I too think the reviewer's got it spot on. I went along to the RFH with friends wo revere DS, having been to Glasgow to see him. I thought it was unremittingly dull. What next DS? A lively one, a slow one...or yet another mid-tempo song about.

The musical framing was - in its way - exquisite, such beautiful cymbalss sounds, such perfectly coloured piano. But, just oh so polite and so exactly the same all night.

My friends think he's some type of diety, if so his shows are certainly the sermon.

Disco, Hackney, London

My friends and me saw play him in Sept 12th in Vicar St, Dublin.
I have been to many many gigs, this was truly amazing. I thought it was on par with E and N gig. So many musical styles. Got to shake his hand afterwards as did so many. Still thinking about the gig.

Peter, Dublin, Ireland

Having been at Birmingham last week I felt compelled to join this discussion. David Sylvian does not write pop songs; he is not an entertainer. If you view him as an artist who has pushed boundaries of form and subject matter and laid his inner self bare how could you expect him to engage in witty banter between songs? It would have been inappropriate, and you wouldn't expect it at a concert of classical music. To be honest though, I found Theo Travis' jazz-noodlings irritating, but Steve Jansen was a revelation. It was a beautiful, delicate and understated performance; time stopped for a little while. It was an evening for sentient grown-ups, not an evening with Edna Everage!

Cate, Bucks,

I attended the Bridgewater Hall concert, and personally, I loved it. Devotees of Sylvian's music will understand that they will receive an evening of "music", and it is more an indictment of people today that when they attend a concert they expect flashing lights and dancing girls. Why do you want distractions from the music, especially when it so well crafted and performed? Post Japan, Sylvian's music has been thoughtful, sometimes introspective, always of a quality unparalled in the niche he occupies. Listening to Sylvian's music over the years, you are taken on a journey, travelling with the artist though a plethora of emotions and life events, all of them personal, seemingly from a quiet and undemonstrative man. The key to his music and art is his ability to convey personal emotions and connect with so many people. Isn't that what good artists of all kinds do? A degree of understanding and context from some reviewers would avoid some fairly banal criticism led by Stephen Dalton!

Chris Young, Heswall, Wirral

You don't even know that 'It'll never happen again' is a Tim Hardin song...Sheesh...I remember when critiscs had some authority, born of knowledge. We can leave taste out of it.

tony, Cheam, london

Went to the London show. I'd say this review is pretty much spot on.

JEM, Leigh on Sea, UK

Firstly thanks so much for people posting reviews on here, it’s been so hard trying to find anything on the shows and I find it really interesting reading how other people experienced the evenings, so cheers very much 

I hadn’t seen David live (except live footage) until last Monday and I must say that myself and my girlfriend thoughrouly enjoyed a good night with great music. Our seats were great, the venue was spotless and trouble free and I thought the sound was fine. I enjoyed the set (both old and new songs) and would definitely go and see him again. The musicianship was amazing and yes it was in some places Jazz Café style or whatever…but…to be honest that’s completely up to them. For me it was just a blessing to hear real music/melodies, lyrics and have people on stage pushing the “conventional boundaries” of music and sound…..which seems to be so rare these days…it takes guts because a lot of people aren’t going to like it…so fair play I say.

Maybe it just happens to be the artist’s I’ve seen of late (Sigur Rós, Neurosis, Rammstein, Porcupine Tree, Robert Fripp) but neither of these bands have had much to say in-between songs but personally (and I use the term “personally”) I prefer it. I’d rather pay my money to hear songs and see a performance, not hear loads of “We love you guys” thanks very much, this next song is about etc etc

I just feel very much like I got what I paid for and David achieved what he set out to achieve in his World Is Everything “Mission Statement” lol ;-)

Thomas Browning, Bournemouth, England

I saw the London show and I can honestly say, having been a fan since 1984 and having seen all his solo tours, that the show was truly awful. Lacklustre, cheesy jazz versions of his earlier songs and I really don't think Sylvian is helped by the "you can do no wrong" reverence most of his fans have for him.

At least with the Blemish tour he tried something different. One look at the banal photos in his tour book (a snip at £20!) tells you everything you need to know. No substance and completely pretentious.

Janet McNamara, Leigh on Sea,

I am finding it hard to believe that people were expecting something different to what they got. You bought tickets to an "Evening with David Sylvian" right? And if I remember rightly that is exactly what I and the others who packed out the Bridgewater Hall got last Friday evening. I'm sure though, and assuming Mr Sylvian appreciates and welcomes the views of others, that he will consider hiring some dancers and maybe get Stock Aitken and Waterman to rework some of his stuff for the next tour!!

Sharon, Fleetwood, Britain

What can we all say? I feel dissappointed that he didn't use his musical knowledge and creativity to bring the set-list to life. I am, and will continue to be a fan, but Bridgewater Hall was appalling!!

Alex Fox-Ford, liverpool, UK

London show was utter crap !!! Have seen him live on every tour I and was uncertain last time I saw him on stage talking to a computer for two hours ! Three of us got up and left after one hour . It was dreary.
Shame, I thought the tour with Robert Fripp was top drawer and Fripp clearly gave him the energy he clearly needs.

Never again.

Mark, London,

I do feel Mr Dalton is missing the point. I am a fan of Mr Sylvian's and I went to the London show to listen to his music, not laugh at his jokes or lust after him! Wonderful World was a magificent opener and there were many highlights. My criticisms would be Sylvian struggled vocally (Ghosts) and the show was too long, however I believe and I dare say Mr.Sylvian would agree that most people including Mr. Dalton, don't understand the artist or his work.

Darren Crowhurst, Portsmouth, Hants

I saw the Bridgewater Hall concert, and as a long-time Sylvian fan, have to admit it was far from his 'finest hour'.
For starters, the sound was very poor, to much drums and not enough distinction in the vocals...all a bit of an ill-defined mish-mash really.
As stated previously, I have been a fan for over 25 years now, but I have to agree, that Sylvians 'holier- than- thou' presence on stage is wearing a bit thin these days. Yes we know the music is beautiful, and it is personal and life can be cruel..... but c'mon, at least aknowledge your audience with that fake American tinged accent. No one's asking for a strip show or break dancing, we know there's an ambience to maintain, but the whole thing needs lifting out of the realm of the funeral parlour. One could almost start to believe he's just doing this tour for the money.

Martin, Preston, England

Ive seen David on all his tours as a solo artist. After the show in Manchester on 14/9 I was left to wonder had I been wrong all these years, had I changed or was it just an off night for my absolute hero. Ive read all the replies to Mr Dalton's review and yes there are certain points I could take issue with about his review. However, if you read it closely again, and I take it he's not a big fan of David, it is not just criticism for its own sake, there are some good observations.
David is much better than what he is giving on this tour. No lead guitar to drive the songs forward. Disappointing sound quality. Muddy vocals. Cant here his guitar. Jazz cafe treatment of all the songs. Same pace set. Too many medleys. Didnt seem interested in singing the older songs.
These are all criticisms ive heard and they are true in my opinion. I listened to some of the E&N tour again to make sure he could give a great live show and he definately can. The arrangements were so much better.
Craig

Craig Brian, Stoke on Trent, England

I think it's important to note the context of this tour - Sylvian made it clear in his pre-publicity that one of the purposes of this tour is to give one final airing to past material which, although much-loved by fans, he now wishes to put firmly behind him. Given these circumstances - a performance by a pathologically shy man, who has always hated playing live, of material which, by his own acknowledgement, he no longer likes very much - I thought it was bloody amazing!

If you don't already like Sylvian, I think it's fair to say that live performance isn't the best way to discover him - not because his voice doesn't stand up to scrutiny (his vocal mastery is bretahtaking), but because he can't play a crowd (I mean musically, not just in the sense of cheesy patter) to save his life.

If you already like him, quite frankly you'd probably be happy to watch him fart on stage for two hours, so great is his God-like genius and the consequent near-mesmeric hold he has over his fans.

Melanie B, Weston-super-Mare,

followed Sylvian since Nightporter and have seen the last 4 tours, ok Blemish was slightly hard work but fridays performance at bridgewater was to me nearly a religious experience, and i'm not a religious man, when you go to a sylvian performance you go to be moved not to dance the night away, "the sound of waves in a pool of water, i'm drowning in my nostalgia"............nuff said...........
brilliant..

anthony, haslingden, Rossendale

If you knew anything about Davd Sylvian you will know that he has 'pointedly ignored' everything about Japan apart from Ghosts for an awful long time now - his booklet of lyrics Trophies starts with Ghosts and moves forwards from there.

As for the concert: I saw the London show and thought that he was on very good form. To not mention his superb musicians is to do them a dis-service -they added so much to the performance of the songs. This was not a 'rock show' more like a 'chamber performance' and a good one at that.

Colin Runeckles, London, UK

I'm sorry but I couldn't agree more with Stephen's review if I'm totally honest! I'm a huge Sylvian fan and have been since the early 80's but last night's show at the Symphony Hall was the most tedious and boring evening of 'entertainment' that I've ever been subjected to. Yes his voice is really amazing but the overall blandness and slow pace of all the songs he performed really ruined an evening I had high expectations of. Even the crowd was restless and I've never seen so many people getting up to leave their seats whilst David was mid-flow (and they can't all of been toilet breaks as some people were gone for half an hour or so!) He should of varied the tempo ocassionaly and chosen better tracks as he has a huge back catalogue to chose from but it ended up being one long seemingly continual dull lounge jazz session that had me eagerly awaiting it's ending. Can't convey enough just how much one of my all-time musical heroes left me feeling so very very disappointed.

Gary Arnott, Worcester,

Over the last twenty years I have been lucky enough to see David Sylvian perform on four occasions in my opinion this performance was his finest hour.
For you to suggest the audience were "semi-comatose" is laughable.
It is obvious that you did not connect and did not stay for the two encores and rapturous applause.
If you want drama, sex, wit go watch Shakin Stevens.

Paul A. Taylor, Bolton, England

crap!!!!

fraser perry, solihull, west midlands

I can't remember a Sylvian concert ever involving wit, sex or drama. As for concern for the audience, how would he show that then? By playing Adolescent Sex, Life In Tokyo?. As for semi-comatose, I guess you didn't see the smiles on some and the others moved to tears by some songs. Sylvian is a shy guy and if he wants to just sit there and sing/play, so be it. People know what to expect when he plays live and the majority are quite happy to just sit and listen to his wonderful voice. Maybe if he tours again, he could re-work some of his songs to make them more upbeat, don a head mic ala Madonna and give us a bit of a dance routine? BTW, it's Nine Horses not Nine Trees

Paul Williams, Manchester,

I'm going to see David Sylvian 8 times live on this tour. I have already seen him in Stockholm and London on the 17th.
All these musicians on stage with him are extremely talented people: Keith Lowe, Takuma Watanabe, Theo Travis and Steve Jansen.
You're just not getting it, Mr. Dalton, I'm sorry, this is your opinion and certainly NOT mine. And oh yes, David Sylvian IS widely respected by people of all ages.
Do you know anything about his work at all?
I bet my 7 year old brother knows more than you.
I don't care about what people like you write about him but I just hope you'll get to appreciate his music in the future.
I've enjoyed the shows. It is music that comes from the heart and is not depending on image or sales or a crap label.

Yours Sincerely,

Britt D., Leiden, The Netherlands

I'm not sure what you were hoping for between songs but anyone knowing David Sylvians work and persona accepts that it's unlikely he will start jumping around the stage or telling jokes during his set. He looked happy and relaxed on Friday night and for his fans, that is enough because I thought it was a wonderful performance. It wouldn't do for us all to like the same things but to suggest that he was bloodless is misguided. Respect should go to the fact that he is unique, yes to the point of self-indulgence, uninfluenced by the pressure of sales. You've hardly made any reference to the musicians that supported him and they certainly deserved more than that as they were faultless.
Oh and Snow Borne Sorrow was released under the alias Nine Horses, not Trees Stephen.

Siobhan, Biddulph, England

I saw David Sylvian at the South Bank in London last night .
I have seen DS live 4 times now. I agree that the "jazz cafe" reworking of most of the work perfomed was not what we expect of him. Ive never seen so many people moving around an auditorium, getting drinks etc- the audience are normally transfixed ! Last night he never seemed to allow his voice to soar or register emotion - This is a shame, I have seen him do this on the Everything and Nothing tour at Hammersmith- it was moving and powerful experience. The Blemish tour brought a raw edge to his performance and some of it made for uncomfortable listening, but at least showcased his talent for the unconventional. It seemed like he opted for the more pedestrian route every time last night- perhaps saving his voice for the rest of the European tour? However I would agree with my partner who said " David Sylvian treading water is far better than most giving the best they can"

Lisa Ray, London, UK

A very poor effort, the band felt like they were at least one musician down, David, instead of giving us medleys play the whole song, put a bit of effort in it. I was really disappointed with this. I just wish he would get an Orchestra and give the songs the full treatment they deserve. This was a lazy, lethargic and ultimately painful experience. As Will Seargent once said "Even God has to sound check sometimes."

Mike , Upton, Merseyside