Gigs with Ivan

The Reytons: very live in Bournemouth

The Reytons at O2 Academy Bournemouth on 8.2.2025 with support from Freddie Halkon + The Kairos.

Back at the Boscombe O2 (more about this lovely gig spot here in my Venue Blog). I make straight for the top tier ‘Gods’ seats and they’re open – excellent. Good to bump into an old work colleague, Russell, who’s working on security and allows me a wristband to get in there – they use them to monitor the balcony audience limit.

I didn’t realise The Kairos were supporting – my hobbling pace may have quickened, over from an over busy Chaplin’s Bar, if I had known. A really good indie guitar band that I got to like when they supported The Rifles in London.

A short sharp set and the long wait for more material to be released – still waiting for that first album, after a string of singles.

Next up was Freddie Halkon. Wow. I was blown away. What a great set. Such clarity in the lyrics and confidence. He’s only about 20. I’d never heard of him and what a great way to get the crowd going, before his mates, The Reytons, come on.

Freddie Halkon and his band – O2 Academy Bournemouth

Often the strong singer/guitarists play alone in such support slots but with a band this gave such power, while still allowing his voice and guitar playing to be spotlighted. Indie guitar riffs but some more folky sounding numbers as well. I’ll seek out Freddie again. Well done to this lad from Doncaster.

The place is buzzing. The crowd singalong to the DJ’s tunes. This is a Reytons sell out tour. The boys from Rotherham do all this, chart topping albums and all, without a record company backing.

This my fourth Reytons (‘right ones’ in a South Yorkshire accent) performance – the interest kicked off with Victorious Festival 2022, followed by Teddy Rocks the following year, then a proper tour gig at Portsmouth Guildhall in October 2023. Always fun. Always friendly (young and older ‘Greytons’) and always gratitude expressed by frontman Jonny Yerrell for the rise of these ‘kids from the estate’.

Meanwhile I have bought all their studio albums on vinyl, pre-ordered, signed and delivered, to underline my support. What a great story. Three studio LPs so far and a fab live LP from their monster 20,000 gig at Clifton Park in Sheffield – which is a wonderful Spotify start if you don’t know the band.

Jonny Yerrell – The Reytons – Bournemouth

With three albums and a selection of other EPs and singles they can build a varied setlist of the new, old, fast, faster and familiar. The most recent Ballad of the Bystander LP is the most played tonight, with five from it. Market Street has always been my pick from this one. The tale of young sweethearts growing old together.

Low Life, something of an anthem from the Kids off the Estate LP, gets the mosh circle going, just before the relative calm of Market Street.

The big faves are the early ones from the EPs still with greatest cheers of all for Slice of Lime – a fruity emblem for the band. Brilliant. There’s On the Back Burner another early cracker.

There’s an essence of John Cooper Clarke in their everyday lyrical style. Some lines are delivered like a punchline when all the guitars stop – for the audience to join in. It’s a happy scene. A good ole Saturday night bundle in the core of this loud crowd.

Two of the three encores are from the first LP, The Kids off the Estate. The title track – triumphant – it’s what they are and to finish Broke Boys Cartel. A top night – three great bands and a headliner on the very top of their wave…..”and they call them Reytons!”

Dr Feelgood + Nine Below Zero live in Wimborne

My casual approach to the always punctual start time of 7.30pm means we are still crossing the road from Wetherspoons (one of the best ones) when the music starts. I’m here with wife Sally and couple of friends from school who I have rediscovered to be in Dorset in recent years, including Graham who has let me have a few of his pics (I didn’t bring a camera tonight and phones are discouraged enthusiastically.)

My observations on the Tivoli Theatre can be found here in my Tivoli venue blog.

My main reason for booking this one was the harmonica playing of Mark Feltham in Nine Below Zero. I saw part of their set at a Minehead Butlin’s Alternative Music Festival in 2020 and then the originals – lead singer/ guitarist Dennis Greaves and Mark Feltham on harmonica – played as a duo in March 2021 when I saw them support From the Jam, at The Brook in Southampton.

Much as I wish I’d seen them at The Marquee or somewhere similar, I never did see them back in the 70s/80s. The same is true of Dr Feelgood. I saw Doctor Feelgood on tour with The Stranglers in 2019 but have just had to admire their history, especially via the film of their rise to fame: Oil City Slickers. The current Dr Feelgood line-up has no original members but they carry the baton for the great band.

Dennis Greaves – lead singer and songwriter (left)

Nine Below Zero were on first, when we got in. I guess they must take it in turns to go on last. A smattering of bluesy covers in their set – while it all sounds quite familiar I can’t name the tracks. Don’t Point the Finger at the Guitar Man was one of my favourites with the best being 11 + 11 at the end of their set.

New song, Now I Wanna Be a Wannabe, had a pop a younger generations. On the Road Again merged into The Stones’ Satisfaction rounded off their set.

Some good chat from original frontman, Dennis Greaves. He must have played so many gigs over the years. He’s got a few on fellow original, Mark Feltham, as he referred to him practising in his bedroom for nineteen years before hitting the road with the band.

Doctor Feelgood are on after the bar scrummage at the break. Frontman Robert Kane has been in the role since 1999 and he is much more lively than when I saw their support slot for The Stranglers – it’s a shame it’s seated given the effort he’s putting in. The mature audience stays seated until the end, but cheer and clap enthusiastically. I’m not complaining – I needed my seat!

Dr Feelgood 2025 – Tivoli (pic from Graham A)

Other band members joined Dr Feelgood in 1983 with a few breaks along the way. It’s a funny business playing in a band with no original members. Feelgood are more of a reboot than an evolution, giving the old songs life again.

Phil H. Mitchell (bass) – Dr Feelgood (pic from Graham A)

The guitar playing, Gordon Russell, is excellent – a few behind the head moments – and some of the scratchy feel of Wilko Johnson’s original Feelgood sound. Another genius I was lucky to see when he supported The Stranglers, with his own band.

Roxette is my favourite and that scratchy, abrupt guitar strum is very much in evidence. She Does it Right and Back in the Night are other classics that get an airing. The original Feelgood would have belted these out to thousands at Hammersmith Odeon in their heyday. There are some great clips in the Oil City Slickers docufilm.

Frontman Robert Kane plays harmonica as well as singing on many songs, continuing the harmonica theme of the evening.

Of course, Milk and Alcohol is the big hit that comes out as a mid-set livener. When it was released in 1979 and was played on Top of the Pops I hadn’t realised the magnitude of what Doctor Feelgood were doing. I still prefer the tracks I mentioned earlier mind, while recognising its success.

Going Back Home is a bit of an anthem for Feelgood and Down to the Doctor, another belter that follows – see. you know more than you thought eh.

Great to see both if these classic old bands on stage during the encores, playing together on Route 66 and before that Looking Back. Mark Feltham continues in his role as master of the harmonica – that’s what got me here.

Encores – Nine Below Zero and Doctor Feelgood

Afterwards, while browsing the merch stand I found myself stood next to Dennis Greaves so I picked up a classic Nine Below Zero LP, recorded live at The Marquee, and he offered to sign it. A lovely souvenir of my first gig of 2025.

Gig Venue: The Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne

The Tivoli Theatre Wimborne, West Borough, Wimborne Minster, Dorset BH21 1LT. (Updated 30.1.2025)

A dark, wet, personally unfit and gig free January for me, so an opportunity to add some venue notes for the site of gig 1 of 2025, on 1 February.

The East Dorset town of Wimborne rarely troubles the gig tour planners, aside from this lovely old theatre which specialises in mature tastes, well vintage. Many great tribute acts of classic rock artists appear. I used to live in Wimborne and so I’ve kept my eye on it. I suspect that give it another ten years and I’ll be here once a fortnight writing a ‘no haired gig going blog’ as opposed to grey haired experience.

I’ve seen Hugh Cornwell here a few times, Glenn Tilbrook and in more recent years From the Jam; Bootleg Blondie (with Clem Burke from Blondie proper); China Crisis and yes, 70s popsters Showaddywaddy. Then there was the evening with John Lydon experience – Johnny Rotten in Wimborne – wonders never cease.

My previous years of mild disappointment at visiting an all-seated venue for live music has morphed into one of ageing relief. A bit of standing for the lively bits without a whole evening testing the limbs can be welcome these days.

Not a place to be waving a camera around and a mobile phone can be quite intrusive in these gentile surroundings. Not good for illustrating a blog but hey ho, I go with the flow.

Wimborne is a top place for a pub tour with plenty to wander to in the compact town centre. The Taphouse (one for after) with its ale choices is my pick, just 50 yards along from the Tivoli, opposite The Man in the Wall (one of the best Wetherspoons around). Wimborne’s downside, or maybe saviour, is transport links – no train station and buses a bit limited, although it can work from Poole on the local buses (No. 3 or 4 More Bus from Poole Bus Station, my choice tonight).

This all-seater art deco style theatre has 483 seats and serves as a cinema and venue. It opened in 1936 and has benefited from a new frontage and canopy in recent years. You can get a decent view from anywhere, even the back row of the seven row balcony.

Showaddywaddy – rear balcony Tivoli view December 2023

The place closed its doors in 1980 after being under the threat of demolition for a year or so due to new road scheme that never happened. It reopened in 1993 after considerable efforts from local volunteers.

The bar is small, like a village cricket club. I think just have a drink before you get here if you want one. Pop over the road. It must be quicker. You can order half-time drinks. Who does that though at a gig? Go when the doors open if you want to use the bar or try the café as you go in on the left. It’s all part of the same building.

A good spot for a relaxed evening, often with experienced talent on show.

My Top Ten Gigs of 2024

A little calmer this year with 65 gigs – well 61 gigs (one for each of my years) and four days at festivals, three at Victorious in Southsea and one at Poole Harbour Festival with jet lag. After a gig free January and a slow February, November and December were a non-stop feast of music.

The London Roundhouse – four great visits here this year for Hard-Fi; Echo and the Bunnymen; Jesus and Mary Chain; Gary Numan

In all, 128 different live acts with two Stranglers gigs, three Red Rum Club sets and a headline and a support set for both The Damned and The Skids.

42 different venues visited in 18 towns and cities in four countries – Spain, Northern Ireland, Wales and England.

Swansea Arena for my first Status Quo gig

My gigs this year have been mostly in London (18), Bournemouth and Poole (18) and Southampton (10) and I am pleased to say that the place I have been to most is Poole Lighthouse, walking distance for me, with its three venues of varying sizes, the smallest being the Sherling Studio holding about 90 people, a little more relaxed than the 90,000 experience of Wembley Stadium.

There are some newer bands that are worth a big shout. These are all bands that I want to see again as soon as possible. A couple I saw in poor circumstances but still they left their mark: Clockworks had equipment problems and were left with a 20 minute set at a Victorious Festival small stage in the trees and Wunderhorse, support band for Declan McKenna, appeared unwell for his short set. The Kairos, The Royston Club and The Clause, all brought me enthusiasm for more and hope that they can grow like Red Rum Club and The Lathums have: a few other recent years’ new favourites of mine.

The Clockworks – short frantic set at Victorious Festival

A special mention for The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Damned and Echo and the Bunnymen, two lots of familiar faces still at the top of their game and Biffy Clyro for a Victorious Festival headliner set that blew away the weather.

Biffy Clyro headline Sunday night at Victorious Festival

But my top ten, in reverse order and after careful consideration, are these for 2024:

10 AC/DC
(Wembley Stadium)

I was handed the opportunity and I had to be there, just once. An unmissable experience of a band I don’t know that well but they have always been there and best seats.

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9 Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
(O2 Academy Bournemouth)

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This smaller warm-up gig was a special opportunity and lived up to the high expectations after the clammer for limited tickets.

8 The Skids
(Engine Rooms Southampton)

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Richard Jobson punches his way into my top ten with his new four piece line up and a great set. Sometimes less is more and the smaller venue experience wins.

7 Hard-Fi
(London Roundhouse)

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The Staines Massive come to town and round off their autumn tour for a celebration of their first album in 2005 and a new EP.

6 Killers
(O2 Arena London)

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Las Vegas comes to London with the showmanship of Brandon Flowers and a string of sellout gigs at the O2 Arena. It is so much better to see them at an indoor venue.

5 The Stranglers
(Royal Albert Hall)

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My favourite band over many years and great night out in an iconic venue. A superb set to celebrate 50 years of the band, in various forms.

4 The Stranglers
(Bristol Beacon)

Shared blog with Royal Albert Hall gig.

The postponement of this gig meant I was able to make use of a mate’s front row seat for this one – yes seat, but don’t worry, we were up on our feet.

3 Stiff Little Fingers +Damned+Skids
(Custom House, Belfast)

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Stiff Little Fingers in their home city. Unimaginable in the 80s and beyond but we got there. A fantastic experience with some very special guests.

2 Green Day
(Wembley Stadium)

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I have had a natural resistance to gigs a Wembley Stadium over the years – often so far away that you may as well not be there and a real challenge of the sound in such a place. Several bands and events over the last few years have overcome my negativity – doesn’t mean I wouldn’t rather see bands somewhere else but they can be so good they overcome it. Green Day managed it with ease.

1 Amyl and the Sniffers
(O2 Academy Bristol)

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The sheer excitement of this powerball of a band, over here from Australia, playing live and loud, was irresistible. The standout performance of the year, the decade and probably this century so far. It’s a very long time since I got a buzz like this.

Amyl and the Sniffers at Bristol O2 Academy – tops

That’s my 2024 picks. Rock until you drop!

This blog, gigswithivan.uk, continues to grow with over 10,000 views this year, three times more than last year.

Photos and videos, good and bad are all my own – phone and Panasonic pocket zoom – I say if there are any occasional ones that are not.

My Grey-haired Gig Goer YouTube Channel holds my videos and clips @grey-hairedgiggoer that I link to. 29 videos have over 1,000 views, a rather random five have over 10,000 and the channel has over 500 free subscribers.

The Skids with Spear of Destiny – live in Southampton

The Skids live at The Engine Rooms, Southampton (17.12.2024) with special guests Spear of Destiny.

Some gigs I just can’t leave alone. It’s the day after The Damned in Bristol but I had to get to this one. Two of my favourite bands over a long period. With the Skids there was a big break from the early 80s until the reformation in 2017, since then I’ve seen them 13 times, including twice in Belfast and twice in Scotland.

Both bands have done a lot of touring in recent years and it’s brilliant to have them on one bill, here in Southampton at The Engine Rooms, a regular spot on my gig itinerary. (Venue blog.)

My previous blogs go back into my Spear of Destiny history and Skids gigs, including the epic Dunfermline pilgrimage.

Kirk Brandon – SoD – Southampton Engine Rooms

Kirk seems a bit under the weather tonight with a throaty problem – it’s been a long tour – but a strong 12-song set shows no surrender to any ailments. Such a rich catalogue to pull on, with familiar rousing tunes like Rainmaker and Young Men. As Kirk calls out “ohhh you you-ng men”, I scan the scene and not much youth in here tonight. Some very happy old boys in here though.

You’ll Never Take Me Alive is good to hear – a classic standout track from the Outlands LP. I don’t know if Kirk was saving himself but the last two songs, World Service and Mickey, were real belters. Look forward to catching Spear of Destiny on their own tour next year, and Kirk with Theatre of Hate at the promising Milton Keyes Forever Now event, at least.

The Skids line up as a four-piece tonight. There have been a few changes this year with the previously attached Big Country boys doing their own tour. After a bit of upheaval in the Big Country camp we have Gil Allan on bass with Jobson tonight, along with Nick Hernandez on drums and Goodbye Mr Mackenzie’s Connor White the sole guitarist, and very impressive too.

It’s a Days in Europa 40th anniversary album tour. Great album but so are any of the first three Skids LPs. There is room for all but two of the album in the set with Peaceful Times and Dulce et Decorum Est missing out. They’ve had plenty of airings in recent years. I like the fact it’s not just playing an album in full and that’s it.

I can’t believe the energy Jobson has: he doesn’t stop dancing and punching the air once he’s on stage. It’s a real work out for the 64 year old and his bodily resilience puts me to shame. My legs are suffering after a bit of what is best described as shuffling about. My air punching arm is working though. Amid this exertion I pretty much ditched attempts to get any decent pics. Lighting unsympathetic to my cause. I have plenty of Skids photos and I settled for extracting a few images from some short video clips.

Some excellent tracks on Days in Europa and for several decades only the singles got played anywhere – Working for the Yankee Dollar and what Jobson introduces as his favourite, Masquerade, for instance. I leave later with lesser known Olympian and Thanatos rattling round my head.

There’s time to pay respect to the departed original Skid, Stuart Adamson: “We can feel him in the room tonight” insists Jobbo.

It’s no surprise that when Jobson runs through his introduction to The Saints Are Coming, the Southampton crowd get hyperactive as it’s their football team’s pre-kick off anthem. What an uplifting atmosphere as the festive nonsense is upon us. I’m getting a real kick out of this.

Another from the first LP, Scared to Dance, follows: the magnificent Into the Valley. A bit of fun with TV Stars and “Who da we want, Al-bert Tat-lock!“

Circus Games ends the main set. I love hearing this live and without the kids voices on it – they ruin it. It takes me back to my first Skids gig at Hammersmith Palais, Jobson dancing madly in his cricket jumper and Stuart Adamson’s penetrating guitar sound.

Complete Control – Clash cover – enjoyed from just behind the mixing desk

The band return with slower rumbling of Hurry on Boys, also from The Absolute Game album – time to tour that one next? Then the track that sparked it all off: Charles, from their first EP, released in 1978.

It was around then The Skids got a support slot on tour with The Clash. A fitting finish then with a cover of Complete Control, my pick of the Skids’ covers album Songs from a Haunted Ballroom – it’s a belter that track.

We’re done. Nice one boys. This creeps into my top ten gigs of the year.

Two more to go in 2024 – then we rest the ears and legs for a bit.

The Damned – live in Bristol

The Damned at Bristol Beacon (13.12.2024) with Doctor & the Medics + The Fleshtones supporting.

Only my third trip to Bristol Beacon since its costly and lengthy transformation from Colston Hall; The Stranglers and The Darkness being the other visits. The three hour drive always surprises me – it’s only 60 miles!

The Fleshtones open. A bit of US punk history – they started out playing in 1976 at CBGB’s and just carried on and on, and here they are, from Queens, New York City.

We Remember the Ramones is a standout track that has me searching for it on YouTube next day.

They have a stage routine that must have been with them for ever and some striking poses as the garage/punk crashing sounds keep coming. An interesting finish to their short set when the lead singer, Peter Zaremba, climbs down into the crowd and just wanders off greeting people, deeper into the crowd and out of a rear door.

More bodies flood into the hall before Doctor & the Medics – this was an early start. I saw them, well lead singer, The Doctor (Clive Jackson), five years ago at an 80s winter indoor Wembley event. He was using the house band for the event then and a bought him a pint in an artist lounge.

The Doctor is 63 now and overtly grateful for his new knees and still being able to enjoy performing. Their UK number one single, the cover of Spirit in the Sky, stands in isolation as their moment of greatness. This may have hampered their long-term credibility as a decent rock band but here they are still at it nearly 40 years after that hit.

None of the original band are still touring but The Doctor is the voice, the leader and raconteur. Good ole fashioned rock’n’roll, quite heavy with some pomp.

A mention to the anthem of hope, No One Loves You When You’ve Got No Shoes, before which the Doctor refers to his own low points. This is celebratory though and of course it’s Spirit In The Sky to end. The man is a character and happy to be here supporting The Damned tonight.

Love Song opens the set, Dave Vanian twirling and flicking his mic cable. My thirteenth Damned gig (my Damned history blogged here for the 2022 original line up gigs) and with such a variety of good material, including a trickle of new albums, it’s always different.

The line-up itself has varied and while the original line-up gigs last year were something special, focussing on the first two albums with Brian James playing, I prefer the current look and sound. This sees Dave Vanian with Rat Scabies back on drums, continuing his original line-up return, and Paul Gray on bass, Captain Sensible on guitar and Monty Oxymoron going wild on keyboards.

The dominant albums in tonight’s set are The Black Album and Machine Gun Etiquette three tracks from Strawberries, which I acquired on strawberry scented vinyl as part of a Record Store Day rerelease. The Black Album has always been a favourite – it’s about the timing. The first time I saw The Damned was on their Black Album tour. The extended version of Curtain Call is a pick from that one and I caught tonight’s version on video, here saved here on my YouTube channel – one of the first encores later this evening.

Wait for the Blackout, another Black Album fave is another top track live and is early in a set that motors along without any real dips. An occasional aging knot of moshers gather in pace and size at times – I can see all this well from my vantage point of the front of the rear balcony (great spot – cheers gig buddy Dave).

I Just Can’t Be Happy Today is one of the anthems from the Machine Gun Etiquette album that finds its way onto my YouTube channel (link here).

Room is made for the anti-government Beware of the Clowns single from few years back and their masterful cover of Eloise. As for the other featured album, Strawberries, Ignite is my winner.

Rat Scabies delivers quite a drum solo in the encore – a belter before they launch into New Rose – something so fresh and upbeat every time you hear that beginning. It’s lasted so well.

A second and final encore starts with the festive, There Ain’t No Sanity Claus before Smash it Up, both parts. Great set. I’ll be back.

[As always, all gig photos and YouTube linked videos taken this evening with my trusty pocket zoom Panasonic camera. If I ever use any others I’ll say so.]

A week of 80s classics – Then Jerico; Martin McAloon; The Bluebells

Then Jerico at O2 Islington (29.11.2024); Martin McAloon at Poole Lighthouse Sherling Studio (4.12.2024); The Bluebells at 229, London (5.12.2024).

Gigs are coming in waves now as the end of year approaches. Hard to keep up, but I don’t do a blog for everything. The last week saw me embrace three 80s popsters so I thought I’d just do a quick round up.

Then Jerico at O2 Academy Islington

We were in London for Hard-Fi on the Saturday, so me and gig buddy Dave took in Then Jerico the night before. We got in early to meet lead singer and sole surviving band member, Mark Shaw. A lovely opportunity before he got into stage mode.

The Big Area was the big song (no.13) and big album (no.4) for the band in 1989. Really good to hear that tonight, eventually – they made us wait. But Sugar Box and The Motive from the same album were other familiar singles.

Mark Shaw is extremely energetic on stage. He’s 63 and after leaping on with a cane and looking rather ‘Dave Vanian’, the shirt buttons open and by the end the shirt is off.

An impressive stage presence and plenty to enjoy about this dip back to 80s pop.

Martin McAloon

Down to the Sherling Studio in Poole Lighthouse for the former bassist and brother of frontman for Prefab Sprout. It’s a solo gig. Prefab Sprout were such an amazing band, a wander down the road can’t be missed.

No pics for this..a no no on phones and cameras. Fine. No visual relaying to the outside world of the experience – if that’s what you want.

This was something for the Prefab Sprout purist. Plenty in the seated audience of about 80. It’s nearly full and a real close up and intimate experience.

Martin McAloon is friendly and appreciative, loving the three sided audience: “It’s like being Taylor Swift”.

He plays the songs with multiple guitar layers and his solo adaptations. This mostly works but I didn’t think always. I was transfixed but easy Prefab Sprout numbers could seem over complicated – the songs probably were then and fantastically produced.

A pause and a shout for requests led to one guy asking for Appetite before he had to leave early for his train. Martin hastily complied – he was flexible like that.

The Bluebells

The Bluebells, a band I never saw live but an important part of the jangling guitar Scottish indie breakthrough. It had to be done.

Support is DJ Gary Crowley. He spins some very appropriate discs.

Even Clare Grogan was here to enjoy the reunion gig of The Bluebells. I found later that The Bluebells were given an important early break by being offered a support slot on an Altered Images tour.

This whole gig was just great. Live music, with an appreciative and nostalgic audience, and I am with a selection of friends from various stages of my life – by chance really… cheers Dave, and Chris and Womble, sorry..Andrew.

My first time at this venue, near to Great Portland Street tube station. A clean and practical subterranean venue.

If I didn’t know all the songs, I just loved the jangly guitar and the live sound of The Bluebells. A proper band.

They came to entertain and enjoy themselves and that came over – nostalgic pleasure.

Of course Young at Heart was the anthem of the era, and maybe now, but there was Cath wooah as well, as the top songs.

Ken and David McCluskey – The Bluebells – 229 London

The band mingled afterwards and this weeknight reunion was a real pleasure that exceeded expectations.

Grey haired selfie with gig buddy Dave and Ken McCluskey

Hard-Fi: Live in London… near Staines

Hard-Fi at The London Roundhouse, Camden (30.11.2024) with Better Joy + The Velvet Hands supporting.

Been looking forward to this trip for a while. The last date of Hard-Fi’s Don’t Go Making Plans Tour – that’s the new EP, which they play three tracks from tonight.

The anticipation comes from seeing the band once back in 2007, having all of their three albums and then just having a festival live taster since they reformed in 2022, after an eight year break. That 2022 festival slot came at Victorious Festival.

At the 2007 Bournemouth BIC gig, the merch stand had signed live CDs from the Glasgow gig a few days earlier. I had to buy one.

Signed live CD bought at Bournemouth BIC 2007

I guess it’s the Staines thing that enhanced my early interest. I spent the first 16 years of my life living four miles from Staines (before it added its ‘upon Thames’ suffix), down the Staines Road West in Ashford Common. I can’t recall any other bands making it from Staines. Hard-Fi were formed there. I remember seeing a Dials gig in the Town Hall. I supported Staines Town FC and even worked in Staines McDonald’s for a bit.

Staines, this is Staines, with its bridge, Lino making history, station announcement in The Members’ Sound of the Suburbs single..and Ali G

Tonight, The Roundhouse. One of my favourite venues and sellout crowd on a Saturday night. (My venue blog of The Roundhouse is here.)

Two support bands tonight, that we watch from the side balcony members’ area. First, The Velvet Hands, London based but originally from Falmouth, Cornwall, and second, Better Joy, from Manchester. Both are bands I’d go and see again and I particularly liked The Velvet Hands on a first listen.

A side view may not seem ideal but it’s a relaxed raised bar to watch the support bands from, before moving round to tonight’s front row seats of the shallow circular Roundhouse balcony. Great crowd view.

The Velvet Hands are a brash, rough and thumping indie rock band. A short set was enough to have me interested. Garage rock you can dance to is a term they are using about themselves.

Better Joy maybe of broader appeal with a lighter sound, significantly fronted by Bria Keely who had the star quality look. Clearly wowed by the experience of the sellout crowd with a whoop of “We’re gonna have a good time tonight. Oh my god it’s the f*cking Roundhouse”. It is indeed. I’m excited as well.

The crowd swells even more as the concourse bars empty. We peer over the balcony in anticipation. It’s a beautiful sight.

An appreciative roar as Hard-Fi arrive on stage – it’s a celebration – the end of the tour – the London gig and as close a homecoming as Staines suburbanites can get.

An upbeat start with Middle Eastern Holiday. This is essentially a Stars of CCTV revisited tour, with the bonus of the new EP: Don’t Go Making Plans.

Richard Archer is clearly delighted to see everyone – what a grand final date – in what he exclaims is “the best f*cking city on the whole planet”. (One for further discussion, but not now!)

He says he’s struggling with his voice a bit and pleads for help – support and vocal assistance he gets throughout the set with the familiar CCTV songs. There are nine songs from that first album – no room for Feltham is Singing Out (not the only great song about the local borstal as Jimmy Pursey would say).

Hard-Fi are quite a mix of sounds and that first album was something a bit different at the time, certainly for me – it didn’t drop easily into a particular genre. The lyrics draw on everyday life scenarios and the music was a genuinely new mix with a bit of soul and pop on the indie rock base.

The start of Cash Machine with that distinctive harmonica brings a roar as we get to another anthem of the noughties, the band’s first single. Here’s a recording of that from my camera on my YouTube channel.

There is room for just two songs from the 2007 second album, Once Upon A Time In The West. The fabulous anthem for outer London, Suburban Knights and the slower I Shall Overcome.

The main set ends with the tight and abrupt, Hard to Beat. So good to hear all this played live again.

Richard Archer returns alone with his guitar for Move on Now. Then it was obvious what had to come next – the classics, Stars of CCTV and Living for the Weekend. It’s Saturday night after all. A joyous bouncing and singing along from a smiling crowd.

A really enjoyable night out this one. It had to be Saturday. It had to be London. Maybe a gig in Staines next time – I did notice they played a warm-up gig at the Thames Brewery in Staines a few weeks back. Next time eh.

The sound of the suburbs, 21st century style.

The Snuts – live in Bournemouth

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.

The Snuts in the classic O2 Academy Bournemouth surroundings – beautiful architecture

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.

The Clause – live in Southampton

The Clause at the Engine Rooms, Southampton (21.11.2024) with Tom A. Smith + Auden supporting.

It’s freezing – proper zero degrees. Weather reports and social media reaction has been hysterical for half the day, after some morning snow but a clear run on glistening roads across the New Forest to Southampton gets us to The Engine Rooms. (More notes on the venue here in my venue blog.)

I get a bench behind the mixing desk pen, once in, saving the knees and ankles for the main band. There are three bands tonight and I confirm who the supports are from the framed stage time listing near the entrance.

Auden are first up. Without the written clue I never would have fathomed what they said their name was. They are from Romsey, Hampshire… so, local and their set rumbles along nicely without me getting too involved. Just parked on the bench with a can of Guiness Zero. This isn’t a wild night – just glad to get here. Auden’s indie sounds good for a first hear mind.

(I catch up with Francis this evening, one of the friends who mentioned The Clause to me – thanks also to Tony and Tim – a good shout indeed. )

The Engine Rooms – behind the mixing desk

Next on is Tom A. Smith, from Sunderland who oozes confidence, with his band alongside. He’s just 20. On a browse I later I see he is playing a young Dave Stewart in a Eurythmics film coming out soon.

He is a notch up on quality and I peer over the mixing desk inquisitively. There’s something happening here and he deserves a bit more of a listen, but this half hour introduction is good.

I even forgive him an early introduction to Christmas (bah humbug) with his new seasonal track, This Christmas Time (Tom’s official YouTube link). “Sorry, it’s not December,” he apologises, before advertising his associated Christmas tree t-shirts on the merch stand, to make yourself look like a car air freshener, he warns.

The two opening bands hung together well – brief sets, long enough to find out about them, and complementary to the main act. No undue waiting about on a cold, alcohol free, mid-week for this grey-haired gig goer.

The Clause are from Birmingham and started out playing in 2016. It’s a long road – a trail of singles since 2017 but no albums to date. The Weekend Millionaire 5-track EP looks to be their most recent and significant release so far. They play all five tracks from it tonight.

Liam Deakin (guitar) and Niall Fennell (drums)

Initially, when the band start, I stand back a bit from the left speaker stack, against the side wall. Handy for pics but the sound, especially bass, was booming a bit, well a lot – maybe off the wall – and I moved back to the mix desk after a few songs and it sounded good so not sure if the sound got a tweak or what.

Frontman, Pearce Macca, is quick to rally the crowd – the place is about half full, maybe 300 in – with “are you ready, Southampton!” ..and “come on, Southampton, let’s hear yer”. It works. Everyone seems eager.

There’s some intricate guitar work (lead guitarist Liam Deakin) amid the choruses to get hooked on. This indie rock has variation – great guitar sounds and the delivery must come from their recent years developing a local Birmingham fan base – they know how to play to a crowd.

When I video bits at gigs, if I do, I generally just pick a couple of songs and try it, camera or phone. If I’m in the way, I don’t. Hence, I like side wall or the cover of pillars. Here, the mix desk rear barriers provide me with a sort of giant rock’n’roll Zimmer frame…a supportive lean. No one watching from behind so also convenient for a video. Tonight I grab one of the anthemic track, Time of Our Lives and, as it happens, it is one of my picks of the set. There’s almost a Liam growl in there somewhere. (Link is to my YouTube channel.)

It a bit surprising an album hasn’t emerged yet – plenty of really strong singles though and now this latest EP. It’s going to be worth having when it comes.

The Clause at The Engine Rooms, Southampton

They already have a clutch of firm crowd favourites to fit into this hour or so long set. Bassist, Jonny Fyffe, is up on his monitor enjoying the moment by the end.

I look forward to seeing this lot again. There’s plenty for me here.

They finish with In My Element, a single from 2019, which has a distinctive opening riff of fuzzed guitar – have a listen to the official video. (YouTube link). Love it.