Marianne Faithfull at St Lukes

Tonight was the concert by Marianne Faithfull that I won tickets for last week. It was at the former St Lukes church at Old Street, an old church decked out as a live studio for a BBC programme to be shown later in the year. We were encouraged to get there early to secure seats although the cynic in me assumes that was really just to ensure a full house at start time rather than having stragglers wandering in.

We got there at about 6.10pm with doors opening at 6.30pm, so we were near the front of the queue. 6.30pm came and went and there was no movement, then some BBC people started appearing asking who was on the guestlist - it seems like there were several different guestlists and others were ushered into a separate queue to be let in so slowly a snail would speed past. There were so many in the 'record company and press' guestlist queue that I began to wonder whether we'd even get in. Then suddenly, our queue started moving and we were ushered into the balcony, a mere 45 minutes after opening time. This was the most shambolic affair and the BBC should be ashamed of itself - if that's the best it can do to organise something away from its main studios then it should hand back the licence fee.

But then on came Marianne and the world was all right again. She's looking very healthy and slimmer than the last time I saw her, in a smart trouser suit and bow tie, all blonde and lovely and, for some reason, quite nervous. She was backed by a band of eleven so there was a full sound but it ocassionally swamped Marianne's voice although I assume technical wizardry will correct this for the broadcast.

Marianne opened with 'Times Square' and then went on to showcase about six songs from her album due out in a few weeks time. She then played some old favourites interspersed with a few songs from the album. The new songs sound good, a nice mix of styles and all with Marianne's unmistakeable voice overlayed on top and adding texture.

Old favourites included 'Broken English' and a tender version of 'The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan', 'Crazy Love', 'Sister Morphine', 'As Tears Go By' and a raucous 'Why'd You Do It' with bile and jealousy spilling all over the stage. She was on top form! She came back on to re-record a couple of songs that hadn't gone quite right but I won't spoil the broadcast show by saying which songs. We stayed till the end, of course, when Marianne just walked across to hug and sit down with family at their tables, chatting and smiling and, at last, relaxing.

I'm not sure when the show will be broadcast, but I'd urge you to watch it. And buy the new album, of course, it sounds excellent.