“So; the Bluetones. Do you think they’re an example of Brit-pop ‘survivors?’” As I stand idly in the queue for Koko in Camden, a young, enthusiastic and apparently guileless amateur journalist for winkball.com waylays me and my boyfriend. I’m not prepared for questions. After all, I bought these tickets for my boyfriend as a treat.
What do I know about The Bluetones being “Brit-pop survivors”? I mean, I’ve always liked The Bluetones, but tonight I’m only popping along for the ride. That and to make sure I’m in my man’s good books for the next few weeks.
But, as we order our first drinks from the bar, the question ways on my mind. Despite the fact that their break through single, “Slight Return”, was first released in 1995, in the halcyon days of the jangle and swagger of Blur and Oasis, the truth is that The ‘Tones have never been a band that are defined by any era.
The fact of the matter is, The Bluetones might not fashionable but they are very definitely stylish. Most people consider The Bluetones to have died out before the start of millenium but they couldn’t be more wrong. Still a jobbing band after fifteen years with thirteen top forty singles and three top ten albums, Mark and the gang are tenaciously holding onto their loyal followers.
These ‘followers’ are plain to see tonight. As Harry and I find a place behind the mixing desk (with an excellent view and coveted enough to allow no surreptitious sneaking off for fags), the sheer enthusiasm of the crowd is tacitly evident. And Koko is certainly the ideal venue to house the sort of intimate gig that perfectly suits indie stylings. As the opening chords of ‘Bluetonic’ reverberate around the venue, every body starts to sway. After all, you can’t ‘mosh’ to the ‘Tones.
Mark’s vocals, though characterised by his distinctively higher timbre, ache with a deeper richness that can only come from an old hand at the mic, whilst Adam, Scott and Ed provide a dependable and tight backing, delivering the cheery funk which defines The Bluetones’s sound.
Following their opening trio of popular classics (‘Bluetonic’, ‘Marblehead Johnson’ and ‘Hope and Jump’), Morriss, Morriss, Devlin and Chesters hit the ready crowd with material from their sixth studio album (not yet released) and shrewdly follow each new offering up with more memorables such as ‘Mudslide’, ‘Four Day Weekend’, ‘Slight Return’ and ‘Head On A Spike.’
Watching the crowd of diehard fans singing along to the final song “Keep The Home Fires Burning,” a single which hit the charts nine years ago, it reminds me that, in a city where gigs are often just an excuse to see the ‘latest thing’, it’s certainly refreshing to see people who genuinely love the band and the music and have probably done so for years. And their cult following knows only too well that a band with true longevity, charisma and steadfast skill can inspire a following for life.
So in answer to our erstwhile ingenuous hack, no I don’t think The Bluetones are Brit-pop survivors. They’re just a damn good band with a loyal faction of fans who will provide them with an audience for many years to come.
...Damn, if only I'd said that at the time...
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