Rock Regeneration

Mar24

Suede/Sprints

on March 24th, 2023 at 19:32

O2 Guildhall, Southampton

As Winter approaches Spring we are gathered here tonight to witness one of our Premier League Indie bands, promoting their recent opus “Autofiction” along with staple cuts from their extensive back catalogue. Coming along for the ride are Dublin quartet Sprints. With the heavyweights of the Britpop era currently en vogue and putting together lucrative tours, it was no surprise that Suede sold out the entire tour in record quick time – such is the country’s love for their heroes.

Sprints 1–2–3–4–5–6–7

We arrive just in time to grab a drink and move to a spot near the front for the support. After the huge success of Wolf Alice comes a plethora of copycat, angular fem-fronted bands with the tried and tested formula – step forward Sprints They describe themselves as a Garage/Noise quartet, and frankly who are we to argue?! They open with a guitar-shredding number entitled “Ticking”, with accompanying hollering from lead vocalist Karla. It’s a 5 minute (Ticking) Time Bomb(sic) intro burst and leaves it all out there. Their loud, bass-heavy wall of sound and hollered vocals are nothing new, they do however occasionally throw the odd shape here and there. There’s little irony in the title of their next song – ‘Heavy’, which it certainly is!! The vocals become slightly more decipherable with every song, perhaps that’s part of their Manifesto! The recent single “Modern Job” is an early highlight while new song “Up and Comer” seems apt. There’s hints of The Fall on “How Does The Story Go” but tonight’s show is quite a step up from their recent ‘Joiners’ appearance and Karla’s nerves are apparent with the almost apologetic bellow of “who’s looking forward to Suede?” (as if any of us weren’t). If I have but one criticism it’s this; I just feel they need that one standout track, a banger if you like to set them apart from the crowd. Their penultimate track “Literary Mind” is their set highlight, before they depart us on “Little Fix”. All the usual “Riot/Grrrl” influences come to the fore for the latter part of the set but I’m left kinda wanting a bit more… I wish them well.

As we near 9pm the crowd has suddenly grown larger and the lights go up. Everyone bar Brett takes to the stage as we await the presence of the main man. They open with ‘Turn off Your Brain and Yell’ and Brett appears for the vocal amid rapturous cheers. His deep vocal tones are bellowed out for all to enjoy on this dark opener. The slow musical intro just builds the suspense before Brett lets loose. A sea of nodding heads moves in time, as the song uplifts in the chorus. Brett as usual patrols every inch of the stage, moving from right to left in rabble-rousing fashion to get us all in the moment. “Personality Disorder” comes next as Brett encourages the handclaps while making the first of many trips into the pit area to be with the front row. The recent single “15 Again” is well received as this Southampton crowd starts to move a little. The older fans in the room are rewarded early with the single that started it all off for Suede, the timeless “The Drowners”. I find myself just singing along as if it’s 1992 at Portsmouth Pyramid Centre just along the Coast. A rampant “Animal Nitrate”’ follows and Brett stretches and twists the vocal for depth. “Trash” is announced as a ‘you and us’ song with Brett at pains to describe us all ‘as one’. It sounds as fresh in 2023 as it did in the mid-90s. ‘We Are The Pigs’ completes this early foray into single releases, and despite his years Brett is cavorting around this stage like a teenager – sweat-drenched but nonchalant and in the moment.

Suede 1–2–3–4–5–6–7

When it comes to big singalongs there are none more prominent than “Everything Will Flow” as it opens with its wonderful string section. This crowd find their voice during the chorus. ‘Outsiders’ is new to me while ‘Black Ice and ‘Shadow Self’ return to cuts from the new album, but are no less important. “Black Ice” contains those wonderful chiming guitar notes before Brett’s almost spoken word verses. At this point, the band take a mid-set break as Brett dons an acoustic guitar for a mesmerising solo acoustic rendition of ‘The Wild Ones’. He has the whole room in his palms and one could hear a pin drop, such is the silence being afforded him. Again he twists and ad-libs the vocal, showing a heartfelt passion in his delivery.
The band return once more for “The Only Way I Can Love You”’ with Richard’s (lead guitar) chiming guitar notes bringing in the intro. Matt (bass) at the back looks inconspicuous, barely moving from his spot and almost statuesque. Simon (drums) keeps a steady beat throughout in the engine room while Neil (keys/rhythm guitar) is no less important. However, the show hits a real high point with the stellar single ‘She Still Leads Me On’. Brett sings with an emotion that is conveyed through every person in the room as he sings and sways across the stage. He then takes us down memory lane at this point, asking who attended their first ever Southampton date back in ’92 at ‘The Joiners’? Many hands go up and he looks more than pleased we stuck with them! ‘Can’t Get Enough’ is poignant while “So Young” is yet another big singalong, Brett repeatedly stretches his arms out towards the crowd with the mic and we get the obligatory mic-lead flicks and swirls too. Penultimate track “Metal Mickey” sees this crowd respond with a little more fervour before they depart us on the excellent “New Generation”. And with that the band leave the stage.

The days of Suede not doing encores has thankfully stopped as they return for a brief encounter with “Beautiful Ones”. While other bands of the era have chosen the stadiums for their returns it’s great to see Suede are covering the length and breadth of the UK and selling out the entire tour. If “Autofiction” is their benchmark then there would appear to be plenty left in the tank – we look forward to new material and the accompanying tour schedule. With the current ‘Britpop’ series on Channel 5 keeping everyone alive to that great era and celebrating all that it brought, it’s good to see these “Outsiders” still commanding the top spot.

Set Lists
Suede;
Turn Off Your Brain and Yell
Personality Disorder
15 Again
The Drowners
Animal Nitrate
Trash
We Are the Pigs
He’s Dead
Everything Will Flow
Outsiders
Black Ice
Shadow Self
The Wild Ones (solo acoustic)
The Only Way I Can Love You
She Still Leads Me On
Can’t Get Enough
So Young
Metal Mickey
New Generation