THE VERVE RETURN TO AMERICA WITH COACHELLA SET
British rockers THE VERVE returned to America for the first time since their split a decade ago to perform at the Coachella Festival in California on Friday night (25Apr08) - and frontman RICHARD ASHCROFT told the faithful the band is back for good.
During a hits set, featuring the anthems The Drugs Don’t Work and Bittersweet Symphony, Ashcroft introduced "a new song" titled Sit & Wonder and then told the "hardcore" fans that had showed up for the pre-headliner slot on the opening day of Cochella there would be more new material to come.
He explained, "Most bands, when they reform, they don’t bother making any new music. That’s what this band’s all about." Ashcroft went on to grumble about the stench of the backstage toilets from the stage, but seemed genuinely glad to be back with his band, concluding the set by saying, "It’s been a f**king great night… I’m off to Vegas after this." The Verve will perform at the Pearl Concert Theatre in Sin City on Saturday (26Apr08) before heading off to New York for two nights at Madison Square Garden’s WaMu Theater.
The band ended their Coachella set by dedicating Bittersweet Symphony to late gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson.
The Brits failed to come close to the highlight of the festival’s first day sandwiched between the Raconteurs and Jack Johnson on the mainstage, they mostly provided a filler with a polished but uninspired set.
Johnson’s mellow charm won him the night as the Raconteurs had to challenge fellow Coachella virgins Vampire Weekend and The National for performance of the day.
The weekend’s Coachella days are headlined by Prince on Saturday (26Apr08) and Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters on Sunday (27Apr08).
Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)
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