When: Saturday 18th February 2012
Where: O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
Why: I’m a fan, but not enough of a fan to pay for
tickets. So I won some on their Facebook page.
The last time I saw the Lightning Seeds’ lead singer Ian
Broudie on a stage was at the Isle of Wight festival in 2010. Or rather, he was
storming off the stage after a failed attempt to get the crowd to sing ‘Three
Lions’ live on radio and a dodgy guitar/microphone situation which revealed
that he was miming. Brilliant. The mild derision and absolute lack of interest
from the thousands-strong crowd was genuinely entertaining and a little bit
unexpected (everyone LOVES ‘Three Lions’ usually – maybe if Baddiel and Skinner
had appeared things might have been different).
But he seems to have got over himself a bit and he and the
band have put together a brilliantly nostalgic show. The Lightning Seeds are
one of those bands who’ve done more songs that you recognise than you’d think –
Pure, Sugar Coated Iceberg, Change, Lucky You, Life of Riley… (Spotify them if
the names are doing nothing for you, and you’ll see what I mean). This is only
if you were around and listening to the radio in the 90s, of course. And if you
weren’t, then I don’t want to know, you tiny child.
 |
| The very fellows. |
The show was energetic and the music was really impressively
good – what a tuneful bunch they are. I defy anyone to listen to ‘Life of
Riley’ and not get their groove on. I loved the sight of lone middle-aged men
dancing along the balcony, groups of lairy lads clearly preparing themselves
for ‘Three Lions’, and even a mum and young daughter not far from us. Passing
the love down the generations. I think, apart from the small girl, my mate and
I were the youngest people there by a fair way, but I can only see that as a
good thing. And you'll be relieved to know that 'Three Lions' was their final encore song. Phew.
One final good point was that James Walsh off of Starsailor
turned out to be the supporting act. As soon as he opened his mouth I knew his
voice, and a swift google helped me place him. Seriously thrilling, I had a big
Starsailor phase a few years ago (not big enough to know any of the band’s
names, yes I know), and it was awesome to see their lead singer live. Walsh
does genuinely great things with a guitar and has a delicious voice. Starsailor
wouldn’t have been my first guess for someone to support the Britpoppy
Lightning Seeds, but my ears were happy so I was happy.
Wicked man.
Brixpig x
No comments:
Post a Comment