We saw the whole of The Waterboys

The Whole Of The Moon may be the Celtic folk rockers' signature track, but The Waterboys are way greater than the sum of this most commercially popular part of their career, spanning four successful decades.

Their entire eclectic set "came like a comet" to York Barbican, superbly showcasing the Irish-influenced evergreen band's barnstorming back catalogue, live and kicking.

Trailblazer Mike Scott ever ensures undiluted spirituality of sound, equally eloquent and expressive songs infused with pluralistic pantheon of primal paganism and primitive pantheism.

In short, the 64-year-old troubadour still rocks like mountains referenced in Trumpets, continuing to roll like This Is The Sea waves.

Accompanied since the group's 1983 formation by some 70 associates, the masterful multi-instrumentalist currently struts centre stage surrounded by bassist Aongus Ralston and drummer Eamon Ferris, James Hallawell and Memphis maestro Brother Paul Brown forging formidable soundscape on combined keys.

As founder frontman himself says: "To me there's no difference between Mike Scott and the Waterboys.

"They both mean the same thing. They mean myself and whoever are my current travelling musical companions."

Present company combines seamlessly, breathing new life into The Big Music onward discography culled from formidable 15 studio albums.

Fans' favourites from A Girl Called Johnny to And a Bang on the Ear, Fisherman's Blues to Glastonbury Song all feature, alongside bravado Strange Boat that ferried an appreciative audience far away from 21st century trevails, truly turning "flesh and body Into soul".

Self-exploration epic The Pan Within enjoyed inventive Patti Smith staple Because the Night wrap-around.

Piano, synths and fiddle meanwhile layered Piper at the Gates of Dawn, just shy of ten minute-long spoken word tribute to Kenneth Grahame's The Wind In the Willows, proving nothing short of quasi-religious experience for packed crowd, hushed into collective reverence.

Tempo and volume increased apace with inevitable encore of Ivor Novello Award winning UK top ten single, anthemic enough to be Dublin's finest U2's concert curtain-raiser, Moon seeing seated devotees take to their feet in unison, standing ovation continuing for quality act that reached, not "too high" as lyrics suggest," but new heights.