Supergrass
Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester - 08 August 2005

THEY’RE undoubtedly a band epitomised by the Brit-pop fervour of the early nineties, but it seems that simian stars Supergrass are finally all grown up.

In the hallowed surrounds of the Royal Northern College of Music last night, a very different Supergrass – the self-proclaimed monkey men of rock – ambled onto the stage for an evolutionary first acoustic tour.

Gone is frontman Gaz Coombes’s quirky sideburns, overgrown by a manly beard, and in place of the flares and tight t-shirts of old was a Country & Western-style jacket and hat combo.

Strolling alone onto the stage, he belted out a rousing rendition of new single, St Petersburg, to open proceedings and set the tone for a very special night of music.

The stage, decked out as something akin to an old curiosity shop with standard lamps and antique-style screens, was the perfect setting as band members Mick Quinn and Danny Goffey joined Gaz on stage, and it all felt like we were sneakily sitting in on a private rehearsal.

“Should we tell them we’ve never done anything like this before,?” piped up drummer Danny Goffey. “It feels like school assembly, and like this is our course work.”

Highlights of the set included a duelling banjo-style romp through Caught By The Fuzz, Gaz’s pitch perfect Late In The Day and Roxy usic-tyle version of Mary, and a stunning version of Moving.

“This is the audience perspiration number,” Gaz confided, before indeed beading our brows.

The ’Grass return to an electric tour later this year, but this was a rare offering for fans to enjoy.
3/5

Dianne Bourne, Manchester Online - 09 August 2005