Placebo performing their 20 Years Of Placebo World Tour at The Motorpoint Arena Nottingham on Tuesday 6th December 2016


Images and Review by Kevin Cooper

It is twenty years since Placebo released their self titled album, and last night they were at The Motorpoint Arena to show a packed audience what they have been doing since.

Starting proceedings with a nod to the late great Leonard Cohen, they aired his track Who By Fire with an on screen tribute before they took to the stage. With Brian Molko and Stefan Olsdal leading the way they were accompanied on this tour by a very able Bill Lloyd on keyboards and bass guitar, a talented Nick Gavrilovic also on guitar, a delightful Fiona Bruce on violin and the newest addition, drummer Matt Lunn.

Fans of the band will know that Molko has been very reluctant in the past to showcase the genuine classics from their eight studio albums, preferring instead to take the audience on a journey of self indulgence. But tonight was different as Pure Morning, previously a pariah in the world of Placebo set lists and usually delivered through gritted teeth was tonight’s opener and was every bit as devastating as it ever was.

The first half did contain some of their melancholic tunes such as Special Needs from their 2003 Sleeping With Ghosts album with its gorgeous guitar tones, and new songs Jesus’ Son and Soulmates from their latest offering, A Place For Us To Dream. With a set list that showcased Molko’s high pitched and angelic vocals, their fans were treated to the likes of Space Monkey, Devil In The Details and a gut wrenching rendition of oldie, Lady Of The Flowers.

With Molko’s voice having lost none of its uniqueness, the second half had everybody on their feet for the first time. Finishing this part of their set which had included oldies but goodies like Song To Say Goodbye, and The Bitter End, it was the encore of a slowed down version of Teenage Angst, the genuine classic Nancy Boy and the unforgettable Infra Red that had this audience in raptures.

Finishing with their long standing cover of Kate Bush’s Running Up That Hill, Placebo showed that they can still entertain a crowd if they are minded to do so.

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