Red Rum Club at The Engine Rooms, Southampton (20.3.2025) with The Florentenes supporting.
Back at The Engine Rooms, Southampton (my venue blog here) and a second time of seeing Red Rum Club here.
Given they are a band that have emerged more recently – over the last five years – it’s surprisingly my seventh time of seeing them live. A bit of an our house favourite this lot. Good to catch up with Francis C tonight, who was one of the people who pointed me in the direction of these ‘mariachi Merseysiders’.
I find one of my favoured spots, next to the mixing desk. I’ve been in London with work for a few days and my legs are suffering so the barrier to lean on is most welcome. Gigs like this need to be standing.
The support band, The Florentenes (precise spelling required to avoid confusing with similar names) were new to me and new to most I guess as they really are fresh out of school. Indeed the drummer (Liam Fiddy) is still at school and the lead singer, Will Train Smith, makes reference to the fact they need to get back for school in Manchester in the morning for Liam – they originate from Bolton but maybe he thinks we won’t be so good at UK geography.
Their first EP is called 14-17, the ages of the band at the time of its release. The latest single is Fuel for the Flame. A wonderful jangly guitar and a barking lyric – Arctic Monkeys and Oasis must be in these guys’ phones.
I thought they were excellent and look forward to seeing them grow.
And now to Red Rum Club. There’s little more I can add to my previous RRC blog as regards their history. They’ve cranked up a notch though. With four albums to draw on and songs they have been playing live so much now, they have a great set.
They don’t forget any of their albums, from Matador (2019) to The Western Approaches (2024). The sound they call Tarantinoesque has that distinctive trumpet interjection from time to time, occasionally greeted by a crowd roar.
First album faves of Angeline and Rather be Lonely are still up there with the best but I sense a newer crowd enjoying Black Cat and Houdini more, from the latest LP. Vibrate and Eighteen (what would you do if you woke up aged 18? What a thought) are a couple of my top picks played tonight from the third album, How to Steal the World (2021).
Kids Addicted is perhaps the best tonight. Two other crackers from album two, Hollow of Humdrum (2020) tonight are Eleanor and Dorado – more Mexican atmosphere.
It’s refreshing to know the songs of a 2020s band so well. All hope is not lost for a grey-haired gig goer eh.
Another great performance and after a few support and festival slots in recent years it’s really good to see them sailing through this headline sellout billing. The best I’ve seen them I’d say and a welcome distraction – my leg is buggered tonight, despite my trusty mixing desk barrier.
I’ll leave you with a few more photos.
Gigs with Ivan 