Ben Howard celebrates the record that gives him a full AFAS Live

‘Has the world gone mad? Or is it me?’ These are questions that run through your head in these turbulent times – and especially on the day of this concert. Ben Howard did this openly a decade ago on his second album I Forget Where We Were (2014), clearly underscoring a musical direction that was at odds with his more opportunistic debut album. In AFAS Live he celebrates the tenth anniversary of the record full of personal, vulnerable and layered songs that still bring him full houses.

Atmospheric wind instruments introduce the set with the compelling Evergreenwhich initially starts out a bit messy and shrill, but is soon straightened out and results in a wall of sound. This warm-up is followed by a sequence of literally all the tracks on the album, which once again make us realize what a masterpiece we are dealing with here. Superbly played, wonderfully sung. From the title song, a clear crowd favorite, to the outburst End Of The Affair is called: fans can count on an integral performance.

Few excursions are made to other albums and Howard does this in the form of, among other things Oats In The Water (The Burgh Island EP) and a beautiful, stripped-down version of Days Of Lantanafrom last year’s publication Is It?. Also How Are You Feeling?, which can be found on the anniversary edition of I Forget Where We Werepasses by and gets a special mention: ‘It’s a noisy one’.

Ben Howard is a man of few words and at times it is even touching when he speaks to the audience (mumbling), but as soon as he lets the music speak, you as a listener are immediately transported to another world. The world of an artist through and through, who openly shares his thoughts and hectic life events.

On the right side of the room there are repeated turns Black Flies asked, but that turns out (unsurprisingly) in vain. Closer Every Kingdom we’re not going to come tonight. That’s not a problem at all, because the evening ends with the album closer All Is Now Harmed everything is in harmony again.

Seen: 6 november 2024
Photo: Mick de Jong