IT is a very good sign indeed when, during a comeback gig, the band plays the whole of their most famous album FIRST.
Most bands would not have the guts to do that, it has to be said. They’d typically save all their most famous tracks until last, for the big anthemic encore.
Not so, Ash. They have no need to resort to such antics. For their triumphant return to Bristol - complete with Charlotte Hatherley - Ash played their 2001 smash hit album Free All Angels in its entirety, before boldly going into an hour-long ‘best of’.
The audience was made up of mostly older fans who could not have been happier to see their favourite 90s/noughties band back up on stage belting out staples of the Britpop canon.
You’d be surprised at just how many Ash songs you recognise without even trying, so ingrained is their music, at least for those of us who found our feet in the 1990s. Girl From Mars, Sometimes, Oh Yeah, Goldfinger, Kung Fu, Burn Baby Burn... to name but a few.
Their accompanying ‘Best Of’ album release, out now, is a celebration of former success but also a recognition of maturity, with almost all of the tracks (except the hallowed Girl From Mars) remastered for the modern market.
A CD/DVD edition of the album includes the Teenage Wildlife documentary of Ash’s ‘1977’ tour, as well as all the band’s music videos for the nostalgics (ie everyone).
What a fantastic gig - welcome back Ash.
Tickets: Pomona