Ian Waller watches British pop icons celebrate their golden anniversary in incredible style
Squeeze at The Forum Bath last night was very possibly the best Bath gig of the year! The British pop icons were back in town to celebrate an amazing 50 years of stellar writing and performing, and judging by this gig, I hope they go on for very many more.
With messers Gifford and Tilbrook front and centre, supported by a fantastic band, this was a trip on the very best high street of music that you can imagine, with hits by the songbookful happily sharing space with new tracks and dusty gems. Really, seriously, it was faultless!
Singer and guitarist Chris Tilbrook stood front and centre with a voice that has lost none of its power, range and pure joy, while also showing what a truly excellent guitar man he has become, knocking out some of the best known riffs in grown-up pop history.
Meanwhile, songwriting guru and fellow singer Chris Difford strolled and strummed with a well deserved air of wonderfulness, his bass vocal vibes bringing a characteristic foil to perfect harmonies of Tilbrook and rest of the band.
And the songs… Well, they were so, so awesome! With Black Coffee In Bed opening the set, the song-writing perfection that is Up The Junction getting a surprisingly early outing and, well so many more sounding as bright and fantastic as always, this was a set perfectly paced gig ,with the classics sharing the spotlight with new compositions that make you just rush out and buy – or download – the new albums.
What was great here was among the note for note performances were a few that had been tweaked just enough to make that sound doubly fantastic, none better than an accordion backed Annie Get Your Gun that was the absolute highlight of the night.
Yes, you get it – I loved this gig, and so did the packed audience of 50 and 60 somethings, singing along, dancing in the aisles and just doubling down on how, in certain ways anyway, back when we were kids we never had it so good.
Thank you Squeeze – please come back again soon!
For details of more upcoming gigs at The Forum Bath, go to www.bathforum.co.uk