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REVIEW: The Proclaimers bring sunshine (on Leith) to winter’s night at P&J Live

The Proclaimers - Charlie and Craig Reid - played at P&J Live to thousands of adoring fans. Image: Wullie Marr/DC Thomson
The Proclaimers - Charlie and Craig Reid - played at P&J Live to thousands of adoring fans. Image: Wullie Marr/DC Thomson

Having been to my fair share of gigs, I can safely say I’ve never borne witness to such a sea of merch-wearing devotees as thousands of fans flocked to P&J Live for The Proclaimers’ Aberdeen gig.

The excitement in the air was palpable, unsurprisingly so given the concert was to be the final instalment of a 35-date tour, so you knew it was going to be a good one.

Backed by a four-piece band, Charlie and Craig Reid took to the stage in typically understated fashion, looking not unlike a bunch of blokes that were about to play a gig down the local pub, but with a much more enthusiastic reception from the lively audience.

You can see our gallery of fans at The Proclaimers here.

After the briefest of nods to being back in Aberdeen, and to the venue that they were playing in for the first time -“it’s a very nice room” – they immediately launched into the title track of their new, and undoubtedly very politically charged album, Dentures Out.

The Proclaimers were greeted by cheering fans at P&J LIve. Image: Wullie Marr/DC Thomson

Despite being received reasonably well, the crowd were clearly itching for some of the classics that they know and love to get the evening going.

The wait wasn’t a long one as the band cruised straight in to Over And Done With, and immediately heads were bopping and feet were moving.

The Proclaimers took fans through soundtrack of their lives at P&J Live

If there’s one thing The Proclaimers are known for, it’s their inimitable ability to story-tell through song, and from the off, they took fans through not only the stories of their lives in musical form, but what feels a little like the story of most of our lives in one way or another. Especially if you grew up in Scotland.

Before breaking into fan-favourite Let’s Get Married, one of the duo mysteriously commented that someone called Dennis had something to ask his girlfriend – was there a proposal in the house?

Cracking right on with the song and not returning to the subject thereafter, I guess those of us in the back will never know.

Concentration as The Proclaimers played the soundtrack to our lives at P&J Live. Image: Wullie Marr/DC Thomson

Potential proposals aside, the show was one of seamless emotional highs and lows, journeying from the rebellious and rocking Born Innocent, to the melancholy and stirring Sunshine On Leith.

A special mention really does have to be paid to the moment where they performed the song that inspired not only a stage show but a film too.

It really is a thing of beauty the way the well-seasoned pair perfectly harmonise, especially when creating moments of wistfulness such as during this heart-wrenching ballad.

Wave of sentiment for Proclaimers’ Sunshine On Leith at P&J Live

The poignancy was added to greatly when an extremely glamourous young lady in a glittering gown called Erica Nockalls joined them on stage to provide the haunting violin solo that lingers long after the song ends.

A wave of sentiment made its way through the crowd as a thundering roar of clapping hands and stomping feet saluted the band for delivering such a rousing rendition of what is clearly something of an anthem of Scotland.

P&J Live was buzzing as The Proclaimers performed. Image: Wullie Marr/DC Thomson

Throughout the whistle-stop tour of a back catalogue that spans over 40 years, there wasn’t a note out of place in this well-oiled pop hit-producing machine, with songs and music flowing as naturally as breathing for the band.

Credit must be paid to the supporting band who flawlessly delivered everything from piercing keyboard solos to weeping steel guitar swells, swapping between instruments more often than I could keep up with.

If you were after a high-octane, electrifying whirlwind of a show, you were probably in the wrong place. For the most part a very static performance with little audience interaction, the crowd were relied upon to bring the energy to the evening, but thankfully that didn’t seem to be an issue.

Bouncing crowd were more than on their way to happiness at P&J Live

This being said, the biggest talking point of the night came when there was a rather heart-warming pause to read a list of fan dedications, including a 40th wedding anniversary and a shout-out to twins from Orkney who share a birthday with Craig and Charlie.

There were plenty of classic songs from The Proclaimers back catalogue. Image: Wullie Marr/DC Thomson

Their words may be few, but reserving them for a moment such as this is a sure sign of pure appreciation for their long-standing fan base.

As soon as the iconic guitar strumming intro crept in and I’m On My Way began to blast out, the mood was instantly lifted once more as the standing section of the audience just about took right off.

But we all know that there was one more track that we were all champing at the bit for.

Saving the best till last, the roof was not only raised but just about blasted clean off as perhaps the most iconic sing-a-long of all time tore through the building. If anyone reading this right now claims that you’re not doing the “DA-DA DA DA!” inside your head right now, you’re fibbing.

In harmony: Charlie and Craig, the Proclaimers, played at P&J Live. Image: Wullie Marr/DC Thomson

Scotland’s unofficial anthem belted out by Proclaimers fans at P&J Live

I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) really is the unofficial national anthem of Scotland, and it’s hard to walk away from a night like that not feeling just a tad more patriotic.

Proclaimers fans most definitely would walk 500 miles to see a performance like that again. In fact, they’d probably even walk 500 more.


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