First Direct Bank Arena: Richard Ashcroft "reminds Leeds crowd AI will never be able to do what he does"

AI won’t ever be able to command a stage like the former Verve frontman does for more than 100 exhilarating minutes.

Even when you realise he only sang ten songs before his encore, it still doesn’t matter; every one soars and sweeps in epic style, elongated as Ashcroft, his band, string section and backing singers all take their chance to showcase their craft.

Arriving on stage to The Smiths’ Panic played by DJ Wayne Griggs - a long-time ally who always gets crowds in the mood for what’s to come - Ashcroft kicks off with Weeping Willow.

It is the first of a raft of Verve songs, interspersed with many of his solo hits.

But it is the rousing Music is Power when he truly starts to hit home, unleashing and connecting with the audience at a sold-out First Direct Arena as he extols the real virtues of music.

It’s powerful and timely in the message it delivers.

When Ashcroft starts talking about Argentinian football, you sense he might be about to pay homage to Marcelo Bielsa - the legendary coach who’s worshipped by Leeds United fans.

It is, though, in relation to his Boca Juniors tracksuit top - “the best club in Argentina… they always look after every musician who goes down there… and that’s the amazing thing about music: it’s taken me all around the world, from being on the dole in Wigan to Buenos Aires, to Chile, Leeds and Tokyo. As music has that power to bring us together!”

Ashcroft regularly holds his arms out in front before embracing himself, enacting hugging the crowd who are clearly enraptured by a man who, as his highly-acclaimed performances with Oasis last year attested, remains as good now as in his iconic days 30 years ago.

A Song for the Lovers is another crowd-pleaser while Break the Night with Colour is dedicated to anyone who’s suffered with depression, the stage and screen literally lighting up in bright colours to echo the song’s important message.

After Hold On, Ashcroft pays tribute to Joan Armatrading, who’s classic Love and Affection is the inspiration for the upbeat Lover.

Ashcroft’s unmistakable vocals are perfect during the achingly beautiful Drugs Don’t Work while Lucky Man is dedicated to Kate Radley, his wife of 30 years, although he does admit messing up the milestone anniversary... because he was busy playing Heaton Park with Oasis.

There’s three more Verve tunes in the encore: History, the anthemic Sonnet, and, of course, one of the greatest songs of a generation: Bitter Sweet Symphony.

The trademark sunglasses come off at the end and get thrown into the crowd. Whichever way you look at it, it’s been a dazzling night.