Wonder Stuff Gig - Shepherds Bush Empire

Almost a year on from last years epic 20th anniversary of the first Wonder Stuff album "The Eight Legged Groove Machine" we were back to the Shepherds Bush Empire for the 20th anniversary of the "Hup" album. The band was the same line up as last time. There are only 2 original members but the new line up manage to bring back to life all the classic hits.


Jill and I went to Pizza Express before the gig and who should walk in but Malc Treece (the Wonder Stuff guitar  player for the benefit of those who wouldn't know). I didn't want to hassle him but after we'd finished our Pizza I went over and shook his hand and wished him well for the gig. He was very friendly and down to earth. Good man!.


The gig was fantastic. They raced through the Hup album using a new running order for the album that Miles explained was the way he'd always wanted the tracks to appear. The songs sounded great. The second half of the gig was loads of great songs from their back catalogue including such classics as "Here Comes Everyone", "Mission Drive", "Caught in my Shadow", "On the Ropes", "Unbearable" and many more. They played for a little under 2 hours. The atmosphere was great although I have to say that the gig the previous year was more electric. I think the people around us weren't getting into it with the same enthusiasm as Jill and I.


The only sour note for me was that someone stole my T-shirt. I bought a new T-Shirt at the gig and took off my T-Shirt that I'd bought at last years gig. By the end of the night when the lights went up my T-Shirt had vanished. How annoying. Anyway a great night and great to meet Malc Treece in person.

Forthcoming Gigs

Off to see "The Unthanks" on wednesday night at the Junction in Cambridge with my lovely wife. It'll be quite a low key affair. It's in Junction 2 which is a really small all-seater venue. Very intimate. Well suited to a band such as the Unthanks with their lovely lilting folky voices. Not exactly a rock gig by any stretch. Anyway on friday night (Oct 23rd) I'm off to the Cambridge Corn Exchange. Once again with my lovely wife and this time to see Newton Faulkner. We saw him last year (or thereabouts) and it was a fantastic gig. Great atmosphere and Newton was fully engaging the crowd in his banter. Hopefully this year the gig will be equally fantastic. I'm not that familiar with his new album as yet but the wonderful Spotify App is helping me out there (see my previous post for more details!). From first listen there seems to be less genius guitar work and guitar body slapping cleverness. I'll report back after the gig to confirm that.

Spotify Premium

I've done it. I took the plunge and paid my £9.99 for my first month of Spotify Premium. Yes the adverts have all gone and yes I have a little more choice of music plus early availability of new releases. But that's minor compared to the wonderful iPhone App. I have set up 15 or 20 "offline" albums on my iPhone bringing me loads of great new material all legal and proper. The quality is great, the application is great and well....frankly...the price is great too. For about the cost of 1 CD album per month I can listen to more or less whatever I choose on my iPhone and it's all legal. I also plug my iPhone into its "Dock" and connect it to my stereo at home so that I get great quality music pumping from my big speakers. Also been for a few runs recently using my iPhone as an iPod and enjoying the great music of Spotify. Everyone should invest as it's a great way to listen to legal music advert free and portable.