Suede/BC Camplight

O2 Guildhall, Southampton

After the broadcast and release of Suede’s fly on the wall documentary “The Insatiable Ones” the band’s popularity could not be any stronger. Suede; who formed in 1989, released their eighth studio album “The Blue Hour” in September 2018 and showed the world a band who once again believe in themselves and have embraced middle age with some beautiful dark songs. The band have taken to the road with an eleven date UK tour with the vast majority of the dates sold out. Tonight on the penultimate date of their tour, the band arrive in Southampton with expectations high as the previous visit in September 2013 was certainly a night to remember.

Tonight’s support are BC Camplight who were founded by American multi-instrumentalist Brian Christinzio, who with his five-piece band stroll on to the Southampton stage with confident swagger. The band combines a collection of synth textures with electric guitars, piano and saxophone to create an original soulful sound. Frontman Brian briefly lived in the UK and was deported by then Home Secretary, a certain Teresa May after apparently overstaying his visa permissions. He seems very bitter about this, however he has gained plenty of material from his experience including hard-hitting “Deportation Blues”. Brian has a fantastic vocal range and really entertains with tunes like the infectious “Fire in England” and a modern Motown-style number ‘Just because I love You. I’m personally not sure if they are the perfect band to support Suede as there is a really mixed reaction from the Southampton crowd as they leave the stage.

BC Camplight 1–2–3–4

At 9pm sharp the lights go down and the intro music marks the arrival of one of the best live bands ever to come out of the UK. You can just feel the anticipation in the air as Matt, Richard, Simon, Neil and finally, Brett takes to the stage. The noise from the crowd is deafening as the band begin their first number, track one from the latest album “As One”. The sound in this sublime old building is perfect with Richard’s guitar sounding huge and Brett’s vocals sounding better than ever. The band has played over 75 songs during the course of this tour and tonight is full of surprises. There is a great emotional version of the rarely played “Breakdown” from the band’s first album and a stripped down acoustic version of “Obsessions”. Brett whips the crowd into a frenzy during ‘The Drowners’ where he bravely enters the audience with microphone cable trailing; and while walking through the first few rows of the crowd, he only stops to hand his microphone to a couple of lucky people who get to sing a few lines of the chorus.

Suede 1–2–3–4–5–6–7–8

The tunes from every corner of the band’s career are despatched with a huge amount of energy and all still sound so good and relevant. The band leaves the stage briefly as Brett performs on his own with just an acoustic guitar with no amplification or microphone and amazes with a stunning version of “The Living Dead”, causing a few emotional tears amongst many of the audience. With a performance as fantastic as this, you can totally understand why people return again and again to see this band live. Suede’s final two numbers include the wonderfully infectious “Beautiful Ones” which is sung euphorically word for word by the frenzied audience and a beautiful song written about Brett’s young son called “Life Is Golden”. I cannot help but heap praise on this band who continually provide a host of amazing nights out for their adoring fans.

Set List
As One
Together
Outsiders
We Are the Pigs
So Young
Metal Mickey
Heroine
Breakdown
Obsessions (Acoustic)
The Drowners
It Starts and Ends with You
Sabotage
Painted People
Trash
Animal Nitrate
The Living Dead (Brett solo acoustic)
I Don’t Know How to Reach You
The Invisibles
Flytipping
Encore:
Beautiful Ones
Life Is Golden