Review: The Undertones at The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton
It's 30 years since the Undertones broke up at their peak, and most of the band are in the 50s now.
You wouldn't know it from the sheer attack and energy Derry's finest exhibit on stage. Back together since 1999 with Paul McLoone on vocals - he has now been with the band more than twice as long as original singer Feargal Sharkey - they are as potent a five piece as they ever were.
From the moment they launched into Jimmy Jimmy, the band ripped through a crowd-pleasing set that had the Slade Rooms crowd jumping and joining in at every opportunity as the Undertones blasted through such hits as You've Got My Number, Wednesday Week, Hypnotised, My Perfect Cousin and, of course, Teenage Kicks.
There was also a taste of the band's latest work, with the new single - Much Too Late / Another Girl - and some tracks from the two albums recorded in recent years.
But they were happy to play the old hits. Indeed, they seemed just happy to be on stage and apparently having as good a time as the crowd.
Bassist Michael Bradley and McLoone shared the lead in the banter stakes, joking and chatting with both the crowd and the other members of the band. And it is easy to see why the band chose McLoone - his vocal delivery is perfect match the band's sound.
And, with brothers John and Damien O'Neill still producing those astonishing signature guitar licks backed by Billy Doherty on drums the songs, some of them 35 years old, sound as fresh as ever.
It was an 80 minute set packed with more great tunes that you could shake a stick at, and the Undertones left a very happy crowd at the Slade Rooms.
By Simon Penfold
