Halloween or All Hallow`s Eve and a trip back in time to the late eighties/early nineties for a touch of indie/alternative rock with a revolving headline between two of the finest purveyors of this genre on alternative nights. It’s the half way point of this seven-date trek of the UK and tonight CUD is acting as support on this co-headline.
There`s little fuss as this Leeds based outfit hit the stage and share the wonderfully psychedelic `Purple Love Balloon` and `Eau Water`. One of the outstanding things for me about this eclectic band was/is singer Carl Puttnam`s wonderful voice and after just under thirty years since I last saw them at the Birmingham Irish Centre in 1994, I have to say it still holds up.
The show continues for over seventy-five minutes, and we enjoy a real mix of numbers where tracks like the dreamy `Through the Roof`, disco flavoured `Switched On (You Got Me)`, and thoughtful `Rich and Strange` really stood out for me. The delightfully titled `Only (A Prawn in Whitby)` and captivating `Wobbly Jelly` from the band`s debut album also get dusted off alongside the beseeching `Sorry I Let You Down` a new number released last year which blends in so well. `Robinson Crusoe`, along with the thumping `Hey Boots` and a final trip back in time with `I’ve Had It With Blondes` close out the night.
I have to say I found CUD every bit as mesmerising as I did when I saw them three or four times thirty years ago. The numbers stand the test of time and the group still retain an entertaining repartee with their audience. I`m so glad I managed to catch up with this diverse outfit and will be looking for future dates in the Midlands with anticipation.
Although they don`t get the credit, The Boo Radleys were one of the creative forces in what was referred to as the Britpop movement and I have to say it was a bit of a surprise when they released their `Keep On With Falling` album in 2022 after twenty odd years but more so with another album `Eight` their eighth in June this year some fifteen months on since `Keep On With Falling`.
This Merseyside based quartet head straight into `I Hang Suspended` before we enjoy the at times blistering but reggae tinged `Upon 9th and Fairchild` and dream poppy `Wish I Was Skinny`.
Singer and guitarist Simon “Sice” Rowbottom explains that they`ll attempt to play tracks off all their albums this evening but for me it was numbers like the charming `Barney (…and Me)`, introspective `A Full Syringe and Memories of You` from one of the most recent albums, the wistful `Lazy Day`, faraway `If You Want It, Take It` and hypnotic `The Finest Kiss` that really shone.
The guys share a cover of CUD`s `Victoria`, a track off the latest album the upbeat `How Was I To Know` before closing the set with a couple of numbers which included the expansive `Lazarus` before sending us home with the optimistic `Wake Up Boo!` which is a number that once it`s planted in your subconscious it`s pretty hard to shift. Apart from the longtime trio of Tim Brown, Simon Rowbottom and Rob Cieka the guys were joined by the superb talents of young guitarist Louis Smith and trumpeter Nick Etwell who has his own jazz band called The Filthy Six.
I have to admit that seeing The Boos live really made me appreciate the complex structures some of their numbers have and I’ll certainly be pulling out the few albums I have of theirs and giving them a blast.
There are three dates left on this co-headline tour in Oxford, Bristol and London and I’d encourage you grab a ticket as both bands will deliver an evening that will stay in your memory for some time to come.
