The Divine Comedy at the Palladium

 The Divine Comedy are a little different to general taste in music. They are not exactly rock n roll, but then nor is the Palladium as venue.

And nor was the support act. I am afraid I didn't catch  her name (Ren something), from Salford. Basically a lounge singer in a hotel, but writing her own stuff so didn't even have the benefit of familiarity with the songs.

But then the Divine Comedy - Irishman Neil Hannon (a very well preserved fifty something) with a five piece band. His voice is remarkably good, and the band could clearly play very well. They had been round the block a few times. 

This is a rather cerebral band, as befits one named after a 14th century Italian poem. A band where you can, and want, to hear the lyrics which are witty and poignant. The music is always interesting too, although really until the last few songs (which Neil exhorted the crowd to stand up for), nothing too up tempo. They quite suited a seated gig (and that quite suited a largely middle aged (or older) audience). And this gig even had what Neil described as "an intermission". A break halfway through. And still an encore at the end. 

This was a greatest hits concert - for real aficionados they are playing their many studio albums in full at the Barbican in the autumn. While this was a very enjoyable gig, I don't think I am sufficiently hardcore for that!