Wonder Stuff - Leadmill, Sheffield, 12/3/2005
by Denzil Watson
published: 21 / 3 / 2005
intro
18 years on from last seeing them, Denzil Watson at the Sheffield Leadmill finds that time has been kind to the reformed Wonder Stuff and vocalist and chief protagonist, back on the road to promote their new album 'Escape from Rubbish Island'
Back in the fall of 1988 I clapped eyes on the Stuffies for the first time. In the throes of their 'Eight Legged Groove Machine' tour and supporting the release of their major label debut for Polydor. the Leadmill was packed to the rafters with sweat dripping from the ceiling. Tonight, 18 years on, it's equally as rammed albeit with a slightly older but no less exuberant clientele. The cynics amongst us could be forgiven for asking whether this all just another ill-advised 80/90's nostalgia trip by some 40- somethings fed up with the day job. Certainly original drummer and bassist Martin Gilks and Martin Bell are none too pleased with the band's current incarnation, having been left in the cold, to leave Miles Hunt and Malcolm Treece as the sole founder members. But this is more than a retread of old material for a bit of ready cash and more of a chance to see one of the UK's most underrated bands from yesteryear. Time has certainly been kind to vocalist and chief protagonist Miles Hunt. The flowing locks have long since gone but the Johnny Rotten-like glint in the eyes still remains. The set unwinds with songs from their recently released new album 'Escape from Rubbish Island'. The title track and 'Bile Chant' kick ass with the trademark musical hooks and lyrical barbs of Wonder Stuff material of old. Mid-set the band are joined on fiddle by the rather gorgeous Erica Nockalls for a hat-trick of tunes from the band's 'Never Loved Elvis' era. It brings a distinctively Irish flavour to proceedings, steering the band into waters previously chartered by the Pogues. It also provides the first of several high points in the evening's set in the shape of a rousing version of 'Here Comes Everyone'. More hits follow. 'Don't Bring Me Down' heralds bouts of pogoing and 'Circlesquare' yields the best lyric of the night ("I've been a long term disappointment to myself"). Unsurprisingly though, the most tumultuous reception is reserved for the 'Eight Legged Groove Machine' material - still, arguably, one of the best debuts by a British band. 'Poison', 'Ruby Horse' and 'A Wish Away' sound as fresh and ascorbic as when they were first unleashed on Thatcher's Britain back in the late 80's. And there's even the reappearance of Hunt’s infamous megaphone for a scathing reading of 'Donation'. Encoring with more 'Groove Machine' material, the acoustic indie punk of 'Unbearable' and "Give Give Give Me More More More' provide the backdrop for more frenzied moshing down the front before 'Room 410' from the 'Hup' album brings a close on proceedings. Dated and irrelevant in the 21st century? Far from it. Time to dust off your old Stuffies albums and reappraise Stourbridge's finest, and, perhaps even shell out on the new LP. The photographs that accompany this article were taken by John Harris and appear on his website http://www.livephotos.homestead.com
Band Links:-
http://www.thewonderstuff.co.uk/https://www.facebook.com/thewonderstuffofficial/
https://twitter.com/thewonder_stuff
https://www.youtube.com/user/TheWonderStuffUK
https://www.instagram.com/thewonderstuffofficial/
Picture Gallery:-
interviews |
Interview with Miles Hunt (2012) |
Paul Waller speaks to Miles Hunt, the front man with bestselling 90's act the Wonder Stuff, about their current 'From the Midlands with Love’ cover singles project; forthcoming first album in eight years, and the break-up of the first line-up of the band at the height of their fame |
Interview with Miles Hunt (2004) |
soundcloud
reviews |
Oh No...It's the Wonder Stuff (2013) |
Superb double CD comeback record from the Wonder Stuff, which consists of an album each of both covers and original material |
most viewed articles
current edition
Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies - Sala Apolo, Barcelona, 29/11/2023 and La Paqui, Madrid, 30/11/2023Anthony Phillips - Interview
Difford and Tilbrook - Difford and Tilbrook
Rain Parade - Interview
Oldfield Youth Club - Interview
Autumn 1904 - Interview
Shaw's Trailer Park - Interview
Cafe No. 9, Sheffield and Grass Roots Venues - Comment
Chris Hludzik - Vinyl Stories
Pete Berwick - ‘Too Wild to Tame’: The story of the Boyzz:
previous editions
Microdisney - The Clock Comes Down the StairsWorld Party - Interview
World Party - Interview with Karl Wallinger
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EP
Ain't That Always The Way - Alan Horne After The Sound of Young Scotland 2
Steve Harley - Interview
Dwina Gibb - Interview
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
Ruts - Life After Death ? : A Profile
Leprous - Photoscapes
most viewed reviews
current edition
Serious Sam Barrett - A Drop of the Morning DewMarika Hackman - Big Sigh
Rod Stewart and Jools Holland - Swing Fever
Loves - True Love: The Most of The Loves
Ian M Bailey - We Live in Strange Times
Paul McCartney and Wings - Band on the Run
Autumn 1904 - Tales of Innocence
Roberta Flack - Lost Takes
Banter - Heroes
Posey Hill - No Clear Place to Fall
related articles |
Miles Hunt and Erica Nockalls: Live Review (2017 |
Nicky Crewe watches Miles Hunt and Erica Nockalls play a humorous and acoustic set of Wonder Stuff classics and songs from their new CD, 'We Came Here to Work'. |
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart