Post by Admin on Dec 11, 2012 9:28:11 GMT
THE summer of 2012 saw Madness confirmed as national treasures.
Their appearance on the roof of Buckingham Palace in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee concert, and then at the London Olympics closing ceremony, saw their profile at a career high.
Saturday saw the cheeky-chappy septet at a near sold-out Arena on the last night of their current tour.
The lively, pre-Christmas crowd were in the mood to party with many decked out in a Madness-style fez or a rude-boy suit.
The band kicked off with a triple salvo of numbers from ska heaven with One Step Beyond, Embarrassment and The Prince.
The last few years have seen chart success and critical acclaim for Madness with the albums The Liberty of Norton Folgate and Oui Oui Si Si Ja Ja Da Da, so the new numbers, like How Can I Tell You, went down well. But it was songs from the late-70s/early-80s that the audience had come to see, with the likes of My Girl, Wings of a Dove and Shut Up turning the Arena’s bouncing crowd into something akin to Newcastle United’s Gallowgate End circa 1983.
Suggs was full of chat in between numbers, remembering the band’s early shows at Newcastle’s City Hall.
And indeed, the impressive light show, lasers and giant video screens at the Arena reminded you how far Madness had come.
The show culminated in a flurry of greatest hits that brought the house down, with House of Fun, Baggy Trousers, Our House, and It Must Be Love all rolling back the years.
There was a breathless encore section, including the manic Night Boat To Cairo, and it was goodnight Madness. We’ll no doubt see you next December.
Yet another good one.
Jim
Their appearance on the roof of Buckingham Palace in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee concert, and then at the London Olympics closing ceremony, saw their profile at a career high.
Saturday saw the cheeky-chappy septet at a near sold-out Arena on the last night of their current tour.
The lively, pre-Christmas crowd were in the mood to party with many decked out in a Madness-style fez or a rude-boy suit.
The band kicked off with a triple salvo of numbers from ska heaven with One Step Beyond, Embarrassment and The Prince.
The last few years have seen chart success and critical acclaim for Madness with the albums The Liberty of Norton Folgate and Oui Oui Si Si Ja Ja Da Da, so the new numbers, like How Can I Tell You, went down well. But it was songs from the late-70s/early-80s that the audience had come to see, with the likes of My Girl, Wings of a Dove and Shut Up turning the Arena’s bouncing crowd into something akin to Newcastle United’s Gallowgate End circa 1983.
Suggs was full of chat in between numbers, remembering the band’s early shows at Newcastle’s City Hall.
And indeed, the impressive light show, lasers and giant video screens at the Arena reminded you how far Madness had come.
The show culminated in a flurry of greatest hits that brought the house down, with House of Fun, Baggy Trousers, Our House, and It Must Be Love all rolling back the years.
There was a breathless encore section, including the manic Night Boat To Cairo, and it was goodnight Madness. We’ll no doubt see you next December.
Yet another good one.
Jim
