1,291 THE WONDER STUFF, Ian Prowse, Southampton The 1865, Wednesday 26th July 2023

 

Quite an eventful one, this, and not all for the right reasons, but first, here’s my intro blurb…

The Wonder Stuff’s recent original album celebration odyssey reaches a conclusion with this “ID30T” tour, commemorating the 30^th Anniversary release of their 4^th and final first-time-round album, “Construction For The Modern Idiot”… Hot on the heels of their most commercial (and arguably successful) release, “Never Loved Elvis”, this one toned down “Elvis”’ flippant fiddly diddly indie pop tuneage just a tad, in favour of a more studious, streamlined and rockier sound evidenced on darker, more dynamic leadoff single “On The Ropes”, which remains my favourite Wonder Stuff track, and was supposed to catapult them to arena (and possibly higher) status. Unfortunately, it did the opposite, the subsequent 1994 mega “Idiot Manoeuvres” tour (on which I saw them 3 times, largely due to the presence of my favourites Gigolo Aunts as support act) sadly precipitating the band’s initial breakup later that year. Happily, though, they’re now back with us, and have of late established themselves as one of the most reliable and thrilling “live” acts of the past few years (particularly at “Shiiine On”, where main-man Miles Hunt is a regular presence, either with the band or solo). Plus, we’ve seen them do the other 3 albums, so we’re not about to miss this one, right?

 A minor wrist operation earlier today, requiring both regional (block) and general anaesthesia (more on that later!) precluded me from driving, so Rachel took the reins, the 3 of us (Logan in tow for two gigs in two nights!) picking up fellow Stuffies devotee Robynne for the usual swifter than expected drive down to the South Coast, parking up just round the corner from the venue and heading in for 7.30, just as the support took the stage. Not the Gigolo Aunts this time, sadly; however Ian Prowse, frontman of 90’s Celtic-tinged folky rockers Pele and a man who humorously (I hope!) called me a cunt at Shiine On 2017 (!) admirably stepped up, duetting with virtuoso violinist Laura McMillan (AKA the Great Macca of Stirling, according to Prowsey). Sandwiched between a couple of jaunty, fiddly-diddly Pele numbers (“Fair Blows The Wind For France” and “Fireworks”) was an excellent “My Name Is Dessie Warren”, an upbeat yet hard-hitting old school class struggle anthem reminiscent of The Men They Couldn’t Hang, plus plenty of chat and bonhomie from a voluble Prowse (including a fine tribute to tonight’s headliners; “how the hell do you open up for one of the greatest UK bands of all time?”). A splendid vignette ended with the usual barbed anti-Sun comment (“I can see by your kindly beautiful faces that none of you would stoop so low as to read that fucking rag”), before a heart-rending final singalong to “Does This Train Stop On Merseyside?”. Lovely stuff, once again!

 The Stuffies themselves were due on in short order thereafter at 8.30, however technical issues delayed their arrival until 8.45, by which the place (surely sold out on the night) was fit to burst. They opened with a jaggedly rhythmic “Change Every Lightbulb”, Miles taking the stage last and bellowing the hook through a bullhorn, then “I Wish Them All Dead” was strident, savage and utterly superb. “We’ve got the dark ones out of the way; now let’s have some fun!” quipped Milo before a boisterous “Cabin Fever” (announcing at its’ conclusion, “that should have been a hit single – you’ll be hearing THAT from me a lot tonight!”) and by this point I’m already thinking, these “Idiot” songs sound absolutely blistering “live”! How the hell is it that more of them don’t feature as part of their regular set???

 Well, apparently not everyone shared my views, according to Miles, who later referenced, “two assholes on the internet who have pissed me off,” by complaining about The Stuffies playing, “awful songs from their worst album,” on this tour. Well, bunkies, you couldn’t be more wrong! “Full Of Life” fully lived up to its title, as celebratory and life-affirming as anything on display tonight, and a frankly astonishing “On The Ropes” totally blew the doors off, with a rendition as good as I’ve ever – EVER – seen The Wonder Stuff play my favourite Wonder Stuff song. A later, poignant “Sing The Absurd” was also a surprisingly emotive highlight, before a couple of overlooked yet still excellent “B” sides rounded off the “Idiot”-centric first set splendidly, completely underlining the validity of doing this tour.

 Then things unfortunately went a little South for me… I suddenly realised that the mixture of a packed sweaty rock venue and double anaesthesia isn’t necessarily a good one, and, feeling distinctly faint, sought some fresh air, ultimately propping myself outside in the rain in the care of the doormen… Rach grabbed me some sugary drinks and I ultimately ventured back inside, but only just, and I was firmly installed on the cloakroom girl’s stool, right at the back of the venue, as The Stuffies returned for set 2 of the night. Running 20 minutes late at this point, Miles eschewed the chat to concentrate on the rock; a galloping “No For The 13^th Time” was followed by the sweeping hometown paean “Caught In My Shadow” and fiddle-tastic singalong “Golden Green”, the tumbling circular violin riff of “Here Comes Everyone” was a late highlight, then The Stuffies ploughed through the encores to keep to curfew with a rambunctious “Unbearable” and shuddering “Ten Trenches Deep”. The band were clearly on absolute top form; a shame I wasn’t!

 We all met up afterwards, Logan having enjoyed himself in the mosh, and I chatted briefly with facebook friend Pete Cole outside before a difficult journey home up an utterly awash A34 and M4. Still groggy, I spent most of the next day in bed! So, an eventful one indeed, although an inescapable conclusion from tonight is that “Construction For The Modern Idiot” is a great album fully worthy of its’ place in the Wonder Stuff canon, and of being deservedly given its’ time in the spotlight on this tour. As for the rest, I’ll just have to make sure I’m fully fit for when The Stuffies doubtless smash it all up at Shiiine On in November!