“Luxembourg, a healthy bowl of salad”

(CS) When Elbow stepped on stage at den Atelier on Wednesday they were met with a loud round of applause. Without having played a single note the crowd was theirs.

While the Brits might have cheered the loudest, the usual mix of nationalities including French, Belgian, German, Luxembourgish and many more had flocked to the Atelier. Or as frontman Guy Garvey put it, “a healthy bowl of salad” had come together at the club venue.

Opening act the Howling Bells did not disappoint even though they were met by a rather small crowd. The venue did not fill up until shortly before the real deal kicked off, as tickets remained available at the door on the night.

Garvey's entertaining off the cuff manner led the audience through an evening of soaring anthems and quiet ballads and the crowds swayed, clapped, whistled and cheered at his bidding.

Elbow might sell out the big venues in the UK, but the intimate Atelier seemed the ideal setting for the “People's band.”

With their down-to-earth charm they took in the crowds without being showy. Hushed silence during Lippy Kids and sing-along banter for Grounds of Divorce were only two memorable moments during an evening that saw nothing but highlights.

After an hour and a half set plus an encore the crowds hesitantly let Elbow depart and faced the biting cold outside after a night of blissful musical delight.