After recently going to see Stereophonics at Manchester MEN Arena on their LSVO tour, I have just three words to say about Kelly Jones - Rock and Roll!  He stood in the same stance for the whole set, complete with suitably tight fitting jeans, leather bomber jacket and rather large shades, and just looked so cool.  He captivated the crowd effortlessly (even those not swooning over him as I was, ie. the men).

 

The set started with the track ‘Superman’ from their 5th album (the fourth to hit the no.1 spot) ‘Language.Sex.Violence.Other?’ then the 90 minute+ set took us on a journey through all five albums, with a balance of the more upbeat catchy rock songs, such as ‘Madame Helga’ and ‘Bartender and the Thief’, to the more melodic and reflective ‘Maybe Tomorrow’ and ‘Devil’ which was being offered as a downloadable live track.  Arguably, some of their best tracks were ones I doubted I would ever see live, from their debut 1997 album ‘Word Gets Around’ such as the anthemic ‘1,000 Trees’, a big happy sing-along, to ‘Life is Better than a Tramps Vest’

 

Kelly Jones used many differents guitars, I think there were 6 in all.  The whole sound was so heavy and Kelly plays in such an amazing way that when he started performing 'Maybe Tomorrow' it took me a couple of minutes to realise that the rest of the band had done one and Kelly was going solo.  His voice was so powerful - he didnt hit a wrong note all night, and the guitar sound was so meaty, it was a magnificent performance.

 

A particular highlight for me was the performance of  'Local Boy In The Photograph'.  Its from their first album, and although its probably the most popular track on the album I wasnt sure they would play it, so it was a bit of a bonus.  It is this song that first drew me to the band, and I still remember the first time I heard the track, playing on TV at a bowling alley when I was forteen. 

 

The best moment however had to be the very impressive encore which saw the band closing with the moving and heartfelt ‘Just Looking’, and their recent but first Number 1 hit ‘Dakota’ - my personal favourite from LSVO - which is incredibly catchy and slightly dream-like.  There was so much energy with the song that the whole arena was jumping to the beat.

 

The band were a little cold with the audience in comparison with bands at other live events that I've been to.  Kelly Jones did however share a most comical anecdote about his past as a fruit and veg seller, and meeting this girl one night... which got the crowd laughing and cheering!

 

I left the Manchester Arena with a sore throat, aching feet, hot and sweaty but feeling great, a sure sign of a good gig!