It's not every singer/songwriter who could amble onstage to introduce his own support act, pop back to sing just one line of backing vocals, do his own acoustic solo spot and then play a blistering set with his brand new friends backing him, but Lloyd Cole will do all this and more tonight.
And as for the cover version of Cher's 'Believe', well, Cole's customary plea for clemency to his London audience, "You lot always make me really nervous," masks an evident onstage assurance that results from a combination of last year's acoustic tour, a wealth of new songs - 'Impossible Girl', 'What's Wrong With This Picture?' and 'That Boy' included - that stand alongside his very best work, and a new backing band - The Negatives.
The evening's earlier solo spot means Cole can afford to kick off The Negatives' set with two new songs, 'Past Imperfect' and 'Negative Attitude'. He already has a new album written and recorded - both betraying a more direct, riffing style that suits The Negatives' three guitar line-up; no keyboards. Then an enticing mix of old favourites, 'Perfect Skin' and 'Heartbroken', and more recent gems 'Like Lovers Do' and 'Man On The Verge' lead us on through a night that confirms Cole's place in the musical lives of this crowd.
Whisper it, but some of these people have literally grown up on Cole's music. The big difference tonight is that he's backed by a band who aren't hamstrung by that impressive history. The songs remain the same, but they sound fresh tonight played with less respect for the original versions. With his own colour co-ordinated Talking Heads lookalikes around him - Jill Sobule in the Tina Weymouth role - Cole's evidently enjoying a new lease of life despite not currently having a record deal in the UK.
His mess of hair tickling his nose, he exchanges the caress of an acoustic 'Forest Fire' with an all-out clawing assault on his guitar during 'Four Flights Up' as the diminutive Jill pogos to his right for all she's worth. When he arrives in the first encore, beaming, at the chorus of 'Believe', The Negatives have done such a good job of appropriating Cher's chart-topper that the crowd's convinced it's yet another Cole newie. When the penny drops, they join in like drunks at a karaoke, Lloyd's nerves now a distant memory. 'Undressed' and 'Jennifer She Said' close the night.
A triumphant return to the capital and an impressive audition for Cole's next label. Form an orderly queue please.
