There are few greater experiences than being surprised. And surprised I was when I attended my first Elbow concert. Actually, stunned is the word. After becoming familiar with this superb quintet just recently, I took a chance and decided to check them out in person. I can genuinely say, ladies and gentlemen, that the clouds parted for me that evening in Atlanta. How have I missed them? This is their fourth album and I'm just now showing an interest? It's just not fair.

Hailing from the musically rich city of Manchester, England, Elbow just came off a supporting role on Coldplay's Viva la Vida tour. My humble prediction is that their supporting days are officially over. However, on this night, they were the deserved headliners. The band's name reportedly comes from the BBC mini-series "The Singing Detective," in which Philip Marlow believes the word "elbow" to be the most sensuous word in the English language. Not necessarily for the definition, but for the feeling one gets when saying it.

After four studio albums which garnered massive critical success but limited commercial success, Elbow won the UK's coveted and respected Mercury Prize in 2008 for their latest album "The Seldom Seen Kid." Commercial success may finally be on their horizon.

Image © Landmark / PR Photos

Fronted by the dynamic and intensely charismatic Guy Garvey (lead vocals, guitar, and sometimes percussion), the band includes Mark Potter (guitar, backing vocals), brother Craig Potter (keyboards, organ, backing vocals), Pete Turner (bass guitar, backing vocals, keyboards), and Richard Jupp (drums). These five men make up the most well-oiled machine I've heard live in years. The musicianship is phenomenal, the vocals are emotionally brilliant, and the fans are incredible. I felt like part of a minority in the crowd that night, not knowing every lyric.

Elbow kicked off the show with "Starlings," the first track off their latest release. With Jupp at the drums, the remainder of the band stood at the foot of the stage, trumpets in hand to begin the song. Next up was the wonderful "The Bones Of You" ("So I'm there / Charging around with a juggernaut brow / Overdraft speeches and deadlines to make / Cramming commitments like cats in a sack…").

On "Mirrorball," a disco visual was resurrected with a huge mirror ball hanging high above the stage, reflecting onto everyone in the audience. On "Grounds For Divorce," Garvey snatched up a pair of drumsticks and furiously beat a single drum. He is not just a singer, he is the heart and soul of Elbow. Singing "I've been working on a cocktail called grounds for divorce / Polishing a compass that I hold in my sleep / Doubt comes in on sticks but then he kicks like a horse," Garvey showcases his impressive song writing abilities which are exhibited in every song.

"Weather To Fly" had Garvey asking us, in a high falsetto, "Are we having the time of our lives / Are we coming across clear / Are we coming across fine / Are we part of the plan here?" The answer is yes, yes, yes, and yes.

One of the more uplifting and poignant moments of the night came with the brilliant "One Day Like This." Uplifting because of Garvey's lyrics; poignant because the fans knew, felt, and sang all the words…and they're great words: "What made me behave that way? / Using words I never say / I can only think it must be love / Oh anyway, it's looking like a beautiful day." To hear that full Center Stage crowd singing in unison, "It's looking like a beautiful day!" was exhilarating and I hated being the newcomer.


To experience this performance was to understand what is special about Elbow. Garvey repeatedly expressed his excitement of being in the "Lost City of Atlantis." The Center Stage felt like such the mystical place that night. From rock to acoustic to orchestral, Elbow hit on all cylinders and kept on surprising with each new song. And when, during this their final show, he expressed that this was the best show their tour, we believed.

Jesca Hoop warmed the crowd up sufficiently with her singer/songwriter acoustic set. Guy Garvey even lent himself to a duet with her.

Set List:
Starlings
The Bones Of You
Mirrorball
Leaders Of The Free World
The Stops
Mexican Standoff
Grounds For Divorce
The Loneliness Of A Tower Crane Driver
Switching Off
Newborn
Weather To Fly
One Day Like This

Encore:
Some Riot
Station Approach
Scattered Black And Whites


Story by Kevin Triebsch

Starpulse contributing writer