Out of This World

Marillion @ Park West, Chicago 2012.06.22-23

What can be said?  Marillion came to Chicago and played 30 songs (including 3 Fish ones) without any serious difficulties.  Its hard to say anything critical when, to be fair to Marillion, they could come play a night of Britney Spears and it would sound good (a theory established by their Toxic performance).  However, to be fair to myself I feel some analysis is warranted.  Mark Kelly recently stated that Marillion would do a limited tour so fans wouldn't have to go 500 to 1000 miles to see a show. In reality, their US tour allows fans to only have to go 500 to 1000 miles, which is far better than 4000 miles.

The first set featured more progressive-oriented songs, ones which might challenge the listener more such as the 18 minute Ocean Cloud, which along with the 11+ minute tracks Invisible Man and Neverland and the more accessible songs You're Gone and Fantastic Place, amounted to 50+ minutes of Marbles, roughly half the double album.  The inclusion of the 15 minute This Town trilogy infused the show with energy to bring it to a full rock level.

The second night featured a much more energetic set of songs and felt like a true Marillion event. Unfortunately, Invisible Man and Neverland were repeated, displacing the great opener of Splintering Heart and taking set space for what could have been Somewhere Else. Otherwise, it was great to hear Kayleigh after a twenty year wait and plenty of Afraid of Sunlight.  Although the set for this tour was a great mix of songs and much improved over their latest world tours, it was strange that after skipping America the last two times, this one featured eleven songs played at the 2004 show.  Of the two new tracks played Power has a classic Marillion essence, indicating that the upcoming Sounds That Can't be Made will once again be a great addition to the catalog.  Special mention has to go to opener Sun Domingo, who exhibited great musicianship among all band members as well as great aesthetic taste in music. Although Marillion has hinted at not coming back to the U.S. in the future, this tour has seemed to be a success, and we can only hope they return within the next eight years

Setlist 1:
Invisible Man
Beautiful
You're Gone
Easter
King
Fantastic Place
A Voice From the Past
Ocean Cloud
Power
This Town/ Rakes Progress/ 100 Nights
Man of a Thousand Faces
Neverland
Sugar Mice
Happiness is the Road

2:
Invisible Man
Cover My Eyes
Slainte Mhath
Out of This World
Afraid of Sunlight
Cannibal Surf Babe
The Great Escape
Estonia
Lucky Man
Between You and Me
Neverland
This Strange Engine
Kayleigh
No One Can
Three Minute Boy

+: AOS, HiE tracks, Kayleigh, songs about water & death: Estonia, Ocean Cloud and Out of This World.  Epics This Town & This Strange Engine.  Slainte Mhath, No One Can.
-: Heavy on Marbles material, Invisible Man & Neverland repeats rather than skipped Splintering Heart & Somewhere Else. Weak Marillion songs Cannibal Surf Babe & Three Minute Boy.  The weakest songs from the last two albums: A Voice From the Past, Happiness is the Road. .