It is difficult to believe that it is 15 years since Brit- Pop hit its heady heights. However, it is and to reiterate the point The Bluetones, one of the scene’s favourite bands, are embarking on their farewell tour.
The tour also coincides with the 15th anniversary of their most well received album Expecting To Fly.
The Bluetones biggest hit was Slight Return and it has become the song most synonymous with the band.
Possibly bitter- sweet for The Bluetones as even though it is largely due to the commercial success of this song that they have been able to sustain 15 years in the notoriously difficult music industry, the flip side is that it has also overshadowed their other songs, which are equally as good- always a frustrating conundrum for a band.
The O2 Academy 2 is tonight sold out, which is testament to how well liked The Bluetones are.
Taking to the stage Mark Morriss looks no different now to 15 years ago, who said the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle ages you? Erm, Keith Richards?!
After a random snippet of Chris de Burgh’s The Lady in Red – yes, you read that right- the band play their most well known song.
Morriss introduces the song saying ‘This is a song that the Italians like to call Slight Return’; needless to say it is a crowd pleaser.
However, the rest of the band’s back catalogue really should not be overlooked with songs such as: the beautiful Surrendered, as well as indie stormers Cut Some Rug and Marblehead Johnson.
There is also: Slack Jaw, Bluetonic, Solomon Bites the Worm, and Never Going Nowhere - all are quality songs that stand up in their own right.
So, it does beg the question that with so many great tunes under their belt, why have so many of these songs slipped under the radar?
Simply put, I assume, it is because bands that deserve recognition don’t always receive that recognition and therefore become highly under-rated.
The Bluetones latest album, A New Athens, was released in May 2010 and although it didn’t chart in the UK album charts, such a recent release highlights the on-going productivity of the band.
But let it be known there are some good tunes on that album such as Carry Me Home, which the band treat us to tonight.
Unfortunately, the nature of the music industry is that you are only as good as your last hit, which is completely unfair and in no way musician friendly.
So, whilst heinous unit shifting acts such as Justin Bieber, Cheryl Cole and so forth are crudely forced upon us, bands like The Bluetones - who are genuine musicians - are forced to bow out of the music industry.
As the band prepares to leave the stage they appreciatively thank the crowd for their support over the years.
With recent songs like Carry Me Home emphasizing the fact that the band still has a lot to offer it is sad to see them calling it a day after surviving 15 years in the music industry.
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