One of the most successful acts currently touring the UK stopped at York Barbican on 19 October. What is it about The Proclaimers that makes them so successful? Audiences love them. Perhaps it’s their ‘men of the people’ act – they were dressed like a bunch of blokes playing songs down the pub. Perhaps it’s their rebelliousness – songs like Cap In Hand are scathing about the establishment. Or maybe it’s just the songs – life-affirming anthems at their best. Whatever it is, every date on their current tour is sold out.
Review by Miles Salter
Photo by Abby Hardy
Craig and Charlie Reid have been doing their thing for over 40 years, and for this date were joined by four backing musicians – all excellent. Promoting their new album, the comically titled Dentures Out, is the main point, but it doesn’t matter to the audience, who want to hear the old songs again. Touches of melancholy creep in; more than one song referred to times passing with a wistful sadness. The Streets of Edinburgh celebrates Scotland’s premiere city but has a palpable melancholy. Let’s Get Married is followed by an altogether darker song about relationships. (Charlie has been married three times.)
There could have been more variation at this gig – a lot of the songs occupy similar territory, sung at the same emotional pitch, at similar tempos. It would be great to see the brothers do a couple of songs without the band, it would help to break up the set. The highlights for this reviewer are Letter To America and Sunshine On Leith. I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) is saved to the end, before huge applause and an encore. Then they’re off. Another town and another sold out show beckons. It’s hard to explain the charm of The Proclaimers, but audiences love what they do.