Two sets of mixed gender siblings added up perfectly to amount the spell binding 70s, Mamas and Papas revivalist rockers who call themselves The Magic Numbers. The embodiment of sincerity and soulfulness that is Trinidad raised lead man Romeo Stodart, was a picture of enthusiasm and joviality from the outset, as was evidenced in the clatteringly tingling opener ‘Mule’. The bouncing bass lines of his sister Angela provided the wheels to the crisp and strolling bandwagon of bolstering blissfulness, as the ethereal and uplifting Wayne Coyne meets John Sebastian and touch of Neil Young vocals of Romeo took the audience on a mystical journey to inner piece. This was highlighted in stand out tracks; ‘I See You, You See Me’ and the romantically crafted ‘Hymn For Her’ that exuded an infectious contentedness that seeped into the audience; resulting in more grins than at a Tony Blair look-a-like contest.
The charming and cheeky Jimi Goodwin led his Doves charge onto an illuminated stage, stopping dead like Father’s 4 Justice campaigner, as he stared defiantly into the sea of onlookers before exclaiming with a sense of humour that only a Man City fan could possess;
“We are not going to play a single note until you promise to take back Steve McManaman.”
He soon responded to the puppy dog looks that greeted him and dove into a frenetic and passionate version of ‘Pounding’ from their second album ‘The Last Broadcast’, following that up with the chilling and defiant ‘Words’. The pace slowed down for a period of reflection that included a foray into material from their new album ‘Some Cities’, such as the nimble 'Almost Forgot Myself’ . The Stone Roses styled ‘Caught by the River’ provided some nostalgia and reminded gatherers of the potency of Goodwin’s poetic song writing prowess.
The night consisted of a carefully selected array of material spanning the entire Doves career mixing together like herbs and spices, to provide a kick to an evening of emotive and earnest rock that has re-introduced integrity to modern music. The popular longing sing-a-long number ‘Cedar Room’ dragged an at times lethargic crowd into action. However, it was not until the very last song of the evening; the piercing ‘There Goes the Fear’ that a real pit erupted, as the crowd threw their inhibitions into the ever muggy air with each soulful reiteration of the song title by Jimi Goodwin. The antithesis of The Darkness has returned, bringing pride and precision with them.
