Squeeze

One of the television highlights of 2015 has been "Cradle To Grave", a light-hearted slab of early 70's nostalgia that has seen Danny Baker's adolescent adventures brought to the screen. Responsible for much of the show's jaunty soundtrack is one of the world's finest songwriting partnerships, Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook, who, with "Cradle To The Grave" have released the first album of new material under the Squeeze banner since 1998's "Domino".

Wednesday evening found the band at Sage Gateshead towards the tail end of a successful UK tour proving that like a fine wine, they just get better with age. While Difford and Tilbrook remain Squeeze's core, both drummer Simon Hanson and keyboardist Stephen Large are familiar faces to Squeeze fans and they have been joined by Lucy Shaw on bass and, for much of the set, Melvin Duffy on pedal steel guitar.

Opening with a high tempo trio of "Hourglass", "Is That Love" and "Another Nail In My Heart" the band were quickly into their stride, and while the usual parade of tried and trusted pop perfection was offered - "Labelled With Love", "Goodbye Girl", "Black Coffee in Bed", "Some Fantastic Place", "Tempted", "Pulling Mussels" - Squeeze were justifiably pleased to bring us plenty of new songs from "Cradle To The Grave".

Introducing, "Happy Days", Tilbrook commented how nice it was to hear a new song of theirs being played on the radio after all these years and, truth be told, both "Happy Days" and the title track are classic Squeeze songs that could hold their own on any Squeeze album regardless of era. But it was also nice to hear several other tracks from the new album such as "Everything", "Open", "Only 15" and "Nirvana" too and cover versions of Jeannie C. Reilly's "Harper Valley PTA" and Tom Waits' "I Don't Wanna Grow Up" were a pleasant surprise. Squeeze are also happy to trawl their catalogue and pull out some "deep" cuts such as "The Elephant Ride" from 1982's "Sweets From A Stranger" album, performed here solo by Tilbrook on the wurlitzer organ and "The Truth" from 1991's "Play".

Mid-set, Difford invited the audience to leave their seats and move around a little to "Slap and TIckle"' and from that point everyone remained on their feet until the final numbers - singalong versions of "Cool For Cats" and "Take Me I'm Yours" the latter of which, to the crowd's delight saw the band members swap their instruments for acoustics and wander off the side of the stage, along the front row and out through the audience to the lobby where they took some seats and held a meet and greet and signing session.

Opening for Squeeze was the punk-poet himself, Dr John Cooper Clarke. Almost certainly one of the few people whose silhouette looks exactly as it did back in 1977, JCC proved a real crowd pleaser cracking jokes and performing a number of pieces including "I Wanna Be Yours", "Beasley Street" and "Evidently Chickentown" all of which can be found on his new compilation "Anthologia" as well as newer material such as "Trouble at Mall".

I was wonderfully surprised by the quality of the show. The band has had it's up's and downs in recent time but both Glen Tilbrook and Chris Difford lead a tight band including 2 drummers, 2 keyboards, accordion, steele guitar, etc. (special mention to Simon Hanson on drums) through 23 songs across the wide spectrum of their albums from Squeeze to the most recent, The Knowledge.

They covered the hits of course but also were not shy about going deeper, it was an almost perfect setlist. You realize how prolific their writing is over time. The casual fan knows Tempted and a few others, but as they opened with Footprints (Babylon and On), perfect vibe to open with, continued staying away from biggest albums until song 4-Pulling Muscles. Other notable moments The Day I Got Home(Play), a slower matured version of King George St (Cosi Fan Tutti Fruti), perfect renditions of early hits Up The Junction and Goodbye Girl and a thumping set closure with If I Didn't Love You which the entire band were perfectly in sync and blowing the doors off the Holland Center.

Glen Tilbrook (in his 60's?) voice was outstanding, hit everything, I thought I had time-traveled back to 1982. The acoustic version of smash hit Tempted was right on the mark, bring the Hammond B-3 organ sound at the end forming a powerful conclusion to a simplified start including an audience sing-along. There was another 10-15 great songs they could have played but I can't complain with what they laid out. Some Fantastic Place the most notable song left out, There at the Top, and I held out for Striking Matches (a potentially perfect live song). I also valued hearing Loves Crashing Waves from Difford & Tilbrook solo effort (better than critics gave them credit for).

Difford and Tilbrook were the only original members. I was a giant fan of Gilson Lavis on drums with the original keyboardist Jools Holland-tremendous stage presence/entertainer but the backup band was excellent -tight, it all worked beautifully.

KT Tunstall was a strong opener. It was my first visit to the Holland Center in Omaha and it is a great concert hall, better than anything we have in Kansas City, great sightlines, acoustics, and professional staff.

Please reacquaint yourself with this band, best songwriters of a generation, the depth of their work is what most do not realize.

Squeeze Squeeze came on the seen in the earlier 80’s and it didn’t take long for the London act to gain a cult following. In a similar style to other iconic London bands such as Madness and The Jam they wonderful crafted songs telling the stories of their every day working class lives. In a happy ‘tongue in cheek’ way they sing about all the highs and lows, mischief, troubled romances and many more issues one may come across. Anyone can surely listen to the songs and smile in recognition of such experiences.
The band was made up of Difford and Tilbrook, two wonderfully talented lyricists and songwriters, not to mention an extremely underrated guitarist in Tilbrook. Then with Lavis on drums, who was considered one of the best drummers at the time and Jools Holland on Keys, they had all the tools to make them infamous! They got themselves a reputation for being a wonderful live act. With all the members full of energy and with a repertoire of chart topper such as, Pulling Mussels’ ‘Slap and Tickle’ and ‘Up The Junction’ they are a spectacle l not to be missed. A class, feel good British band! One of the best of the 80’s!

They started off with great energy and the 1st 5 songs were really well played. The set then took a bit of a nose-dive, then they got back into the swing of things with a fabulous rendition of 'Labelled with Love' - that was followed by a a whole string of hits (a couple of covers, and two newer songs which were excellent 'Cradle to the Grave' and 'Happy Days') - culminating with Cool for Cats and Take me I'm Yours for the encore.
We had a really good view of the band and they were in good spirits - overall and excellent evening out to see one of Britains best ever pop bands. Highly recommended to catch them before they decide to quite forever.

The set list is pretty much the same as the one that can be found here: http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/squeeze/2015/indigo2-london-england-33f450f1.html

Holy shit that show was better than anticipated. Might have been the youngest person in the crowd. Expected a bunch of seat-ridden geriatrics but Squeeze got them off their asses. Everyone was up by Cool for Cats. Tempted about brought down the house.
Time has killed most groups that have been around this long, for squeeze it has only made them more delectable like a fine wine. That last part I'm just guessing I'm the douche in the crowd with a PBR.

Also their opening band was Look Park. Never had heard of them but the voice was familiar. Now I know. Wish they had created a song called Stacy's Grandma.
Met Bernie Sanders brother after the show. Found it was the guitarist for Look Park. Badass.

Keep rocking folks. I'll keep listening.

Following a superb opening set by 9 Below Zero in support , enter stage right Squeeze. The band has enjoyed and rightly so considering the huge songwriting skills of Tillbrook and Difford a huge resurgence of popularity. Taking many songs from the new album The Knowledge, which were rightly well received , and surrounding with old classics was a balance that worked . Came away thinking they might not be in the first flush of youth but the energy and sheer songwriting power lifts this band into lofty heights . I just hope those there on the day were aware of what they just witnessed , genius of master craftsmen at the top of their game ! If they come to your town just go you owe to yourself you work hard ; this is entertainment !

Thoroughly enjoyed the gig. Played all my old favourites and many others as well.
For me the sound wasn't quite right, I always enjoyed their lyrics but at times the music drowned out the vocals which I think is down to the mixing gurus. I also felt they hit every song hard which worked for many but not for all off them.

My highlights were Labelled with Love (I could hear the lyrics) Slap & Tickle (which was just Glen and Chris - felt they could have done the whole gig this way and it would have been awesome) Cool for Cats and Take me I'm yours which has always been a favourite.

All in all an enjoyable night out and a must for all Squeeze fans as they played songs that they hadn't done live for years....

6/10

Pretty mixed feelings here.
-Squeeze had a lot of less well known songs for the first 2/3 of the show. And most of those pieces were frankly a bit boring and low energy IMO. [I realize bands want to play other songs than their hits from 35 years ago. But I just wasn't excited about most of the songs they selected.]
-The last 1/3 of the show they played many well known Squeeze songs and a couple of Difford & Tilbrook songs. Most of these would be songs up to "Babylon and On" album ('88). The band was very tight on all of these songs. This was much more enjoyable.
-"Black Coffee In Bed" as their final song is a fine choice. I wasn't thrilled with the jam band session the song turned in to.

Show was great. After SO many years and thousands of shows the band was very enthusiastic and seemed to be having great fun. The crowd was VERY into it, so much so that Tillford kept thanking the audience for it's enthusiasm. They played a good variety of songs and hit all the big hits. X was really good too - I didn't realize they were opening and that was a big bonus. That said, the venue itself is well organized, fairly clean, and fun. However, the acoustics, at least so the stage level, were pretty bad, very little accuracy and balance to the vocals and low to mid bass was very mushy and the treble (high guitars, etc.) were very weak. Impact of drums and stuff were good.

What can we say? Saw Squeeze for the first time at Camp Bestival in 2016 and promised ourselves we would see them again as we loved them so much and were in touching distance of them! Saw them at Symphony Hall in Birmingham on Friday 6 October and they were as amazing as we had remembered. To see and hear them at their own gig for a full two hours was wonderful. Two hours of hits and new songs and energy and Glenn and Chris! Wow! Wonderful, fantastic, amazing we would see them again and again and again. Looking forward to hearing the new album and will defo be booking tickets for their next tour. Well done boys and your lady bass player!! YOU WERE AND ARE AMAZING!!