Rockers Squeeze make it a night to remember

Dec 10 2007 by Mike Chapple, Liverpool Daily Post

IT WAS a night when ’80s rock fever descended on Liverpool in a wave of nostalgia. Echo and the Bunnymen, Madness and Squeeze all played sell-out concerts as part of Liverpool Music Week (also featuring Kaiser Chiefs and the Chemical Brothers) that were received with a fervour not matched since their relative hey-days.

The level of interest can be gauged by the fact that both Squeeze and the Bunnymen's weekend gigs at the Carling Academy had sold out many months in advance.

It was the former band's appearance on Saturday night at the Philharmonic Hall, however, which had generated the most national interest.

Squeeze – recognised by critics as one of the most perceptive of British pop/rock bands of all – reformed for one final UK tour after years of disagreement and acrimony between the principle songwriters Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford.

And they chose Liverpool to bow out on British mainland soil because, despite being good old Cockney boys, this is the place they feel musically most at home, and where they felt they would find a suitably euphoric reception to match a final farewell.

Indeed, anticipation from both band and audience had been growing since the gig completely sold out seven months ago in May.

Accordingly, immediately prior to Saturday's concert, tickets were fetching three-figure sums on the black market – but they were at a premium as fans were mindful that this was going to be one more of those uniquely special Liverpool nights.

And it came to pass.

Primed by a quirky set from Fife's King Creosote – aka Kenny Anderson and Co – this was a Liverpool audience in excelsis. They were on their feet from the moment the duo – flanked by John Bentley (bass), Simon Hansom (drums) and Stephen Large (keyboards) – trooped on stage.

They were hit with an initial double volley of two of their greatest hits Take Me I'm Yours and Up The Junction, incredibly infectious songs with trademark laconic lyrics that had them singing in the aisles. Faced by this euphoria, Tilbrook, only half joking, offered a refund to anyone still seated who couldn't see.

Unsurprisingly, there were no takers – and, of course, the band’s hits just kept on coming. Among them were classics such as Labelled With Love, a masterpiece of pop melancholia. Tilbrook delivered it with a keening strength and sustain. Elsewhere, Difford did his engaging vocal combination of Del Boy as Lou Reed on the wide-boy Cool For Cats.

Two hours and an almost uncountable number of songs later – culminating in a mass call and response rendition of Black Coffee In Bed – it was over, with the erstwhile enemies standing together on top of the piano clutched together with the rest of their most excellent band applauding the audience.

Will they get back together again on a more permanent basis? Who knows?

But, if they do, the Liverpool audience will have played their part.

Peter Selby, who travelled from Yorkshire, said: "I'd heard Liver- pool audiences were something special, but this was a great night for a last gig – perfect."

And Caroline Oliver, from Wirral, said: "I've been to some great gigs this year at the Philharmonic but this has to be the best. And we're the best!"

mikechapple