THERE was more than a little nervous anticipation when Embrace made their big return to the stage last night.

Anyone who saw their warm up gigs in Shepherds Bush earlier this year will be the first to admit they were worried that the eight year break since they last graced the stage might have been a tad too long.

Over a couple of nights in the capital the vocals were not perfect, the set list not quite right and genuine fans, although delighted to see them making a return, couldn’t help feel a little underwhelmed.

Which is exactly what made the launch of Embrace’s new tour in Bournemouth last night just that little bit more special.

Danny McNamara and his band walked on to stage and, despite a minor hiccup with the electrics on their grand entrance, showed that they are far from done having ironed out some little niggles and completely rejigged the set list.

So eager were the fans, they glossed over that small matter by starting the show themselves – singing the chorus of one of their new tracks Follow You Home, until matters were resolved.

In between a good mix of new tracks off their 2014 album “Embrace” – which they feel has brought them full circle and could be their best yet – came some of their most memorable hits like Save Me, Come Back to What You Know and Gravity.

Danny’s little brother Richie also proved his brilliance not just on guitar but vocals too, singing Refugees and getting a massive response from the fans.

There was also plenty of chat – and jibes about his surprise that the people of Bournemouth were not as old and sandwich eating as he thought – from Danny who revealed he had been laid out on a stretcher in A&E with a back problem just 24 hours earlier and was now only upright thanks to a cocktail of painkillers and cider.

But it clearly didn’t worsen the performance and if you needed conclusive proof that this band are officially back and as brilliant as ever, you only had to see them perform their hit Ashes which has to be up there as one of their best ever live performances.

There was no better way to end than with a rousing performance of The Good Will Out that left the entire O2 Academy crowd still singing long after Danny had departed.

Fans went home jubilant, ears ringing and praying Embrace won’t leave it that long.

Joe Curtis