Comments on: Mostly Autumn – The Brook, Southampton

By: Tim Hall

Tim Hall — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:34:54 +0000

It’s a shame they dropped “King of the Valley”. Wasn’t completely convinced by that one on record, but it did work very well live.

As for the older material, The Heather Findlay band had been drawing quite heavily from the material Heather wrote or co-wrote on Storms, Heart full of Sky and Glass Shadows, although with a very different band they’ve got their own take on the songs, and some of the arrangements are quite different from the Mostly Autumn versions.

But there are plenty of Bryan’s and Iain’s songs from that era that haven’t been played live for ages. I’d still love to see the title track of “Glass Shadows”, a song they’ve never played live.

By: Tom B

Tom B — Wed, 15 May 2013 12:40:03 +0000

I was at the Bilston gig and I enjoyed it immensely, the fact that it was a very different set list from what I’m used to made it for me.
Can’t say I’d be sorry to see Drops of the Sun go though, I’d much prefer Tennyson Mansions or Top of The World.
Deep in Borrowdale’s always been one of my favourites from Diamond Heart so I’m quite happy that’s been retained.
It would be nice to have something from the albums you mention, Tim, Carpe Diem has always been a favourite and Heart Full of Sky is a most-underrated album.

I agree about Olivia’s and Anne-Marie’s harmonisations – for me that’s been the making of Unquiet Tears and Wild Eyed Skies.

By: Tim Hall

Tim Hall — Tue, 14 May 2013 19:30:36 +0000

They can never please all the people all the time, I guess. But I think Bryan is both too quick to drop newer songs before they’ve had the chance to get established, and too reliant on the same standards from the first four albums.

As you say, just a single song from “Go Well Diamond Heart” which has a lot of gems on it, and nothing at all from “Glass Shadows”, “Heart Full of Sky” and “Storms”. I’d love to see them bring back “Fading Colours”; Livvy always nailed that one.

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 14 May 2013 18:56:06 +0000

Had a look at a set list on the forum, presumably its the same, and I do like the look of it. Slow Down has always been one of my favourites and its one of those that seems to go in and out of the set. Good to see it’s back for now. For me, Appian Way would only really fit into an MA set as an end of night stomp to close out the show. Wouldn’t mind that at all.

From the new album, I’ve never really got into Devil and the Orchestra, which seems to have gone, or the retained Drops of the Sun. Bit of a surprise to see Tennyson Mansion rested already which was one of the highlights of the recent DVD. Only one from Diamond Heart, the ever-present Borrowdale. Wouldn’t say its one of my favourites from the album, For All We Shared would have been a nice change.

And good to see the return of Simple Ways and Winter Mountain, a couple of the old classics. Even if one was at the expense of Distant Train. But still no Storms Over Still Water!

But all in all, a very varied and experimental set. And credit to Bryan for that. I’d be very happy to see something like this when I get to see the band again later in the year.