Red Rum Club live at The Old Fire Station, Bournemouth (6.10.25) with Keyside supporting.
Quite a treat to get out on a Monday night to see Merseysiders Red Rum Club locally. A short six-date October tour to promote their fifth studio album, Buck. Eight of the eleven tracks on the LP are in the set tonight and there is no better way to be introduced to new material. On my early CD listening I had a few grumbles but after four albums, something different and experimental must be allowed to breathe.
With a capacity of 550, The Old Fire Station, is an odd shape with quite a small standing area surrounded by a limited amount of seating to each side on raised platforms and an area of ramps, leaning rails and more raised bits to the rear, with the bar across the back. It’s the student union events venue essentially but very much a mixed age audience tonight – noted by a passer-by who stopped by the queue outside to check what was going on. My mate Tim’s son was enjoying his first proper indoor gig, aged 12 – keep it up Lewis, you have 46 years to go to catch my gig-going tally but you started earlier than me. I’m not the oldest here which is always something of an achievement especially for a newer, well 21st Century, band.
Queued for 7pm doors opening as I was keen for a bench seat on the raised plinth to the left. Having nabbed one of those and bought a signed tour poster it was time for tonight’s support, Keyside.
With a just a few singles/ EPs this will be another band to watch. Front man, Danny Parker, introduces the songs and engages with the audience, like he’s just met us in the pub. “Anyone like football – any Bournemouth fans in?” Cheers. “What about Semenyo eh?” Absolutely. Danny’s a red but there’s a Blue in the band for balance.
Poppy india rockers with a dominant but intricate and delicate guitars, with a hint of Cast/LAs in my ears. Really clear sound and a light jangly guitar easy listen. A chorus singalong is directed by Danny for new song Rock My Love. Yup a really good support slot, well received by a near full house.
Red Rum Club come on to time at 9pm with one late guitarist having been snoozing on the bus.
A new LP and they open with the title track Buck. Some familiar songs, Eleanor and Nightcalling ensure early interest is held. The new album was inspired by their North American tour, Fran Doran explains, and some have more obvious wild west connotations.
The trademark trumpeting from Joe ‘the Blow’ Corby remains an important feature of the band’s sound on this latest LP. American Nights and English Mornings rolls along well amongst what I think is a difficult start to the album so that makes it a good the first one for them to play from Buck.
Call Me On Your Comedown is a slower track, introduced after some more familiar tunes – so much to choose from these days. Wild is one of my picks from the new LP – reminiscent of breakthrough Black Keys tunes. Fran illustrates its danceability.
Brando, from the 2020 album The Hollow of Humdrum is perhaps the song of the night, demonstrating their Spaghetti Western film score sound at its best. Fabulous guitar.
Kids Addicted is the really lively early anthem of theirs that has the best crowd bouncing, as the set reaches its height. This is closely followed by one of the best of any mobile phone songs… Vibrate. Ending the main set, another familiar anthem, Angeline, and a singalong Hole in My Home, from Western Approaches, their fourth and I still think their best album.
They disappear and return for another five songs to complete a 90 minute performance that was a real pleasure and felt very intimate in these surroundings.
In this final segment we have the excellent Eighteen (what would you do if you woke up and you were 18 again eh?) and first album cracker, Would You Rather be Lonely. Also, maybe the best track from the latest LP, Animal. Live, this has a massive anthemic sound, with some trumpet backing in there.
They finish with Vanilla. This is curiously their biggest Spotify hit. Not for me this one. All very immediate and uncomplicated. They’ve been playing it live for a while and it features on the new album.
Tonight’s gig has really turned up my appreciation of this venue. The key is to get in early and get a decent spot. The lighting was very centre stage focused, so my photos are a bit limited but it did enhance that small gig feel.
Gigs with Ivan 