It’s become something of a trend for bands to tour an album in its entirety, and we were promised not one but two golden oldies on this tour.
But when The Wonder Stuff released new album Better Being Lucky this year, why not just tour that album? But it’s exactly 30 years since the release of their second album Hup, so perhaps now is the ideal time to celebrate it. But to then chuck in their debut album, The Eight Legged Groove Machine - also in its entirety - it’s questionable, AND ambitious.
To confuse matters, they begin with five songs from the new album. Further to that, they then take a 20-minute break. This 10pm curfew is gonna get smashed.
When they do return, they begin with the Hup album. But something’s not right. The song order - if we’re going by the album track-listing - is skewed. It’s not in order. No-one seems to mind, though, and when frontman Miles Hunt proclaims that “this next one invented country and western” - before the barndance-pop of Golden Green - the crowd couldn’t care less.
That said, it’s not until Don’t Let Me Down, Gently that the crowd really awaken. But when they do, they remain a frenzied pit of 40-somethings in throwback heaven.
Hup’s songs come and go, then it’s onto The Eight Legged Groove Machine, and again it’s the singles that bring the bouncing to another level.
It’s Yer Money I’m After Baby, Give, Give Give me More, More, More, Wish Away and Unbearable all sound as fresh today is they did in 88, augmented by Erica Nockalls’ exquisite violin prowess.
It may not quite have been as billed; no album was played in its entirely, but it would be churlish to complain because, they are, in the end, wonderful stuff after all these years.
