Madness with special guest Squeeze performing their Ladykillers Tour at The Motorpoint Arena Nottingham on Tuesday 14th December 2021


Images and Review by Kevin Cooper

It must be nearly Christmas because Madness rolled into town on Tuesday night to start the festivities at the Motorpoint Arena. And with the brilliant Squeeze as their support act, the Arena filled up early.

Usually touring as a headline act in their own right Squeeze opened with a selection of their own familiar songs such as Take Me I’m Yours, Up The Junction and Hourglass, all of which were instant sing alongs. Labelled With Love, Pulling Mussels (From The Shell) and Tempted were all very well received and Glenn Tilbrook’s pitch perfect voice were offset by the gravelly growling of Chris Difford who provided the grit for Cool For Cats.

With the lights dimming it seemed that the Arena could not get any louder, but when a single spotlight highlighted a red telephone box at the side of the stage with Suggs inside, a deafening roar erupted. Not needing to complete the opening intro to One Step Beyond because the crowd did it for him, front man Suggs started the party.

Having been around for over forty years, there is no denying that they still know how to put on a show with giants like Embarrassment, The Prince and a lovely reworked My Girl all appearing within the first six songs. And with a red post box, a London Underground Tube station and a few terraced houses with videos playing through the windows, there was always something to see.

As expected Baggy Trousers, Our House and main set closer It Must Be Love received the biggest reaction from the crowd who knew all the words whilst encore song, a cover of Prince Buster’s Madness had middle aged men dancing like teenagers. And when they closed with the barmy Night Boat To Cairo, both Madness and their fans showed that they are still able to have their nutty moments.