October 31, 2008 10:03

Elbow joined by Richard Hawley at homecoming gig Elbow Tickets

Band get help from old pal in Manchester

Photo Gallery: Elbow

Elbow finished their UK tour last night (October 30) with a hometown show and special guest appearance.

Playing the Manchester Apollo for the second time on the jaunt, the band received a heroes' welcome on this, their first UK tour since winning the 2008 Nationwide Mercury Prize for their album 'The Seldom Seen Kid'.

Speaking to the crowd Guy Garvey referred to the headline from NME.COM's recent review of Elbow's London Roundhouse gig declaring: "The press are calling this our 'lap of honour' tour, and it couldn’t be happening in a better place on earth - Manchester."

The band were joined onstage by Richard Hawley to play and duet with Garvey on the song 'The Fix', as he does on the album. Before the performance, Garvey explained how he met the Sheffield-based singer.

He revealed: "We met on a flight to Tennessee. We drank a lot, played battleships – that’s the kind of guy I like!"

The set concentrated mainly on material from their award-winning album including opener 'Starlings', the single 'Grounds For Divorce' and fan favourite 'The Loneliness Of A Tower Crane Driver'.

A bunch of old favourites were played too, including 'Forget Myself' and 'Leaders Of The Free World'. Of the latter Garvey explained the inspiration behind the track, and his thoughts on the upcoming American election.

He said: "In about six days, the man this song is about loses his job. Anyone is better than George W Bush!"

In high spirits throughout, despite announcing the death of his Granddad earlier in the day, the party atmosphere was heightened on 'One Day Like This' with a barrage of balloons, confetti and streamers.

Receiving a rapturous applause and standing aviation the band left the stage before coming back on to finish with 'Some Riot', 'Newborn' and the early yet anthemic track 'Scattered Black And Whites'.

Elbow played:

'Starlings'
'The Bones Of You'
'Mirrorball'
'Leaders Of The Free World'
'The Fix'
'The Loneliness Of A Tower Crane Driver'
'Great Expectations'
'The Stops'
'Grounds For Divorce'
'Forget Myself'
'Station Approach'
'Weather To Fly'
'One Day Like This'
'Some Riot'
'Newborn'
'Scattered Black And Whites'