July 6th 2017 – Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
If The Living End are in town, you have to go. If they are in Portsmouth, it’s worth a drive out. Chris, Scott and Andy had recently supported The Dropkick Murphy’s in Bournemouth with a short set, so I was now extra excited to see a full set again.
Can’t find the ticket (I’ll keep looking)…..it was an emotionless printed E-Ticket, so I probably deleted the email/threw away the paper copy, long before I decided to write all of these concerts up!!
Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth was a new venue for me. Only around an hour from Wimborne, so set off nice and early so I could find the venue and have a wander around the area. A good old fashioned small, dark venue, walls painted black, probably holds only a few hundred.
Seemed a nice area, with a mix of shops and pubs. It’s more Southsea than Portsmouth. It was a little walk from where I parked to the venue, so once I’d I’d done a recce, I got the car and moved it a bit nearer!
As the streets were pretty quiet for an early evening, I thought I’d take a quick snapshot of the venue, only to be greeted by a familiar face coming out of the front door…..Scott Hudson, the double bass and vocal of the amazing Living End.
After a quick photobomb in front of the venue and a selfie (something I reserve for only the very greatest in the world, including Will Young), I had a nice little chat about the band and Australia before parting ways, Scott back to the hotel for a bit, me to the Prince Albert for food!
…and a flipping nice Fiorentina pizza they did at the pub, washed down with a Fullers ale (only one, driving!) and a read of the papers.
The Living End had not only supported The Dropkick Murphy’s recently, but also did a stint with Green Day on the British Summertime gigs in London. This was their last gig in the UK before a break and then off to America (so Scott told me)
As I got into the venue, I was struck by the very wide range of ages in the room. Sure, there were a lot of oldies, but there was a massive young presence too, I noticed also the singer from a local young band to us in Dorset, Blackwater County, who also play Celtic rock songs, so really glad to see they are influenced by the guys.
It was sooooo hot tonight, you were sweating standing still! The band were on such good form (Chris kept missing notes, but was having fun with it), I’d put this concert up with the very first time I saw the at the Reading Festival.
As mentioned, Chris made a fair few mistakes, much to Scott and Andy’s amusement, but I also reckon he was trying a few complicated twiddly things out and had a great crowd with which to experiment. Generally they were superb.
Always great to see how others remember a gig too….http://www.mrteethreviews.com/the-living-end-wedgewood-rooms/
The rockabilly feel was plain to hear tonight, Scott was thumping the bass, Andy high on drum beats and Chris was amazing on guitar, all mesmerising to watch, I mainly stood on Scott’s side to watch him play, but moved over to see a bit of Chris’ guitar playing later in the night.
“Second Solution” and “Staring Down The Barrel” were perfect and “White Noise” and “Raise the Alarm“ had the crowd jumping and dripping with sweat!!
Scott was up on his bass, Chris was up on his bass and Scott was throwing and spinning it all night long, a great spectacle.
The crowd were chanting for more and everyone wanted “Uncle Harry” – which they got in the encore.
To finish the trilogy of “E-Boogie”,”Monday” and “Prisoner of Society” rounded off a perfect night in a fantastic venue.
Set List
- Roll On
- Second Solution
- Hold Up
- Monkey
- Staring Down the Barrel
- How Do We Know
- Pictures in the Mirror
- All Torn Down
- Who’s Gonna Save Us?
- White Noise
- One Step
- Raise the Alarm
- End of the World
- West End Riot
- Encore: Uncle Harry, E-Boogie, Monday, Prisoner of Society
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