Therefore, a Cardiff University show combining material old and new was eagerly anticipated. The band wandered from five to eight in number – with the add on of a three-piece horn section (humorously sporting Shed Zeppelin t-shirts!).
Frontman Rick Witter is a natural wit and his audience interaction was as good as a gig veteran such as yours truly has witnessed. He chatted, quipped and controlled proceedings with an affable and easy-going manner that won over an audience who were in fine fettle. The vocal delivery was also spot on and his aural accomplices aided and abetted the cause with some soaring skills that confirmed that this a highly accomplished act who can take the sound in a number of directions.
Kicking off with the fresh of Room in my House the performance meandered between the then and now but the historic highlights were in abundance e.g.: Speakeasy, Where have you been Tonight?, High Hopes, Dolphin, Going for Gold, Chasing Rainbows, On Standby, Getting Better, Bully Boy, Disco Down and She left me on Fridaywhich fed in to a cover of the Stone Roses classic I am the Resurrection. However, the likes of the 2017 batch of songs including the concert opener plus Better Days and It’s not Easy displayed that there is also plenty of fuel left in the tank.
