Now I’ve never been huge on The Reverend and his cronies but the energy that Jon McClure has on stage pretty much converted me. He bounds on stage telling the hometown crowd how much he loves them and the city and launches into new single ‘Silence Is Talking’. The horn hook goes down a treat with drinks being lobbed everywhere and girls edging to the back when it gets too rowdy. Kitted out in a denim shirt, McClure wouldn’t have looked out of place in a spaghetti western. It’s a testament to how energetic a front man he is when everyone has eyes on him as opposed to the fine young lady on keyboards. Fan favourites such as ‘Heavyweight Champion of the World’ and ‘The Machine’ are all present as well as a number of songs from latest album A French Kiss In The Chaos.
It was surprisingly about halfway through the set before The Reverend made any reference to politics, a resounding middle finger up to the BNP. Cliché of him it may be, but if musicians aren’t giving us some interest in politics who will. It’s a few songs after this when the band show their weakness by playing some slower songs, even an acoustic number. It’s obvious this isn’t what they’re good at and maybe if they cut some of these songs they would be a much more consistent live act.
With no planned encore The Reverend grabs an acoustic guitar and makes tracks outside for what has now become a part of his live shows. He perches himself upon a piece of raised grass and starts playing away as the majority of the crowd follow. The first couple of songs can’t be heard due to the natter and lighting up of cigarettes in the crowd. However, once it settles down and The Rev tells anyone who smokes Mayfair to send one his way (they oblige) he plays a cover of Bob Marley’s ‘Them Belly Full’ and then invites everyone to join him in a sing along of The Beatles’ ‘Revolution’. Everyone abides by him and tonight The Reverend shows that Sheffield is still his church.
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