Description

In the week that their eighth studio album, lsquoGiants of All Sizesrsquo, became their third consecutive UK Number One album, elbow played a series of special acoustic shows for select audiences in Leeds, Kingston and Manchester. Combining tracks from the new album with songs from their extensive and ever growing back catalogue, the shows offered fans a rare opportunity to see elbow in small venues, with the recordings emphasising the special bond that exists between the band and their fanbase.The short tour included two sold out, hometown shows at Manchesterrsquos Ritz, a place that looms large in the bandrsquos history, being the site of a legendary headline show on the release of their debut album lsquoAsleep in the Backrsquo in 2001 that had the Manchester Evening News display their fortune telling skills when they suggested lsquoelbow are on the verge of something bigrsquo.The Ritz set reminded fans of that history with versions of both lsquoNewbornrsquo and lsquoScattered Black and Whitesrsquo from that debut album alongside versions of lsquoGrounds for Divorcersquo from lsquoThe Seldom Seen Kidrsquo, lsquoMagnificent She Saysrsquo from lsquoLittle Fictionsrsquo and lsquoGreat Expectationsrsquo from lsquoLeaders of the Free Worldrsquo. As befits an album from a band so intrinsically intertwined with their hometown, the show also saw Guy Garvey quote John Cooper Clarke and pay tribute to various Manchester luminaries lost along the way. Elbow CD is available for home delivery from Vinyl Records London, only £12