Paul Heaton, Glasgow review: 'a master of the kitchen sink love song'
Paul Heaton gave his fans excellent value for money in this down to earth extravaganza, writes Fiona Shepherd
Paul Heaton, Hydro, Glasgow ★★★★
At his 21st Glasgow show (as estimated by the artist himself), Paul Heaton had some sardonic words on the cost of concert tickets. He has deliberately kept prices low on his current arena tour, noting that the going rate per song of a typical Hydro show meant that the audience had paid for a roughly eight-song set. Thankfully Heaton and band, including his local vocal foil Rianne Downey, were feeling more generous than that.
Admittedly, this was not a fancy extravaganza. Apart from the resolutely non-Heaton embellishment of a surprise streamer shower, this was a straightforward rip through one of the most undersung yet well loved catalogues in British pop music. The tunes were infectious, the lyrics witty, touching, barbed or all three and the Heaton/Downey odd couple double act proved the ideal match.
Downey was ready for her close-up, Heaton looked ready for the pub but it worked - he the grizzled campaigner with distinctive quirky tenor, she the versatile belter with enough onstage energy for two, who took the lead on Beautiful South gems such as Song For Whoever and Don’t Marry Her (with expletive not deleted).
A Son A Father was similarly candid, while Heaton outlined his communist vision on klezmer-tinged knees-up Heatongrad (“thank you for listening to that moderate song,” he deadpanned). A brace of Housemartins hits, including Sheep, Happy Hour and Me and the Farmer, were a reminder that he has always had a way with a chirpy tune and an acerbic lyric.
Like The Proclaimers (who toured with The Housemartins in their early days), he also remains a master of the kitchen sink love song, with encore selection Prettiest Eyes one of his most tender celebrations of life as it is lived, ordinary, unglamorous, true, while the moving a cappella cover of Caravan of Love, with Heaton on falsetto form, demonstrated that this show was about far more than value for money.
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