The Wonder Stuff: Thekla

Friday 4th July 2008

This is a Crackerjack review of The Wonder Stuff. Do you agree? Rate and review this event.

Crackerjack rating: 8 / 10.

Even if you'd never been to Bristol before it wouldn't have been too difficult to find the Thekla last night - all you had to do was follow one of the multitude of Wonder Stuff T-shirts of varying vintage that were making their way to the harbourside venue.

Miles Hunt may have a reputation for being a cantankerous git, and a couple of punters caught the sharp end of his tongue (it's not a great idea to shout out song titles when Miles is telling a story), but he certainly knows how to please a crowd.

The band started with the mid-period Mission Drive and it was a cheering sight to see an audience full of thirty-somethings singing along to every word with the enthusiasm of giddy teenagers.

These were loyal fans, rather than the fickle pop kids who bought Dizzy in droves, and accordingly it was a set heavy with tracks from their first two albums that included Golden Green, Cartoon Boyfriend, A Wish Away and Don't Let Me Down, Gently.

Surprisingly, they did play Size Of A Cow, albeit after mocking the person who’d requested it, although it was the only song in the set that hasn’t aged well.

The crowd predictably loved every second of it, and created a lively but civilised mosh pit that never saw a lull.

Towards the front a trio of women were jumping up and down and hugging one another whenever one of their favourite tracks was played - which was virtually every song.

Relatively new violinist Erica looked incongruous with her pretty dress and electric violin: you do wonder what she must make of it all given that she was only learning to walk when most of the audience here were buying their vinyl copies of Hup.

October marks the 20 year anniversary of their debut The Eight Legged Groove Machine, and they played four of its tunes for their encore including the deliriously good Unbearable. With its catchy tune and caustic lyric (“I didn't like you very much when I met you, and now I like you even less”), it's the perfect encapsulation of the Wonder Stuff’s enduring appeal.

Support came from Bristol's The Weary Band, who are as serious as the Wonder Stuff are fun. Not a criticism, as they've got a fantastic collection of songs, let down though by a slightly underwhelming vocal.

Helen Sloan

This is a Crackerjack review of The Wonder Stuff. Do you agree? Rate and review this event.