Live Review: Happy Mondays at the O2 City Hall
Words and Photos by Adam Kennedy
A trio of indie legends arrived on Tyneside on Friday evening for an unforgettable night at the O2 City Hall. The bill was topped by Mancunian outfit the Happy Mondays, who were accompanied by peers and friends from the 90s music scene.
The Stereo MCs were the first band of the evening. With their bass-heavy rhythms and euphoric beats, the group delivered a set which perfectly got the party started on a Friday night. It's good to see that after all these years this trio of bands have remained Connected, if you will excuse the pun. The aforementioned anthem featured in the set along with classics such as Step It Up. The Stereo MC's 30-minute set left the crowd wanting more.
During a week that has seen Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher and the Stone Roses guitarist John Squire perform on this very stage, it seemed only fitting that the Inspiral Carpets and the Happy Mondays would round out a Manchester-themed week in the North East.
Early in their set, the Inspiral Carpets declared their love for the region and how it was fantastic to be back here again. And the feeling from the Tyneside audience was mutual. Stalwarts Graham Lambert, Stephen Holt and Clint Boon still feature from the early Inspiral Carpet’s lineup, but it was great to see the next generation taking part with Clint's son Oscar Boon featuring on bass. Highlights of the set included I Want You, This Is How It Feels and the unmistakable Saturn 5. As the evening progressed, The Inspiral Carpets were the perfect precursor to Happy Mondays.
From the moment the Happy Mondays took the stage, the crowd was in Manchester heaven. The band got their set underway with Kinky Afro. Rowetta led the charge replete with tasselled pompons, which later became a prized souvenir for a fan in the front row. The singer's voice sounded incredible.
God's Cop and Donovan followed shortly after and were interspersed by on-stage banter between Shaun Ryder and Bez as they reminisced about tracks in the set. The pair bounced off each other all night long.
Bez is an enigma. The Monday’s talisman constantly prowled the edge of the stage whilst grasping his maracas and firing up the crowd. There was nothing but love for the iconic dancer.
Recommended reading:
- Liam Gallagher and John Squire at 02 City Hall, Newcastle
- Banging tunes promised at North East funk and soul house party
- Judas Priest, Saxon and Uriah Heep Live at the First Direct Arena, Leeds
The band took the crowd back to the 80s with numbers like Mad Cyril, Tart Tart and Rave On. The infectious groove of each song in the set had the Newcastle audience moving throughout. The instantly recognisable intro to Hallelujah transported the audience back to the days of the Hacienda, Manchester’s iconic nightclub.
The Happy Monday’s set featured several tracks from the band’s seminal album Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches, with Bob's Yer Uncle and Step On featuring towards the end of the set. The show would not be complete without the anthemic 24 Hour Party People.
The Happy Mondays set list was like the soundtrack to Newcastle's student and indie discos over the years. The show was packed with anthems. Friday night's headline set from the Happy Mondays provided a wonderful dose of nostalgia from one of Manchester's most iconic outfits. Like a line from the song Loose Fit, the Happy Mondays still 'sounds good to me'.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here