When the Mick Pointer Band released the double live CD Marillion's Script Revisited (2014, see review) I wished that one day this concert would be available on DVD. Nothing was planned then, but now, several years later, my wish was finally fulfilled. In April 2016 the Mick Pointer Band played their version of Script For A Jester's Tear (1983) at Cultuurpodium Boerderij in Zoetermeer. Most people probably know that Arena's Mick Pointer originally played the drums on Marillion's debut album. In a packed venue we hear the band in optima forma. We hear a very tight band and musically everything is perfect. It is most of all lead singer Brian Cummins who steals the show with his excellent performance. His voice and presentation resembles Fish in his younger years. The rest of the band is very strong and consists of, next to Mick Pointer on drums, Pendragon's Nick Barrett on electric guitar, Credo's Mike Varty on keyboards and former Arena member Ian Salmon on bass. They are very focused on the music and play their parts wonderfully. Only during the last song of the set all bets are off. The crowd gets very enthusiastic when the band plays The Web and Market Square Heroes. The whole concert was perfectly captured on DVD by John Vis and his team. You can sense the atmosphere and all the players' solo spots are captured nicely. Despite the fact that most people are looking at the Mick Pointer Band as a kind of tribute band, nowadays this is the only way of seeing and hearing Script For A Jester's Tear and the rest of the early Marillion material performed on a stage. And be honest, nothing beats screaming Grendel to a stage, knowing it will be played ... **** Twan Terwindt (edited by Astrid de Ronde) Where to buy? |
