MARILLION @ CIVIC HALL, WOLVERHAMPTON 13/9/12

“Some bands walk out on stage to apathy,” says Marillion frontman Steve Hogarth towards the end of his bands mammoth two-hour twenty minute set. “Some bands, if they are lucky, walk out to adulation,” he continues. “But us? We walk out to affection, and that is worth more than anything.”

And so the ethos of this gig – and indeed this band is summed up. Ok, Hogarth might be neglecting the standing ovation that greeted the band after the first five songs tonight, but you can see his point.

Marillion are at the point that very few bands get to. They simply have nothing to prove to anyone, and they are supremely confident in both their abilities and also in their audience. How else do you explain the fact they can cheerfully begin the gig with a 17-minute track that isn’t even out yet. And moreover, they sound brilliant in doing so.

That is exactly what happens as they play “Gaza” the epic opener from magnificent new album “Sounds That Can’t Be Made” before playing “Your Gone” and the companion pieces from “Marbles” “This Town,” “The Rakes Progress” and “100 Nights” all before the aforementioned reception.

They are, however, only just getting started. In total four new songs from the new album – including the title track - are aired, but they are for digesting later as there are plenty of familiar tracks to get stuck into. Like a stunning “Neverland,” a passionate “Real Tears For Sale” and a golden oldie in “The Great Escape.”

Perhaps Marillion’s real strength lies in how understated their power is. Guitar man Steve Rothery just calmly stands there driving the whole thing forward with his fine playing, which is complimented in great style by the rest of the band.

It is left the naturally extrovert Hogarth to provide the spectacle. He does not disappoint. A frontman in the classic mould, he is equally at home criticising US Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney (”the antichrist takes many forms,”) dedicating a song to a couple celebrating a wedding anniversary, playing many different instruments, singing and changing costumes. All of which he does tonight with aplomb.

There are two encores – the first sees a haunting and epic “A Few Words For The Dead” before they return again for a sing-a-long of “Sugar Mice.” On this form Marillion – who have long been perhaps the biggest cult band in the UK - are unstoppable and deserve both adulation and affection. This was, quite frankly, absolutely flawless.

MARILLION, Tin Spirits @Birmingham Institute 13/12/11

Tonight is one of those nights where you might feel like an outsider.

In fact, I should imagine that this is what it feels like to be at an Iron Maiden gig if you aren’t totally besotted with the band.

This you see, is a Marillion show. And more than that, its RTM’s first ever Marillion show and if that’s not enough, whisper it quietly, we aren’t totally familiar with every nuance of every song in the back catalogue.

Marillion, are one of those bands, like Maiden that people don’t just enjoy, but they live. This is something that Tin Spirits  are well acquainted with. The Spirits were the opening act at this years Marillion weekender, so they know what they are up against.

The group might have former XTC man Dave Gregory amongst their ranks, but that doesn’t cut any ice around here. It helps then, that actually their brand of Prog rock is actually very good. As well as their own material (“this one goes on for 13 minutes, so its gotta be good, right?” Says frontman Daniel Steinhardt) they play a smattering of covers, with a particularly impressive “Tom Sawyer” and a nod to the XTC back catalogue with “Senses Working Overtime.”

But what everyone is waiting for is Marillion. Probably the biggest underground band in Britain, their days at the top are way behind them. Now they run things like a cottage industry. They release their own records, do what they like – tonight is even promoted by Marillion, - they have an army of loyal followers and, as such is all but sold out.

They kick things off with a haunting and slow building “Splintering Heart,” singer Steve Hogarth starting solo before being joined by the rest of the band, that sets the tone for the set. Superbly played and rapturously received, here is an evening that is not going to disappoint.

Hogarth is an entertaining and engaging frontman, taking the mishap when his piano isn’t connected to an amp in his stride, and the band behind him is in fine form. Steve Rothery’s guitar work is stunning and is ably backed up by Mark Kelly on the keys.

Highlights are difficult to pick out but a magnificent “Man of a Thousand Faces” is close to being the standout, as is set closer “Neverland.”

There’s a costume change for the first encore “The Invisible Man” before a second which sees Hogarth say to the crowd “shut up while we play the hit single” and the unmistakable opening bars of “Kayleigh” transform the place into a giant party, which “Three Minute Boy” does nothing to diminish.

At this point you realise over two hours has flown by as the masters of Brit Prog rock have given a masterclass. I might be an outsider, but when something is this good you can’t fail to enjoy it.