My second MENA experience didn't get off to the greatest of starts. Having booked online and chosen my allocated seating there didn't seem to be any need to arrive too early. On my previous visit I was very impressed with both the venue and the staff. However on scanning our tickets and told we where apparently due "A Refund" we where fobbed off with two other members of staff before someone was able to tell us what was going on and then remarking that we looked "A bit worried".. Still our reallocated seats weren't at all bad.
Compared to the terrible facilities at the Old Trafford Cricket ground when seeing R.E.M. last month the M.E.N.A. was once again a great display off how to handle a huge crowd of people.. Toilets are plentiful and everything (Including happily beer and t shirts) where easy to find and a very nice lady showed us to our seats where we arrived just in time to see Teddy Thompson do his support act.. Nearly everything he played was from his new album and while he's not the most exciting stage presence it was perfectly serviceable.
My only previous experience of James Blunt live was his live album released on the back of the success of Back to Bedlam on which he sounds much like any other earnest singer songwriter. Either selling million of albums has been great for his confidence or practice makes perfect cos he was fantastically assured performer last night. Strutting onto a fairly simple stage set (you know.. band.. lights and a higher sort of walkway affair in a sharp silver suit with skinny black tie he looked on fine form.
The show ran really tightly with a great set list. Most of the first album, the best songs from All The Lost Souls and one new song. A bit of chat. A few jokes. Job very much done. The band sounded great and Blunts voice (Which can sound a tiny bit nasal on record) was fantastic throughout the night. Mid set he ran into the crowd only to leap up onto the PA section and then onto a little stage with a piano where he bashed out a couple of songs almost right in front of us.. (Here I tried to rush the stage but some jobsworth wouldn't let me onto the floor with my 'seating ticket').
He finished the encore with a fantastic version of 1973 and we left having seen a cracking concert that was all about entertainment.
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