ShareStereophonics performing their Oochya! Tour at The Motorpoint Arena Nottingham on Wednesday 30th March 2022
Images and Review by Kevin Cooper
For three decades the timeless Stereophonics have been entertaining their adoring fans with their vast array of hits and Wednesday night was no exception at The Motorpoint Arena as they tour to promote their eighth studio album Oochya!
But the night started with a set from Scottish singer songwriter, KT Tunstall who is a superb headliner in her own right. As her distinctively husky voice filled the Arena, the crowd roared in appreciation as she belted out hits like Other Side Of The World and Hold On. Getting the verses mixed up on Black Horse And The Cherry Tree she segued it with a cover of Eurythmics Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) which went down a treat.
There was an acoustic version of Stereophonics Pick A Part That’s New before set closer Suddenly I See left the crowd wanting more as she left the stage to rapturous applause.
When the lights dimmed the crowd responded accordingly, and front man Kelly Jones, bassist Richard Jones, guitarist Adam Zindani, drummer Jamie Morrison and touring member Tony Kirkham on piano, didn’t waste any time.
Opening with new song Do You Feel My Love, Jones walked out to the centre of the crowd via a catwalk. His voice sounded better than ever as he launched into 2015 hit, C’est La Vie with its pop heavy chorus and the beautiful I Wanna Get Lost With You which set the tone for a show that ricocheted between rock and stripped back ballads.
He returned to the main stage for classics Maybe Tomorrow which induced an early sing along, Fly Like An Eagle and Geronimo before delivering a fantastic rendition of All I Have Is You that built up to a real crescendo and was followed by the lovely Leave The Light On which saw the Arena swathed by lit phones.
Traffic and the ethereal Billy Davy’s Daughter from their 1997 debut album Word Gets Around, elicited cheers and whistles, and when Morrison was let loose on the drums there was an explosive climax to Mr And Mrs Smith. Mr Writer saw the crowd singing along and musically it was one of the most powerful moments of the night.
They slowed things down for a cover of Mike D’Abo’s Handbags And Gladrags that saw Kirkham come into his own on the piano, before they rounded the set off with a high energy performance of The Bartender And The Thief.
With an encore of Grafitti On The Train, Make Friend With The Morning and Dakota, a classic that no Stereophonic gig would be complete without, they had delivered a rock show that proved that there is no stopping them yet.
