Razor Sharp

Razorlight debut new songs to adoring crowds in the north.

26 October 2008 - Razorlight showcased material from their new album during a performance at the Electric Proms in Liverpool last night.

The band have spent the last few months busy writing their third album Slipway Fires which is due out in November. And this was the first time they have unleashed many of the new songs on fans in a live context.

Speaking to 6music before the gig, Razorlight drummer Andy Burrows said the Electric Proms' 'unique performance' ethos meant this gig was the perfect opportunity to premier previously unheard material:

"Its the first night that we have mainly played our new record to a crowd who don't know it. We have got some extra percussion, some kettle drums and a few musicians who we don't usually take around with us. My little brother is doing a few things and some friends of ours are singing backing vocals.

"We didn't want to go too overboard because we felt like we haven't played too much of this new record yet. So thats a bit of a one off." - Andy Burrows

The fans were enthusiastic from the outset and chose to stand, cheer and clap and sing along from the moment Razorlight opened their set with Golden Touch. The band then proceeded to deliver just the right mix of old classics and new material so that the audience weren't overloaded with unfamiliar music.

The gig took place at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall and Andy explained why they had been attracted to a trip up north:

"In a country of our size things tend to happen in London and it's always good when people make the effort to travel up north. There are wonderful venues all over the UK and it's important that they are acknowledged. The guy who produced our album [Chris Crossey] is from Liverpool and he'd been harping on about this venue for ages so when the opportunity came up to play it it was like, 'wow yeah'!

Andy also explained why it was important to the band to travel to their fans outside the capital:

"These people are the guys that buy tickets to your gig and buy your album and they deserve as much as is possible. There was no question that we wanted to come out of London."

Johnny Borrell and Co. have gone for a more bluesy, rocky feel on this record and the songs premiered tonight seemed slightly more meandering and less instantly appealing than tracks from their first and second albums.

And after speaking to a few punters after the gig it sounds like these more recent offerings might take a while to catch on:

"I'm glad tonight they played a few of the old tracks because to be honest with you I didn't think the new stuff was as good as their first two albums," said one fan.

But others were confident they'd grow to love it:

"You can't beat the old stuff but I'm sure once you've heard the new material a few times it'll be just as good."

Track Listing

Golden Touch
Somewhere Else
Tabloid Lover
North London Trash
Wire To Wire
In The City
Before I Fall To Pieces
America
The House
Hostage of Love
Vice
You and the Rest
Stinger
Burburry Blue Eyes
In The Morning

Encore

Blood For Wild Blood
Monster Boots


Elizabeth Alker