Concert review: Belle and Sebastian at The Orange Peel

As we waited patiently for the doors at The Orange Peel to open on the night of May 24, Stuart Murdoch made his rounds, checking in with fans of the beloved Scottish band that he’s long fronted. The Belle and Sebastian bandleader asked if the venue staff had kept us up to date (they did) and assured us it wouldn’t be much longer. He spoke candidly of the struggles they had getting their gear into the country, and joked about how much it’d suck to have to wait outside for a show in a frigid rainy Glasgow. It was a kind gesture that beautifully illustrated the genuine appreciation and care Murdoch has for his fans. 

Delayed a few hours after their gear had gotten stuck in customs, Belle and Sebastian’s first night of its 2022 North American tour got off to a rocky start in Asheville — but the moment they launched into the magical twee pop of opener “Another Sunny Day,” all was forgiven. If there was any rust to shake off, it was gone by the time they continued into the gratifying Thin Lizzy homage, “I’m A Cuckoo.”

Though the group recently released A Bit of Previous, its set on Tuesday night only featured three of the standout tunes from the new record: “Unnecessary Drama,” “Young and Stupid,” and “If They’re Shooting At You.” Those songs arrived early in the performance, providing the band with ample time to pull out a variety of classics from its extensive back catalog — and truly mixing it up with several cuts from the beloved Jeepster Records EPs. 

Perhaps more than anything, the performance emphasized Murdoch’s penchant for writing sensational pop melodies. With strings and a dazzling trumpet elevating the tunes, they couldn’t have sounded more vibrant. It’s a wonder that the B&S catalog hasn’t been covered more regularly. 

Between songs, Murdoch peppered in some delightful banter about tattoos of U.S. states and knowledge of the local minor league baseball team, the Asheville Tourists, while also taking a moment to acknowledge the tragic school shooting that occurred in Texas mere hours earlier.

Ending their initial set with the infectious “Sleep the Clock Around,” Murdoch & Co. could easily have left the stage for the night with the crowd adequately satiated. Fortunately for us all, they answered to the impassioned call for an encore, arriving to an abundance of shouted fan requests. Initially apprehensive about playing “I Love My Car” on the basis of not remembering how to play it, guitarist Stevie Jackson was able to find the right chords, resulting in a charming spontaneous performance of the deep cut.

The encore’s theme of spontaneity continued when Murdoch plucked a young woman from the front of the audience early into a rousing rendition of “The Boy With The Arab Strap.” As the frontman took a seat at his piano, she awkwardly joined him on the bench. With little guidance from Murdoch, the fan visibly exhibited a mix of confusion, disbelief, and awe in that initial moment. In no time, however, any jitters appeared to evaporate as the young lady took to her feet, joyfully dancing and singing along with every word. It was one of those memorable concert moments that’s beyond replication — undoubtedly every detail of which is cemented in her brain. 

To close out the night, Belle and Sebastian once again fielded requests, landing upon If You're Feeling Sinister standout “The Stars of Track and Field.” Despite a lack of rehearsal, the band pulled off a euphoric performance worthy of its position as the night’s grand finale.

Throughout the show, in response to the unfortunate delays, Murdoch expressed a genuine intent to give fans a great experience. Only the most cynical grump in attendance could have left unsatisfied. 

Setlist
Another Sunny Day
I’m a Cuckoo
Unnecessary Drama
Young and Stupid
She’s Losing It
If They’re Shooting at You
I Want the World to Stop
Piazza, New York Catcher
Slow Graffiti
Chick Factor
The Loneliness of a Middle Distance Runner
The Wrong Girl
Dog on Wheels
Funny Little Frog
Get Me Away From Here, I’m Dying
Sleep the Clock Around

Encore
I Love My Car
The Boy with the Arab Strap
The Stars of Track and Field

(Photos by Jonny Leather)