The force will be with them - always. (Ash - Live)

Member Name: longpod

Product:	Ash - Live
Date:	26/03/02 (36 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: New material, the lovely Charlotte, old faves alongside new stuff

Disadvantages: Poor security

Rock stardom is a strange anomaly. It can change nice quiet ordinary people into greedy, pretentious megalomaniacs who want all the benefits of fame and fortune yet show complete apathy towards their fans. But every once in a while a band comes along who shun the trend and give something back to the fans. Ash played the 300 capacity Barnsley theatre in December 2000 in front of a passionate and knowledgable crowd. This really was a show for the fans; they voted on the internet for which venues the band should play, and also voted for the songs that should be in the setlist. Ash have further embraced the technological age by recently releasing the song 'Warmer Than Fire' (written by Steve Ludwin from Little Hell and Carrie) exclusively as an internet download rather than a commercial release, to help promote the tour and forthcoming single 'Shining Light'
After years of taking the stage with the sound of Tie Fighters and X-Wings ringing in their ears Ash have progressed to the Star Wars Cantina Band theme tune. This, coupled with the Star Wars stickers on the guitar strap of Tim's flying V, are a signal that the band's fixation with all things Skywalker is showing no signs of relenting. With old favourites like 'Lose Control' and 'A Life Less Ordinary' blending in seamlessly with new songs like 'Slow Suicide' and 'Cherry Bomb', Ash's ear for a tune is still as accurate as ever. A storming Darkside Lightside/Goldfinger medley followed in a set that was largely reliant on first album proper '1977', ignoring 'Nu-clear Sounds' completely, 'Numbskull' and 'Jesus Says' being the notable exceptions.
With 'Kung Fu' hidden up their sleeves for as long as possible, Ash reminded everyone that their penchant for rocking out is a s evident as ever, hinting that their future may lie with a return to the fondness for melodies that punctuated their early material.

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