Gig review: Average White Band at York Barbican

“Good evening, York!” Average White Band bassist and co-founder Alan Gorie addresses the city’s Barbican venue. Practically drowned out between songs by the sound of his group’s own extended horn workout, he gives a shrug and a chuckle, before turning to guitarist Owen McIntyre on the far side of the stage. “I don’t think they heard me!”

On the contrary, the crowd can hear him, and they duly respond a second time, moments later when greeted again. Despite noticeably empty pockets of seats dotted towards the rear of the venue, the four-figure crowd otherwise spilling onto the aisles are in raptures just a few songs in, treated to a consummate workout from the seven-piece group in front of them. Here, at the very end of a five-decade-plus existence, there are those who still receive these tunes with high shrieks and pot-bellied roars of giddy abandon.

Bowing out after more than half a century, the Scottish funk and soul stalwarts are ostensibly here for the first time by their own reckoning, though several crowd punters correct them that it is not their first visit to York. (“Thank God you’re here!” Gorie cries. “But we’re not going to do accents. This isn’t Inspector Banks.”)

Gorie and McIntyre may be the only original band members left , but this final iteration will hold the distinction of being their longest continuous lineup by the time they call it a day. Vocalist Brent Carter, who trades terrific falsetto deliveries on I Just Can’t Give You Up and Cloudy, packs the kind of joyous weight that brings out the youthful vigour of his older contemporaries; This World Has Music meanwhile serves up ample solo time for tenor player Fred Vigdor and alto man Cliff Lyons to engage in a comedy duel down the front.

This show is split into two hour-plus halves, and the best is naturally saved for after the break; a dangerously off-piste calypso-style run through Walk On By aside, the old favourites come thick and fast; Cut the Cake, Whatcha’ Gonna Do for Me?, Atlantic Avenue.

By the time Gorie has raised “a highland toast” ahead of a jubilantly fantastic Let’s Go Round Again, all that’s left is for Pick Up the Pieces to play both band and crowd out.

“This is the last night of the big time,” the bassist concludes. “Thank God you got to see it.”