Morning:
6°c
Rick Pearson's rating
, Not So Young ... but reformed Suede can still go hell for leather
By
Rick Pearson
25 Mar 2010
“Good evening, we’re Suede,” announced frontman Brett Anderson midway through his band’s reunion show at the Royal Albert Hall, just in case anyone in the audience was still in any doubt as to who these trendy fortysomethings were.
Anderson might also have elaborated that Suede are a seminal British guitar band who, after winning the Mercury Prize for their self-titled debut in 1993, released a string of critically-acclaimed albums and enjoyed success on both sides of the Atlantic.
However, as the smattering of empty seats around the venue testified, seven years after disbanding, Suede have become Britpop’s forgotten group. Last night’s hit-strewn set, part of the Teenage Cancer Trust series, provided little clues as to why this should be. At 42, Anderson’s angular fringe and high cheekbones are still intact, as is his voice — a spooky tenor that echoed David Bowie on the set-opener She.
After Trash’s epic chorus had initiated the first of many singalongs from an adoring crowd, things threatened to get primal with the snarling riff of Animal Nitrate.
Combining the bludgeoning beats of Simon Gilbert with the “is he, isn’t he?” homo-eroticism of Anderson’s lyrics, it was classic Suede and had lost none of its energy 17 years on.
The same could be said of Anderson himself. Once the epitome of arty aloofness, he’d transformed into a fist-pumping, pogoing, party-pleaser of a frontman — although you still wouldn’t leave him alone with your daughter.
If Anderson’s charisma couldn’t prevent So Young sounding somewhat optimistic, then Beautiful Ones remained a timeless slice of euphoric indie-rock. “Let’s do it again in another seven years’ time,” said Anderson. Sooner, please.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
Reader views (4)
So good to see them live again. Never thought it would happen after 7 years of watching their videos on You Tube and realising how much I missed them, despite A New Morning.
I've got a feeling it won't be a 7 year wait.
- Dominic Phillips, Bournemouth, 03/04/2010 16:13
Report abuse
Nearly 48 hours later I am still completely awe-struck by this gig. Last seeing Suede as an impressionable 17 year old in 1997, 13 years later they were every bit as amazing and took me back to my youth reminding me why I was so in love with Suede and Brett Anderson. The set list was fantastic, especially the songs from Dog Man Star and Suede, Bretts stunning vocals emphasised by the great accoustics at the Albert Hall, a highlight for me being his accoustic version of Living Dead.
There was definately something amiss with the ticketing allocation for this concert as Ticketmaster seemed to be selling the seats in the Upper Circle rather than the stalls, leaving empty seats in this area which seemed a bit of a shame, but all in all was a fantastic evening for a great cause, just wish I could go back and see them again tonight!
- Laura, Surrey, 26/03/2010 15:39
Report abuse
Last night's show was like travelling back a decade in time but the energy was electric and the songs held up really well. I particularly loved the DogManStar material. It reminded me why Suede was my very favourite band at the time for several years,
As for the empty seats, they were mainly in the boxes and were still available on the day as part of a 'VIP package' for more than £175 each! Yes, a great charitable cause but surely better to sell the seats at a more sensible price and let the true fans fill the venue?!
- Anthony, Worthing, UK, 25/03/2010 14:08
Report abuse
what a gig, they were full of power and certainly better than they were when they limped to the end of their previous existence.
Just to say that this gig sold out in one day, and the empty seats were probably more likely the greedy touts who couldn't get rid of the tickets.
- Daveywils, London, 25/03/2010 11:50
Report abuse
