Next in our look at some goosebumps ‘bits’ of Big Big Train

The Florentine – from Empire Live album/DVD

The opening duet between David Longdon and Nick D’Virgilio is priceless. The folky strum of acoustic guitars, the voices combine perfectly. You have to listen closely to discern the two voices; Nick a little higher on the register that makes him such a perfect foil with David sitting underneath. The eye contact as they first sing the song title, the little guitar runs from Dave Gregory that accompany the second verse, the precision as they deliver the lines in unison. Hard to pick a standout moment within the first couple of minutes but maybe the line “the polymath that did not fit the paradigm“?

Watch for Gregory Spawton on the footage banging his hand held drumskin – he’s been covering the 12 string part of late as seen at Cropredy (where incidentally, The Florentine made the Saturday PA playlist in 2022…). A track that might sit slightly in the shadows of some more obvious contenders with, like the following selection, many more potential goosebump bits.

Beneath The Masts – from The Likes Of Us

The newest entry into the bank of BBT epics.

Head past several contenders (the slightly wild instrumental section, or the opening sequence where the recurring theme makes an early appearance on piano around a minute in) to 14:45 – the gentle 12 string strum and the “head out for sunset” line. All very pastoral with Alberto enunciating very deliberately, until the sudden crescendo that begins with the “the moon is rising, stars are shining” line. Could be one to rival “she flies!” Loads of ooohs and aaahs in the backing vocal as Alberto goes full on leading us back home again and a guitar solo that fits the less is more vein from Rikard seals the deal, possibly even double tracked in the closing notes. The “out there is everything that’s ever been” line is classic Neal Morse wonder of the world stuff.

The centrepiece moment of the centrepiece song from the latest album. Finally in the live set for the UK tour in September, with the potential as an epic closing number (sorry, Apollo gets there every time) Beneath The Masts appeared quite early in the set. A slightly tweaked arrangement which saw some aching violin lines from Clare Lindley adding an extra poignancy. Should be interesting to see Beneath The Masts become a staple of the set.

Apollo – live at The Boerderij

NDV’s piece written for BBT as their very own Los Endos. A piece which has earned a rightful place as the parting shot, the final moment of each concert (pre-encore of course). This version is from the Journey Continues series of shows with new singer Alberto Bravin making his debut live performances. Dave Foster is on guitar and the full brass section is in place. Eleven musicians crammed onto the cosy Boerderij stage.

I’ve written (as have others) about this track in the 2024 tour programme, but head to 5:05 where the band has just come down from a high point and a relaxed flute sounding keyboard line takes the lead. However, the reveries gets a shot of adrenalin as the brass kicks in, NDV gives the piece a swing as the bass pedals rattle the ribs. Dave Foster adds a stinger of a solo that reminds us how much he’s missed (along with his Made From Sunshine written with David Longdon), as he trades licks with Rikard.

The piece now has a much more confident Alberto heading offstage to high five the front rows or charge around the aisles in the stalls, sometimes brandishing a lighting tube from the stage (health + safety/ risk assessment anyone?!)

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