Edwyn Collins - Shepherds Bush Empire, London - Wednesday 16th February (Live Review)
Tuesday, 08 March 2011
Written by Hayley Taylor
London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire is set out like a theatre; red velvet cushioned seats, a black box stage and a subdued, rather mature audience. Not the norm for an NME Awards Tour gig, but nor is tonight’s performance.
The night kicks off with the wonderful Two Wounded Birds (pictured). Making an understated entrance, the Margate band soar through their set of short, sharp sundrenched tracks. A collection of bittersweet, Tarantino-inspired, surfer pop songs that would befit the backdrop of a shore side campfire. The band whisk the auditorium away to another land; front man Jonny Danger leads the band’s performance of tracks from their debut EP ‘Keep Dreaming Baby’ and the recent free Valentine’s Day download 'Treat Me Tender.' The band play sweet, retro daydreams that are tinged with melancholy that casts a dark shadow.
The stark, black stage is then set for the main event...
Still very much in recovery mode, the legendary Edwyn Collins comes out in fighting form for the NME Awards Tour. Backed by a five piece band he shuffles onto the stage, sits perched on an amplifier with a music stand and kicks straight into ‘Losing Sleep’, the title track from his most recent album.
After an introductory standing ovation, he defiantly performs the deeply personal account of his past couple of troubled years. The track explores the emotional impact of the affliction he is left with following two brain haemorrhage, “I'm losing sleep, I'm losing dignity, and it's getting me down.” The scars of his illness are physical with the right hand side of his body still obviously numb, but close your eyes and there is no doubt that he is musically back on top form. It’s hard to believe that just a few years ago when he returned to the stage, he was unable to walk unaided and his words were incoherent. The set is clearly an achievement for Edwyn who grins with courage and speaks with confidence in between tracks.
Edwyn and his band, which includes Paul Cook from the Sex Pistols, are accompanied by various guests from the recent album. Romeo Stodart from The Magic Numbers, Nick McCarthy from Franz Ferdinand and Ryan Jarman from The Cribs all take to the stage to perform. The former Orange Juice front man also gives us a reminder of his past with versions of ‘Rip It Up’ and ‘A Girl Like You’ which are met with a rapturous reception.
To watch Edwyn Collins on stage tonight was a special experience. A modest, strong and completely captivating performance; it is a miracle that he is still making music and the man is a hero.
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The stark, black stage is then set for the main event... 
