With the new album Ad Astra due for release in a month or so, Ash are out and about to play some of the new songs to their fans. Several that were played at The Scala in London were getting their very first public airing. Ash have been "playing" with ideas on the new album and have pushed at their musical boundaries and thus produced an album with vast variation.

Tim Wheeler

Of course their ardent followers wanted to hear some new material but the loudest responses were for the deep catalogue of classics such as "Shining Light", "Oh Yeah", "Kung Fu", "Girl From Mars" and "Burn Baby Burn".

Mark Hamilton

The Scala is a great venue with it's myriad of staircases that never seem to come out where you expect but always a superb view from every spot. The atmosphere was charged with electricity from the packed crowd who endeavoured to get to King's Cross without use of the Tube network resulting in improvisation and walking mostly.

Mark Hamilton

Tim Wheeler held his "Flying V" aloft as the band took the stage with their ASH / FLASH walk on music, then it was a race through the twenty plus songs. Mark Hamilton was as usual sporting his Thunderbird Bass which he swung and pointed in continuous new physical positions, making photography more challenging but certainly rewarding.

Tim Wheeler

New songs "Give me back my world" and "Which one do you want" go down very well, the band maybe a little trepidatious playing the new numbers but absolutely no need to be concerned. "Which one do you want" is a real grower with it's Smiths sounding guitars, it has now been released as the latest single, deservedly so.

Tim Wheeler

The main set of songs finished with the two bangers that are "Kung Fu" and "Girl from Mars" both rapturously applauded. On return of the band for the encore an extra mic stand had been rigged up, front of stage and an instant buzz swept through the audience. Ash returned with an extra temporary member for the remaining songs. Graham Coxon was maybe no huge surprise but still an enormous bonus, his obvious ease on stage was matched by his guitar playing which was amazing and filled the Ash sound as I suppose you would expect.

Ash with Graham Coxon

Ash with Graham Coxon

Coxon played one of his own numbers, probably his best known, "Freakin' Out" which was well received. Then the highlight of this mini set being the new title song of the new album Ad Astra with Coxon and Wheeler bouncing and alternating short solos replicating the song and some.

Mark Hamilton

The evening finished with a blast through "Burn baby burn" with mass enjoyment all round, clear to see on the band's and audience's faces. I hope Coxon has more time to join the band whenever he can....

Mark Hamilton

Ash at The Scala

Photos and review by Dan Reddick

For Tour and Album Release News ASH