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Booked to see the Waterboys at the Fillmore as we landed too late on the Friday for HSB set. Absolutely awesome gig from start to finish. Particularly enjoyed “Fisherman's Blues” - atmosphere was electric. My friend then told me her husband of 20 plus years proposed to her during this song at a Waterboys gig in Scotland. A very special night in SF! 😍
I've been a fan of the Waterboys since the album "This is the Sea" hurtled its way into my life in 1985. With incredible tracks like "Don't Bang The Drum", "The Pan Within" and "The Big Music" (from A Pagan Place in 1984), the first three albums sealed an awe-inspiring body of rock now known as the Big Music. Then Mike Scott (founding member and essence of the band) explored different styles, starting with the Fisherman's Blues album in 1988, which largely eschewed the Big Music in favor of Irish and Scottish folk. The album was polarizing - fans of the earlier work were ravenous for more anthemic big music tracks which never arrived, while a new segment of traditional Irish music fans fell in love with the band (as an aside, and with some irony, one of my favorite Waterboys tracks of all time - the visceral "We Will Not Be Lovers"- appears on the Fisherman's Blues album). Since the late 80's, Mike Scott has been on a musical journey traversing multiple genres, primarily oscillating between rock and folk music, with a peppering of blues for good measure. I've followed the post-Big Music Waterboys all the way through, sometimes loving new releases and at other times being somewhat ambivalent, but always in awe of the genius of Mike Scott no matter where his muse takes him. The live act at the Fillmore on October 11th, 2019 was a brilliant display of a musician (and his band) at the peak of their musical powers, rocking and jamming their way through the plethora of different musical styles that are now synonymous with Mike Scott and his Waterboys. Accompanied by Brother Paul or organ, Steve Wickham on the fiddle, and Ralph Salmins on drums, the band offered up a rich treat of Waterboys compositions with some expanded instrumental solos that had the crowd rocking. The first set of the evening went by at an incredible pace, with mostly uptempo songs blazing a trail of rock and rollicking folk music. The second set had some curious choices which (in my opinion) lost the audience somewhat, particularly "Morning Came Too Soon" off the "Out of all this Blue" album. It's a lengthy narrative of a song with few peaks and riffs, and for me a questionable song choice out of the Waterboys vast canon for that part of the show. But there were highlights in there as well, including a scorching "We will not be lovers" rendition, and a brilliantly fun and enjoyable performance of "You married the wrong guy (Rosalynd). The conclusion of the second set had the audience salivating for more - we got one more song in the somewhat obligatory "Whole of the Moon". It's testament to Mike and his journeymen that even though this enduring song is the biggest commercial hit for the band, its impact was diminished by the toweringly powerful performance of the steam train of tracks that came before it. In the end, its still 5/5 stars for me. What a privilege to watch these experienced and consummate musicians at the top of their game. A must see.
Played mostly new, with some old classics. All amazing! The Fillmore is a legendary venue too.
So happy to see this band at the last minute. I found a valid and cheap ticket on Facebook after carefully sorting through the scammers and calling Ticketmaster/Neptune to verify. I was on the road and traveling for many years of my life and lived in both Ireland and England and well, this music brings back such a feeling of freedom and independence and joy in my life. Honestly, it had been a long time since I had listened to the Waterboys' music, and I had forgotten the songs and what songs I liked by them but I remembered that I had loved them and the joy they brought me so I was so excited to see they were coming to Seattle. I was also incredibly blessed enough to have met Steve Wickham, the violinist/fiddle player in the alley before the show started. Thank you Lord for your goodness to me!
I don’t mind the great artists who are still out there foisting their new art on me, good or bad. I’ll accept Neil, Bob and Van doing almost anything in concert. But Mike seems lost in terms of the balance between continuing on the path and honouring the legacy and the fans. All of the gems were in the first half. Apart from We Will Not Be Lovers, the second set was mediocre material from the last two records. And since this is a fairly rigid setlist, you can’t help but think that his approach is deliberately contrary. I might have felt the knee pain less in such a long show if he’d inverted the sets, but even with newer material he blew all the best in the opening salvo. Since he is not in the pantheon of the guys he reveres, he must surely owe some responsibility to his aging and dwindling audience. Random digs into the catalogue? Requests? I don’t know. You have to admire his belief. High energy and great value but the show missed the mark.
I need seats at my age. My only complaint is that I can't pre-buy VIP seats like the good old days.
No opening act. Just the Waterboys doing two sets, separated by a 25 minute intermission. Concert went from 8 to 10:30, so over two hours of wonderful music. Many songs off their new album, and they sound better live than in studio! One mistake - they did two Rolling Stones covers, one as an encore, whereas Purple Rain would have been a much better choice.
A surprisingly rocking good time with a mix of the folksier side of the Waterboys and a healthy dose of the rock they have been recording lately. Venue was great as well.
Old songs, new songs, wish they would have played another two hours!
The Waterboys just keep getting better with time. Perfect venue and perfect show. So much fun and beauty and rock-and-roll. I have seen the Waterboys 8 times over the years. They keep transcending with each innovation and permutation of the band. Steve Wickham is so talented. The Stones and Kiss homages were fun. Mike seemed to be energized by Dinkytown and rocked the roof off the Varsity Theater
Mike Scott aka the Waterboys brought sensory overload to the Varsity Saturday night. 5 Star Performance!
The show was great! Love these guys and hope they come back soon!!
Didn’t know a lot about them other than a few songs but took a chance on the show and boy did it pay off. These guys are pro entertainers and really gave it everything. Not only hit hard with their own stuff but finished show with a cover of Purple Rain by Prince which was out of this world. Kept you wanting more.
Fantastic night at the Danforth Music Hall. The Waterboys sound exactly the same 28 years later. Love the energy, the vibe, the fiddle ( Steve Wickem) and the vocals. Damn the vocals are as strong as ever! I was so happy to finally see them live. Been listening a long time-since I did a 28 day road trip through Ireland. The Waterboys, Hothouse Flowers, etc.. blasting from the car stereo all through the country. Loved the gig!
Great sound but we were there to hear waterboys songs but mostly all we heard were cover songs. Really disapointing. We love the waterboys tunes. Love love.
The newly renovated Webster Hall looks great and had terrific sound. The Waterboys put on an energetic and memorable show! Earl Slick & James Maddock guesting was a nice bonus.
The Waterboys Concert was great. Fantastic music. I have loved this band for years and this show was everything good and then some. Seeing them at Webster Hall was definitely an extra plus.
Love the Wilbur ! It’s such a small venue it feels very intimate. The Waterboys put on a great show. I saw them 30 years ago in Paris as they were opening for Simple Minds and it was the same energy last night. Seems that they have not aged a bit !
Always amazing show at an old theatre that is ,tired, dirty and outdated. 2 bathroom's 3 floors away from each other. Sound was okay. Needs help. Im giving it 3 stars because of the venue. Band was great.
A group in front of us were persistent in using iPhone to tape the event and block our view
