Ride @ the Waterfront

The first time I was ever properly kissed by a boy, I got so wobbly I had to excuse myself to go and lean up against a wall. My head was spinning, my tummy was woozy, there were many new feelings going down and I needed to make sure I didn't fall on my schoolgirl'd arse and make a fool of myself. I felt like I was flying.

And Ride give me the same feels. Exactly the same. So I have loved them for the last 20 years, since their debut LP Nowhere was released and Shoegaze, or The Scene That Celebrates Itself, swept across this fine nation. It certainly helped that singer Mark Gardner and guitarist Andy Bell were beautiful boys, making beautiful music. The whole deal was just so damned beautiful. Their second album was equally mesmerising, this time with a bit more oomph to it; instead of me recovering from a kiss against the wall, Ride were pushing me up against it and sticking their hand up my skirt. 

I never got to see Ride live. I wasn't in Norwich when they last played here 20 years ago, and they haven't played here since, mostly because they haven't been together, so fair enough. When their reunion was announced, I literally screamed like a massive girl. And from the look of the middle aged yet delighted crowd at the Waterfront last night, packed in tight to see their heroes, I wasn't the only one. 

Ride start the evening with an hour and a bit of classics. The first few seconds of their first track, Leave Them All Behind give me goosebumps, and they stay on my skin all night. The band are loud, they are intense, their vocals are spot on throughout, Andy Bell is a fucking guitar wizard and Loz Colbert's drumming is complex and hard. Mark looks like he's having a wicked time and still has his cheeky smile. I bloody love it. The whole audience is immediately swept away with the band through nine songs including my fave Time Machine, Twisterella and Mouse Trap, all of which sound immense. Listening to their recordings is of course a pleasurable and rewarding experience, but live they are beefy and very full on, even verging on rock at times. The sound levels and lights are of a standard and quality that would fill the LCR nicely, so to have this onslaught hitting you in the smaller venue of the Waterfront is really something. We feel like we're being battered, in a good way. After a short drinking interval (very civilised), Ride return dressed all in black to play all of Nowhere in one foul swoop. This in only the second time they've done this, but you wouldn't know it, such is their confidence and joy and full on sound. Highlights include Dreams Burn Down which gets seriously heavy and wall-of sound, Paralysed and Taste. It just sounds so fucking good. The lights are much more immersive and co-ordinated in the second half, and there are many moments where I'm swaying, eyes closed, slack jawed, like I'm about to be abducted. I'm lost to it. I don't know how they make me feel like that but boy, they do. I don't think any other band I've ever seen live has done that to me. And for that reason, tonight goes into my top gigs of all time list.

The band come back for an encore including the wonderful Chelsea Girl, and express their thanks for such a great response. Because the crowd have loved every second of it, even though it's kind of hard to show physical enthusiasm when you feel like you're being floated away on an aural rainbow. But honestly, Ride. I'd get off with you ANY day. Please please, dear God, please come back soon.