Elbow’s musical craft is outstanding

As Marquee acts go, Elbow aren’t in the same vein as entertainment icons Dolly, Tom or even our own Imelda.

There were no blonde wigs or tribute quiffs here, although, given Elbow’s Northern England pedigree, a few flat caps mightn’t have gone astray. What they all have in common, however, is that they are superb musicians. Elbow are about craftsmanship rather than showmanship, their songs speaking for themselves.

Having released three critically acclaimed albums, Elbow were catapulted to ‘overnight’ success with the million-selling The Seldom Seen Kid, which snagged them the Mercury Prize in 2008. While they do a great line in finely-orchestrated anthemic melodies with a melancholic undertow, they also have plenty of punchier numbers to get the audience swinging rather than swaying. Add in some lush orchestral arrangements and you’re in musical heaven.

The opening song, Charge, from their latest album The Take Off and Landing of Everything, showcased Guy Garvey’s gorgeous voice to perfection. Garvey certainly doesn't lack stage presence and built up an almost instant rapport with the audience.

However, after four songs from the new album, some of the audience was getting restless, with the background chatter getting embarrassingly loud during the powerful ballad The Night Will Always Win which was a huge shame.

Next was New York Morning, displaying Elbow's enviable gift for simple but profound lyricism: "The way the day begins /Decides the shade of everything /But the way it ends depends on if you're home". The genial Garvey got the crowd back onside with a bit of banter and the recognisably haunting strains of The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver from The Seldom Seen Kid.

It was obvious that this was the only album some of the audience wanted to hear as once again, the background buzz reached a distractingly high level for some of the later acoustic numbers.

Once again, Garvey came to the rescue with a singalong competition among the crowd and a pulsating performance of the powerful Grounds for Divorce.

If there was such a thing as the perfect encore, One Day Like This would surely be up there. The song, which they performed at the London Olympics closing ceremony, got the rapturous reception one would expect. I will never forget the first time I heard this, how the hairs bristled on the back of my neck. And despite its ubiquity since, and its use in everything from Match of the Day to Big Brother, hearing it live was a glorious experience. Goosebumps present and correct.

Elbow’s name was inspired by a line in the Dennis Potter drama The Singing Detective which described “elbow” as the loveliest word in the English language. Last night, Guy Garvey's beguiling vocals and his band's lush melodies were the last word in loveliness, even if some of the crowd made Garvey sing very hard for his supper.