Supergrass

Liverpool Academy, Sunday 2nd May 2004

Is it really ten years since Supergrass released their first single? From those bygone days of Britpop. An era where bands were formed, and adorned on the next available magazine cover, that would have them.

Not much of that era, ahem, talent are still in business. Its testimony that Supergrass is 10 is down to fact that they had a modicum of talent that their peers could only dream off.

The current extensive tour of the UK is designed to promote the forthcoming compilation and remind everyone of what Supergrass is about.

The prospect of the band playing all the hits is certainly one to be savoured. There has always been something to engage the casual listener to the albums, but this is often failed to be replicated over a full album.

That is why a Supergrass compilation is certainly a must-have addition to anyone’s collection. Scarily lead singer Gaz Coombes is still the right side of thirty and retains the youthful look of the Britpop era.

The night started well enough with ‘In it For The Money’ and the still brilliant ‘Richard III”. ‘Mary’ sounds great live despite the awful rhyming couplet of Mary and Basis Daily.

The much maligned acoustic bit in the middle of a bands set was given a new twist tonight with an Acoustic Sofa being brought on stage for Gaz and Mikey to reinterpret a few of the old tunes with ‘ Caught By the Fuzz’ being reworked to good effect.

New song ‘Kiss of Life’ was given an airing and may well take a few more listens to get into. Old favourites were wheeled out such as ‘Alright’ and ‘Pumping on Your Stereo’ and still sounded as fresh as the first time you heard them.

The set finished with two of the oldest songs in Supergrasses repertoire ‘Mansize Rooster’ and ‘Sitting Up Straight’ both were delivered with a slickness that was not apparent on the original release.

All in all a good night and here’s to ten more years and the transition from a singles band into one that finally delivers that essential album.