Monday 24th February 2020 was the date of this gig. I’m writing this account nearly a year later on the 21st February 2021. I didn’t get round to a review at the time and then gigs stopped. I couldn’t bring myself to write my final review. This wasn’t actually my last gig before the end. That was the tremendous Turin Brakes on the 5th March at The Arc.
I’ll be honest and say that I don’t remember a lot about this gig. Andrew, Ste and I were all present for the last time in a long time. We went to Coop (chicken place) for food beforehand, although Andrew didn’t mange to make it for that, which probably meant it wasn’t as social as we’d have liked.
Loup Garoux were the support act. I enjoyed them, but remember them being very loud. I mean, REALLY LOUD. To the point where everything seemed distorted. That was probably the intention.
Supergrass were up next. They were stunning. 2000 sweaty adults mixing in a small space, siding and shouting their lungs out to classic track after classic track. When will we get this back? I mean, I’m not a huge fan of the sweatiness or, in fact, of being close to strangers, but there’s an amazing feeling of being lost in a live gig. Hearing the first few notes of your favourite track. Being part of the audience choir. Listening to onstage banter. Being transported bak to a moment in time. Smiling your head off at a unique moment. Just being there. With your mates. And an amazing band. Gigs. I miss them.
Supergrass played a great set. I loved every minute of it. There is an effortless cool about this band. Incredibly this is a band that I broadly ignored during the halcyon days of BritPop. I’m not sure why? Perhaps it was because I could only like so many bands and I chose to draw a line here. I didn’t actually buy a Supergrass album until 2003, although I then added the rest in a short space of time.
The setlist is below. They didn’t miss anything obvious. It was a greatest hits tour, after all. Inevitably there was a comment about “Alright”. Inevitably it was still amazing to hear.
When the gig finished, we headed out, not realising this would be the last gig we’d see together for a minimum of 18 months (does August seem the earliest now?). We had loads lined up, but they’ve all been moved. Sometimes 2 or 3 times. They’ll be back. Gigs that is. And they will sound, look and feel better than ever.
A Gig A Month 2015-2022 