The fact that Squeeze are currently celebrating their 50th anniversary is a testament not only to their staying power but also to the sheer scope and quality of their back catalogue. The London legends kicked off their latest tour at Sheffield City Hall and managed to power through opening night jitters to deliver a barnstorming set to the good people of Sheffield.
Everything starts off fine with the 8-strong band ripping up the stage in opening number ‘Black Coffee in Bed’ before an early rendition of classic single ‘Up the Junction’ has the crowd on their feet. It’s an astonishing song. A kitchen sink drama played out in three minutes that contains more wit and pathos than most bands manage in a career. There is a nagging feeling it perhaps should have arrived later into the set but it still sounds phenomenal. At this point of the gig, lead vocalist Glenn Tilbrook sounds great and everything is going swell.
New song ‘One Beautiful Summer’ follows, an arch and hilarious tale of finding love in a care home, the lyrics as easily identifiable as the work of guitarist and songwriter Chris Difford as anything released in their heyday. Despite showing no signs of strain up until this point, Tilbrook presents the crowd with a choice, they can either play ‘Departure Lounge’ and risk the singer losing his voice or play something else to limit the damage. ‘Departure Lounge’ it is. And while it sounds great, it does mark a turning point for the gig. Tilbrook still manages to belt out ‘Pulling Mussels (From the Shell)’ before it becomes clear that something is seriously wrong. The band leave the stage for a summit while the crowd nervously awaits the outcome.
Returning to rapturous applause, Difford announces with a heavy heart that his bandmate has lost his voice and so the rest of the set will be a little different to what they had planned. While it would be easy to mourn the set that we lost, Squeeze, in true showman style, manage to pull an incredible show out of the bag anyway. They pull a random woman on stage (she announces herself as ‘Paisley’ in the thickest South Yorkshire accent you’ll hear this side of Kes) for ‘Another Nail in My Heart’ and somehow the band and Paisley pull it off before Difford takes centre stage for ‘Slap & Tickle’, ‘Goodbye Girl’ and a rapturously received ‘Cool for Cats’. By now the party is in full swing, Tilbrook’s vocal problems have been forgotten and Squeeze have turned a potential disaster into an unlikely triumph.
An extended version of ‘Take Me I’m Yours’ closes things out with an extended jam in the midsection that allows Tilbrook to introduce the rest of the band complete with solos from each member. Squeeze have never been a band to flaunt their musicianship, instead focusing on writing perfect three minute pop songs, but by God, can they play. Tilbrook in particular seems to channel all his frustration at losing his voice into attacking his guitar with a gusto and craftsmanship that goes some way to explain how the band are still packing out massive venues five decades into their storied career. It’s a sight to behold.
A slightly truncated set in the end then at 16 songs but everyone leaves with a smile on their face as the band take a bow and leave the stage to thunderous applause. On this form, I have no doubt they’ll be back to rock Sheffield again when Tilbrook has fully recovered. To which Sheffield will no doubt reply: “Take me… I’m yours”.
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