she sought out the fitting band to carry forth Jeff Lynne’s E.L.O. back to the throne, a wonderful set of crafted and sincere beauty.
Ian D. Hall