Gig Review: Stereophonics/Jake Bugg @ Portsmouth Guildhall

Stereophonics- Portsmouth Guildhall 22/3/13:

Stereophonics have been on my list of bands to see for ages, but they’ve always sold before I get a chance. So as soon as I saw they were playing locally I was going to do everything in my power to get hold of ticket. Luckily for me, I managed to get my hands on a ticket as the gig sold out really quick.

With millions of record sales, 8 studio albums, a greatest hits compilation and numerous sold out tours to their name, it is remarkable that Stereophonics are still regarded as an underrated band.  One listen through their ‘Decade in the Sun’ greatest hits album shows what a strong collection of songs they have at their disposal. Add to that the songs off their latest album ‘Graffiti on the Train’, plus years of experience, and you know you’re in for a good time.

The support act, a young guy called Josh Weller, was good. I have to admit, I only caught the very end of his set, as I may or may not have been down the pub, but after hearing a few songs I wish I heard more. Similar in a way to Frank Turner, he plays with a youthful energy that really got the crowd going.


Josh Weller

There was a mix of people in the audience, but mostly of a generation of people who grown up listening to the Stereophonics; something that made me feel slightly more youthful than usual. It all helped to create a good atmosphere though, as people really got involved.

Stereophonics kicked off with current single ‘Indian Summer’, which even though was new, went down a treat with the crowd. Even though the tracks from ‘Graffiti on the Train’ have a slower, bluesy sound compared to their older stuff, they have lost none of the energy and enthusiasm. This is shown when they play old crowd favourites such as ‘Bartender and the Thief’, ‘Local Boy in the Photograph’ and ‘Have a Nice Day’.  They know exactly how to get the most of the crowd when playing them.

Other favourites such as ‘Just Looking’, ‘Maybe Tomorrow’ and ‘I Wouldn’t Believe Your Radio’ were also very well received. The newer tracks, even though not as well known, were well appreciated by the audience, and showcased the versatility of both the band and the vocal talents of singer Kelly Jones. They closed their set with ‘In a Moment’, ‘Mr Writer’ and a rousing rendition of ‘Dakota’, which had every single person inside the venue singing along.

The only gripe of the evening was the omission of ‘Pick a Part that’s New’ and ‘Handbags and Gladrags’, but you can’t have it all. Getting to see them in a small, intimate venue like Guildhall though and perform their other hits, was a real privilege. They are a band built for festivals and huge arenas. With a UK arena tour in November recently announced, you’ll have to get tickets quick before they sell out, again.

Stereophonics

 

Jake Bugg- Portsmouth Guildhall 24/3/13:

 

What can be said about Jake Bugg that hasn’t been said already? Those who know the name will already be familiar with the Nottingham teenager’s talent. With a number one album and one sold out UK tour already to his name, Bugg has already been making huge waves on the UK music scene. I’m a big fan of Bugg’s debut album, so was I was interested to see what he was like as a live act. Fair to say, I wasn’t disappointed.

Before Bugg took to the stage though, there was music from the support artist Misty Miller. She may have only played a short set, but I was impressed with what I heard. She plays upbeat acoustic songs with a bluesy/country rock sound, and has similar vocal sound to American artist Lissie. She also reminded me a bit of indie band Rilo Kiley. As well as touring with Bugg, she has also toured recently with Tom Odell, another up and coming talent on the British music scene. She will only get better in time, after her sound develops and matures. Her E.P. “Girlfriend” is well worth a listen though. Definitely a name to keep an eye out for.

Bugg then took to the stage to much noise and applause. It is hard to believe he is only 19. He plays with a maturity far beyond his years. A cover of Johnny Cash’s ‘Falsom Prison Blues’ was a particular highlight. It takes a brave man to take on a Cash cover, but he pulled it off brilliantly. Other highlights of the set included the singles ‘Two Fingers’, Taste It’, ‘Seen It All’ and ‘Lightning Bolt’ which all received full crowd participation. Other earlier songs, such as ‘Broken’ went down well with the die-hard fans in the audience. There were lulls in the crowd during some songs, but that will disappear in time as people become more familiar with his music.

There was an interesting mix of people in the audience. From teenagers and students to the ‘older person’, there was a real diverse range of ages. It was a tad surprising as I anticipated a younger audience, but there were a fair few families out. Just goes to show the broad range of appeal that Bugg’s music has. The only thing that annoyed me though was the crowd. Not everyone, but certainly near me there were some people who were only there for the better known songs, and talked through the rest of the show. It was irritating as well as distracting. It didn’t take anything away from Bugg’s performance though.

It is really hard to believe that he isn’t yet out of his teenage years. He plays with a real maturity and confidence beyond his years. I have seen artists around his age before, and they are a little nervous and play within themselves a bit, which is perfectly understandable. Bugg though has enough confidence in his own material that he plays the songs as their meant to be played. Playing to a capacity crowd that doesn’t need to be won over must have also been a great help. There wasn’t too much crowd interaction, but he was very well received and put on a very good show.

He is due to appear at a number of festivals, and his Autumn UK tour is in very high demand, with extra dates already being added. From my experience, it is well worth seeing one of the best young British talents around at the moment. Being 19, he can only get better, which bodes very well for the future.