Miles Hunt/Billy Liberator

October 25, 2024 0 By Jon

Papillion, Southampton

In 1987 I was at the much missed Astoria Theatre in London to see Big Country on their “Under Wraps” Tour. That evening they had a fresh faced band from Stourbridge called “The Wonder Stuff” supporting them who to be fair, were quite impressive and made quite an impression on me. Little did I know from that first experience, that the band and their songs would became so precious to me. I used to bump into the mop-haired chap called Miles in London quite a bit, if he wasn’t helping giving out leaflets at gigs he would be found watching some of the new up and coming bands. I was encouraged by my sister to chat to him as apparently she quite fancied him and wanted to get to know him. Fast forward 37 years I’m still listening to their music and going to see them play live, tonight The Wonder Stuff frontman Miles Hunt is in Southampton at this converted Church called “Papillion” for a much anticipated solo show.

Before Miles takes to the stage we have tonight’s support act, Woking troubadour Billy Liberator “aka” Paul Huggett to entertain us. Opening with a number called “Tonight Tonight” from his 2023 album “In Your Headspace in Your Dreams, the singer shows off his fine voice and it really benefits from the wonderful acoustics of this building and this audience clearly warm to him from the start. With just his fine sounding six-string acoustic guitar and an array of clever effects, we are treated to some great sounding numbers including recent single “Future Days Now”, about the ex-future president of the USA and his disgruntled supporters who stormed the Capitol Building in Washington in 2021.

Billy Liberator 1–2–3

One of the notable highlights is the emotive “Lambeth In The Light”, a song about his son and the serious health issues he suffered at birth (thankfully he is ok now). You cannot fail to be moved by the touching and passionate lyrics and the impressive strength in the way they are delivered. The short set comes to a close with a track called “Main Town” and Paul dedicates it to Miles, stating that he is also a big fan of the band having spent many great nights in their company over the years. As he bids farewell the crowd gives him some long and loud applause showing their appreciation for a great set of all original tunes.

Tonight the venue is set out with an intimate seating plan with James Knights of “Mirrorman Promotions” nailing the correct venue for this type of gig. With a hundred or so people comfortably seated, Miles takes to the stage with a can of Guinness in hand and two acoustic guitars at the ready for his evenings entertainment. Kicking off with a trio of tracks from the debut solo record “Hairy on the Inside” and these rarely played gems show the versatility of this fine songwriter with these tracks being quite distant from the Pop songs of the band.

Anyone that knows Miles will know he loves to talk and in-between each song we are treated to some wonderfully detailed stories of many of the song’s subject matter. The life of this well known face who has a number one hit with Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer has been immortalized in his own memoirs “The Wonder Stuff Diaries”, though there is always a new recollected story or two to tell even though maybe not all the details are fully accurate.

Miles’s voice sounds as great as ever with singles like “Caught in My Shadow”, “Circlesquare” and “Hot Love Now!” – the excited crowd are treated to a wonderous display of this man’s talent. Things turn a little serious for a while as the song “And She Gives” gets it’s own emotional story; this one is thoroughly accurate and the protagonist “Laney”, who is one of Miles’s best friends is stood in the room selling his merch. Laney made a selfless decision to give a friend in need one of her kidneys as she was a match for a transplant. Miles was so blown away by this act that he decided to mark the event with a song.

Miles Hunt 1–2

The frivolities soon return as we get some interesting stories about being on the road in America with the Mission’s Wayne Hussey and we also get a slowed down version of my favourite Wonder Stuff tune “On The Ropes”. This version was the one that was played on that tour where Mr Huss added some arrangements of his own on piano.

There is an invitation for requests (except “Dizzy”) and the evening is rounded off with the audience full of song, willingly accompanying on some of The Wonder Stuff’s best known tunes including “Ruby Horse”, “Give, Give, Give, Me More, More, More” and show closer “Don’t Let Me Down Gently”. At 57 years old Miles is still youthful and has a great unbroken spirit. With the band out on a six date tour of the UK once again in December, there is still plenty of life left in this much-loved Stourbridge treasure.

Set Lists
Miles Hunt
Manna From Heaven
Immortalising Chase
Someone Like the Kingbird
Caught In My Shadow
Circlesquare
Hot Love Now
And She Gives
Things Can Change
Sing The Absurd
Can’t Shape Up
Room 512
On The Ropes
No, For The 13th Time
Ruby Horse
Give, Give, Give Me More, More, More
Don’t Let Me Down Gently