No Shamed Experience

Royal Albert Hall   24th May 1975    Larry Norman, Parchment, Liberation Suite Concert Review. 

When Larry Norman announced that he was stepping off the Christian concert treadmill I, among others, hoped that he would direct his huge talents towards seeking the wider audience he deserved. Instead, after what has obviously been a difficult period of re-evaluation, he returned to the Albert Hall in London on Saturday as top of a Christian bill, singing songs which marked no advance on his previous work.

His act contained more music and less chat than in the past, and in many ways he seemed an imitation of himself. What had been spontaneous now appears rehearsed, and his performance was a performance rather than a shared experience.

Opening with 'Lead Me On', he continued with 'Unidentified Flying Object' and 'Why Should The Devil' before introducing the first new song, 'Dear Malcolm, Dear Alwyn.'  There were more familiar numbers and a few unfamiliar ones before he moved to the piano for the most musically interesting section of the set.

But many of the new lyrics were repetitive and only one new work really stood out. That was 'Down the Road', a chilling song about temptation, worldliness and self-destruction.

The concert was opened by Parchment, who fought a losing battle with a lousy sound system. As a result, their bouncier numbers were more enjoyable than those which depended on words as well as music.

They were followed by Liberation Suite, an aggressive, driving band whose muscular approach to their music brought the warmest applause of the evening. 

That applause should have gone to Larry Norman, and I'm sad that it didn't.  But a lengthy programme note accusing journalists of misrepresenting him, churches of rejecting him and promoters of cheating him showed a degree of paranoia that is still obviously affecting his work and performance.

All of the notes were there, the sound was right – it was just that vital spark which was missing. I hope it comes back.

Micheal Jacob