The Snuts at O2 Academy Bournemouth (26.11.2024) with Siobhán Winifrid and Grace Bar supporting.
I’ve been wanting see The Snuts again, since catching them supporting Kings of Leon in July 2022 at O2 Arena, London – what a huge crowd that was to play to. (Link to that blog here.)
Back at the familiar local favourite venue, O2 Academy Bournemouth (My venue blog here.) The top floor seats aren’t open tonight. I have been getting used to that area being open but not tonight. Middle balcony standing open and all ‘rail with a view’ occupied by the time we arrive tonight at 7.30pm.
There’s someone onstage already. Who’s this? Not mentioned on any billing I’ve seen it’s Grace Bar…and that took me until the next day to confirm. No, I couldn’t hear what she said. Anyway, sounded fine but I sat in the balcony bar for this one, peering through legs for the occasional stage glimpse.
The next support was a notch up: Siobhán Winifred. Great voice, clear and confident above the guitars and band. I remain in my leg saving seat before the wander down to stand for The Snuts.
There are so many new, talented, female singer song writers out there at the moment I just don’t know how they get that break. Still, I thought that when stood in front of Rianne Downey with 25 people at Teddy Rocks main stage, 2023 – now she’s playing arenas with Paul Heaton and his band.
At a predictable 9pm, The Snuts come on. I’ve found a pillar spot towards the back. Sound good – it’s not too loud and no ear defences needed; view good, leaning potential great; camera shots without blocking others’ view – easy; chatty youth murmer, level quite high.
They have a 2024 album out – Millenials – which I have been playing a lot and they start with Millionares from that. It’s a goodie. Associated Lotto style merch available behind me. The stage has old big tv sets piled up all over it and there’s a street light on one side. They don’t appear to want the spotlight…a bit Echo and the Bunneymen in that respect.
The band have been going for about ten years, having started at school in their West Lothian home town of Whitburn – half way between Glasgow and Edinburgh. (Lewis Capaldi is also from there.) They have worked hard for this – Jack Cochrane reflects on this in the set – and had the Covid plague years to battle with and they seem all the more grateful for that. Millenials is their third album. It peaked at no.2 in the UK album chart (!) and later in the set frontman Jack shares a story about Rod Stewart pipping them to no.1 and sending pictures of all his Rolls Royces.
Jack Cochrane’s voice is so distinctive – seems to come from the back of his mouth giving a sound that reminds me of Passenger, maybe a bit of Cast’s John Power and songs do have that Cast stomping bounce to them. Guitar sounds right up front on many songs but in discrete riffs and jangles rather than a wall of sound.
It’s an old meets new sound. A modern layer – sometimes that’s the only layer you get these days – but on a classic indie rock’n’roll base.
There’s polite crowd acknowledgement and gratitude, without much fuss or hysteria. Proper rock’n’roll cool. Just play the songs boys.
I grab a video of the 2020 single Always..now on my YouTube channel. Already an anthem and featured on their W.L. from 2021.
Somebody Loves You prompts Jack to hestitantly invite the crowd to put their arm around someone next to them. I have my wife Sally and a pillar next to me so no awkwardness there.
There’s a section where the drummer (Jordan ‘Joko’ Mackay) comes forward to sing and play a smaller conga type set on stage front.
Novastar is a great track near the end of the mainset and it’s not long before a wonderful trio selected for the encore. Circles is just about the best track on the lastest album. Next, Jack quips ‘I don’t know why I enjoy this song so much’, before playing Glasgow, then Gloria to finish. Gloria is on the latest album but was a 2023 single and surely a staple now of any Snuts set.
It’s another really good gig. Time to head out to the cold wet rain of Boscombe high street on a Tuesday. A band to stick with I’d say.
Gigs with Ivan 