A review from 5D Music & Theatre writer Maria Robertson.
Photos by Dod Morrison Photography https://www.dodmorrison.com/
Finn Forster was the support, and I spent most of his set trying to work out his accent. Apparently he is from Merseyside, thanks Halestorm for confirming. He was very excited to be playing Aberdeen for the first time and was appreciative of everyone turning up early to see him. He played a set including his new song, which he invited us to tell him if it was s*** (it was not!). He also sang Feels Like, Kitchen Cowboys about having fun with your friends and realising it is 3am, On My Mind from his last EP, and his latest single Pablo. He explained that he likes to write songs about real scenarios and Pablo is his best friend. We were also treated to Grey Skies which he said was about his home, but was also how Aberdeen had greeted him. He is coming back to Scotland next year for his own headline tour and is definitely worth checking out, although he currently is not coming this far north.
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This is not my first time reviewing Stereophonics, having also enjoyed seeing them in 2016 and 2022. They are a band who have earned a reputation as being great live performers and once again they upheld this. Last night was my son’s first time seeing Stereophonics perform live and looking at the set list from earlier in the tour he thought he only knew Dakota, although when they played Have A Nice Day he recognised it too. I know he’s heard several other songs in the house but after enjoying the evening I expect he will also be putting them on himself in the future. It was great to share the evening with him. Stereophonics are such inspirational musicians – and Jamie Morrison’s drum solo in Mr and Mrs Smith hopefully made the teenager even more determined to learn to play the drums he has requested for Christmas.
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Playing a ukulele for I Wouldn’t Believe Your Radio was also most fitting, we have just listed one on Vinted. I wonder if we will decide to keep it after all now although I think my son is happier on his normal acoustic guitar.
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My favourite songs last night were I Wanna Get Lost With You, The Bartender and The Thief, 100MPH, and this morning it’s Mr Writer that is going round inside my head.
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I loved the Mabel Cable story about Kelly and Richard Jones wheeling their trolley up the road to play every Thursday at 6pm and every Sunday at noon. Over a decade they spent honing their art in a local bar before they got to spread the joy further! Kelly also spoke of the first time they played Aberdeen, in The Works, and all the times they went drinking in the Vodka Bar and ended up the worse for wear!
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As well as the talented musicians, personal and local banter, the show featured the expected bright lights and brilliant stage back drop. Although we were in the seats towards the back of the arena we could see each band member’s faces when they were live streamed to the big screens at the side of the stage. The graphics were brilliant, coordinating with the songs, whether it was the Motel for Mr and Mrs Smith or the lyrics for 100MPH.
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Towards the end some coloured balls were launched into the audience, and everyone bounced them around down the front until the end. One has to wonder if they were a pre planned part of the show, or if they were added after the Garbage incident in Australia last week. Nothing was said about them and they seemed to be appreciated, it certainly looked fun from up the back and added a 3D element that somehow seemed a little closer.
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Once again the Stereophonics gave us A Nice Day and sent us back into the Grey Skies with big happy smiles on our faces. They never disappoint and I felt honoured to experience their amazing music once again.
Further information: https://www.stereophonics.com/#section-home-tour
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Maria Robertson is the Chief Music & Theatre Writer for the 5D Pop Culture Website and provides reviews & coverage of local Aberdeen music & theatre gigs. She’s an experienced writer for numerous sources and is a self-confessed live gig addict ever since seeing The Counting Crows at the Barrowlands in 1994.
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#Stereophonics #Signed #MusicCollector #Autograph #CD
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