ShareSqueeze performing their 50th Anniversary Tour at The Royal Concert Hall Nottingham On Thursday 17th October 2024.
Images and Review by Kevin Cooper
Fifty years after Chris Difford formed the band with co-song writer, Glenn Tilbrook, Squeeze are back with a new album, The Knowledge and were at the Royal Concert Hall on Thursday night to deliver a timeless set of ageless songs.
Coming on stage wearing outlandish checked suits, they opened with Black Coffee In Bed which had the crowd singing along from the outset whilst an early rendition of their classic single Up The Junction from their 1979 album, Cool For Cats sounded as phenomenal and astonishingly good as it did all those years ago.
New song One Beautiful Summer followed, a tale about finding love in a care home which showcased hilarious lyrics that were instantly recognisable as being the work of guitarist and songwriter Difford.
Tilbrook still manages to belt out Pulling Mussels (From The Shell) as he did with Another Nail In My Heart and Annie Get Your Gun, and with a very tight eight piece band it was everything that the crowd expected of a slick operation that navigated expertly Tilbrook’s vocals.
After Tilbrook’s Trixie’s Hell On Earth the tempo was upped with easily Squeeze’s greatest hits. Goodbye Girl was swiftly followed by Cradle To The Grave before Difford took centre stage for Slap & Tickle. There was a mass sing along to Tempted whilst Cool For Cats still purred with Difford’s voice remaining in great form.
With the lyrics of Labelled With Love still resonating with the crowd, they were ecstatic at the first sound of Hourglass. An extended version of Take Me I’m Yours closed the set and with an extended jam that allowed Squeeze to introduce the rest of the band complete with solos from each member with the military like drums driving the song to a close.
All of their songs are perfectly polished pop songs that have stood the test of time. When reflecting on the great songwriters of British music, you are reminded just how Squeeze have been among the best to do it. Watching the greatest song writing partnership of the 1980’s is still an absolute pleasure.
