Nearly three decades on, Ash remains a dazzling supernova of pure, unadulterated punk-pop energy. Their “Ad Astra” tour, celebrating their latest cosmic-themed album, proves that while the Northern Irish trio might have traded in some of their teenage angst for seasoned musicianship, the core fire that fuelled classics like 1977 is burning brighter than ever.
The night was opened by Barry Peak, playing a nicely stripped down lo-fi set of songs that sounded like they were straight out of the 00’s.
His guitar/vocals over backing tracks was a nice starter, and as the room filled up, you could see more and more people paying attention.
Then Ash walked on stage.
From the moment the familiar, grand opening strains of “Zarathustra” faded and the band launched straight into the soaring new track “Fun People”, the atmosphere was electric. Tim Wheeler, forever the reluctant rock star, commanded the stage with his signature Flying V guitar, delivering vocals that are somehow both clean and perfectly ragged. He looks like he hasn’t aged a day, and his guitar work, especially the fluid leads on tracks like “Orpheus” is a masterclass in melodic noise.
But the secret weapon of the current Ash sound is the rhythm section. Mark Hamilton (bass) is a whirlwind of kinetic energy, pulling iconic shapes and driving the new songs, like the stomping “Deadly Love” and the album’s title track “Ad Astra,” with a relentless, low-end force. Meanwhile, drummer Rick McMurray provides the foundation with powerful, non-stop fills and a propulsive, no-mercy tempo. They are, simply put, an absurdly tight three-piece.
The setlist was perfectly balanced, managing to both celebrate the new material and deliver the knockout punches the crowd demanded. New tracks like the anthemic ”My Favourite Ghost” and the jangle-pop perfection of “Which One Do You Want?” fit seamlessly alongside the back-catalogue bangers.
The crowd erupted for every classic. “Goldfinger” felt ripped from the mid-90s, while “Shining Light” and “Oh Yeah” were massive singalongs. The main set culminated in the one-two punch of “Kung Fu” and the perennial crowd-favourite, “Girl From Mars,” leaving the entire venue drenched in sweat and euphoria.
The band returned for a spirited encore, notably including a cover of Harry Belafonte’s “Jump in the Line,” which they’ve delightfully altered into a trashy, riotous rock version that had everyone dancing. They closed the night with the irresistible energy of “Burn Baby Burn” the perfect finale to an unforgettable show.
Ash’s longevity is down to their incredible gift for melody and a total command of their craft. If you’re looking for a dose of pure, serotonin-spiking, guitar-driven rock that feels just as vital today as it did on day one, catch the “Ad Astra” tour. It’s an out-of-this-world experience.
Barry Peak photos:
Ash photos & set-list:
Set-list:
Zarathustra
Fun People
Keep Dreaming
Ad Astra
A Life Less Ordinary
Orpheus
Goldfinger
Uncle Pat
Crashed Out Wasted
Deadly Love
Which One Do You Want?
Shining Light
Oh Yeah
Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town (Harry Reser and His Orchestra cover)
Jump in the Line (Harry Belafonte cover)
Angel Interceptor
Hallion
Kung Fu
________________________________________________________________________
My Favourite Ghost – Tim Solo Acoustic
Girl From Mars
Burn Baby Burn
Photos & Words – David McEneaney @experimentzero
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