By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN? Sunday 12 October, tour runs through 11 July 2026

Setlist: Achilles; The Last Time I Saw The Old Man; When The Lights Go Out All Over Europe; Rainy Sunday Afternoon; Have You Ever Been In Love?; Norman And Norma; Generation Sex; Leaving Today; The Plough; The Man Who Turned Into A Chair; Songs Of Love; At The Indie Disco; Neapolitan Girl; Mar-a-Lago By The Sea; A Lady Of A Certain Age; Our Mutual Friend; The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter; Other People; Absent Friends; Becoming More Like Alfie; Something For The Weekend; National Express; The Booklovers; Invisible Thread; Tonight We Fly

We’re in the 12th row of this sold-out 1,943-capacity venue for the 2nd consecutive night here by this band and the fan in the seat next to us slips off his shoes shortly before curtain up to appreciate the gig better.

• Read on for reasons including why The Divine Comedy offer the most comfortable 2 hours in public without your shoes

The last time we saw The Divine Comedy play here they performed a 5-night residency which included 113 different songs and tonight’s new album tour concentrates on a fraction of those.

The last gig we saw was the return of Gene to London for a 1st gig in 21 years and commenters asked why what had been a 5* experience for them had received only 4 from us.

The answer is that this is how you sustain a career across 4 decades. The Divine Comedy released new album Rainy Sunday Afternoon recently and its contents are so strong that they feature heavily here.

Neil Hannon and co open with 2 tracks from it which reflect on mortality in the downbeat yet beautiful Achilles and the devastation of dementia on a loved 1 during The Last Time I Saw The Old Man.

The Man Who Turned Into A Chair could be a commentary on my fellow audience member in shoes-off mode or the entire throng which remains seated throughout this gig until Hannon instructs otherwise during a late run-through of his biggest hits.

Elsewhere we continue to be delighted that the set is evolving throughout the tour and shed a quiet tear during the unexpected Absent Friends for all those who could’ve enjoyed this gig with us but can’t be here.

There’s even time for Hannon to serve mostly Bloody Mary cocktails (and soft drink alternative!) to the 8-strong band during laidback Trump reflection Mar-a-Lago By The Sea.

Or for Hannon to fill an empty front row seat to re-enact the drama of old favourite Our Mutual Friend with game audience members.

Unlike Gene’s, the songwriting back catalogue is of such rich history The Divine Comedy can insert a near acapella oldie Other People late on and for it to shine unexpectedly brightly.

Mention too for most recent single Invisible Thread, about the hidden bond between parent and child, which offers hope during some of the most recent album’s darker moments.

The Divine Comedy – the most comfortable 2 hours you can spend in public without your shoes.

• Main picture via Facebook by Alec Buchan courtesy The Divine Comedy Tickets 
• Have you seen a show by The Divine Comedy before and what did you think of this 1? Let us know what you thought in the comments below
• Enjoyed this preview? Follow monstagigz on Twitter @NeilDurham, email neildurham3@gmail.com and check us out on Instagram and Facebook