ShareFish performing his Farewell To Childhood Tour at Rock City Nottingham on Sunday 10th April 2016
Images and Review by Kevin Cooper
Fish took Rock City by storm last night as he brought his Marillion career defining, multi-platinum selling third album Misplaced Childhood back to life for one last outing before he retires from the music industry. And for many, it was a dream come true.
Misplaced Childhood was released in 1985 and it holds a special place in the hearts of many who grew up in the 80’s and for whom this was an emotional soundtrack to their life.
Before the main event, Fish delivered four tracks from his solo career to whet our appetites. There was Pipeline from his 1994 album, Suits, title track Feast Of Consequences from his most recent album, the hard hitting Family Business from his debut solo album Vigil In A Wilderness Of Mirrors and the politically relevant The Perception Of Johnny Punter.
But as the eerie haunting opening bars of Pseudo Silk Kimono filled Rock City, it was clear that this was what this crowd had come to see. The tracks lush keyboards and intensely personal lyrics soon gave way to the softer, lovelorn hit single, Kayleigh, as the audience sang along to every word.
With excellent work from keyboard player, Tony Turrell, they led this eager crowd into the whimsical Lavender, before treating them to the eight minute epic of Bitter Suite followed by the anthemic Heart Of Lothian.
Fish and his tight band replicated as best they could the original studio sound and it was done well. Just as the concept album itself, there were no breaks in the songs as Childhood’s End morphed into the military White Feather, which rounded off what was almost certainly the last time this album will be performed live in its entirety.
Fish showed his appreciation to this packed Rock City by returning for two encores, Marillion’s Market Square Heroes and a solo track, Company.
What this tour has done is reintroduce Fish to a great album, after he fell out of love with it following his split with the band. Last night just served to remind this appreciative crowd how good that album was and what a credible vocalist Fish is.
