It rocks! The Urbane Live
Speakers, Delft, Holland, 24 June 2000

It rocks! Everyone who has met John Mitchell probably knows this statement about the album Neon by his band the Urbane. And I couldn’t think of a better way to start this review. A review of a gig on the 24th of June. On a summer evening The Urbane played live at Speakers, Delft (Holland).

I already liked the album a lot, but what I saw happening on stage almost made me want to start a new fan club right away. Indeed, it rocked! The band, consisting of John Mitchell on guitar and vocals, Martin Ragget on bass, ‘Scooby’ on drums and backing vocals and Patrick ‘Paddy’ Darlington on keyboards (some of you may know him as one of Arena’s crew members) were all really up to it and you could see, hear and feel that these four men not just made music, they were music.

Of course, the Neon songs were played of which I thought The Tide and Mary Jane were the highlights. Mary Jane because it’s great dancing to (again, it rocks) and The Tide because it’s just beautiful, especially the beginning and the end. John announced it by saying ‘this song is about loss’ and that said it all; an emotional song.

The band played a few news songs as well and I’ve been told that one of them, Glitter, is the working title of the new album. I like them: it was kind of different from the songs on Neon, but you could still recognize The Urbane style very much!

Then the covers on the set list: Time After Time by Cindy Lauper (!) and Marillion’s Afraid Of Sunlight. The first one is really different from the original; I prefer this version to be honest! Marillion’s Afraid Of Sunlight was simply beautiful. You really could feel that they loved to play it and hear that John was more than capable to sing it!

OK, one negative thing: there were only 50 people who had come to see this incredible band. Need I say more? If you are into different music styles and you liked the album Neon, please do not hesitate to come and see them play live the next time! It’s worth it and it rocks!

By: Natasja Gravendaal