Setting the mid 90’s scene, it’s Dodgy who open tonight’s show; driving through various aspects of their back catalogue enthusiastically.   A ‘light’ crowd (presumably due to the timing clash with a Newcastle game) and some sound issues dampen the impact of their set, though it’s delivered well and the fact that many of the band are in the crowd for the main event show that they’re seemingly fully engaged in the tour.

Opening with “In the Name of the Father” Grape shuffle onto stage just after twenty past eight in a hint of (almost) a front-to-back playback of the “It’s great” album.  Now down to two of the originals, Kermit and Ryder hold the line well – Kermit being the star focal point and Ryder doing his best to remember lyrics and melodies (an onstage lyric tele-prompter is both understandable and deflating).  A strong start raises expectations a little too highly given the remainder of the set is split across the Grape’s three ‘other’ albums – both Ryder and Kermit admitting that although the songs may have been strong they lack general awareness.   

Performing as a six-piece, the Grape’s four musical players do well in replicating the funk-meets-rock-meets-soul-meets-hip-hop-meets-groove sounds and shambolic intensity of the bands recording, though again sound issues interfere with the levelling and production coming off the stage.  Kermit and Ryder’s on-stage banter, which feels interesting and a solid part of the show, is particularly hard to hear.

Set highlights “Reverend Black Grape” and “Kelly’s heroes” deliver well, backlit by the classic Carlos the Jackle artwork, but also hint at what could have been.  In a different world, where ‘Straight’ was played front-to-back and the sound production was strong, this would have been a classic.  As it happens we get a solid show, an appropriate level of rudderlessness, and a reminder of just how good that debut album was.