Suede prove they’re well and truly back, their new collection of raw, brooding delights dazzling the crowd at Glasgow’s O2 Academy between a deluge of classics.
Support tonight comes from Aircooled, who immerse the crowd in their addictive groove of “guitar tainted machine rock” as vibrant synth-heavy beats and bruising basslines carve out glimmering soundscapes in a heavy nod to Krautrock. Formed by ’90s big beat dance music operator Ollie Cherer, the band boast impressive CVs, bassist Katharine Wallinger having worked with The Wedding Present amongst others and Justin Welch once drummer with Suede as well as Piroshka, Elastica and Lush. Sharing tracks from last year’s debut four track LP St Leopards, its sprawling numbers are mostly instrumental, well and truly saturating the senses. St Leopards is available now on Music’s Not Dead. https://aircooled.bandcamp.com/
It’s 30 years since Brett Anderson cavorted about the stage of Glasgow’s long-departed Plaza Ballroom, around the time Suede allegedly kicked off the Britpop scene, a label which they’ve firmly refuted. As he struts onto the stage tonight under the churning bassline of Turn Off Your Brain And Yell, closing track from last year’s Autofiction, it’s fair to say he still looks the part, although the white lace has been replaced by a smart black shirt. Any first impressions of aloofness are quickly swept aside as his desire to connect with the audience reveals an entertaining, endearing and eloquent perfectionist. He parades the stage with the unwavering energy of his younger self, and after a few precarious lunges towards the monitors, he’s up there in his Lycra-infused skinny jeans and it’s hard to get him down for the rest of the show.
Tonight Suede showcase much of Autofiction, their ninth studio album which sees a return to the raw, brooding drama and soaring choruses of their self-titled debut and follow ups, 1994’s Dog Man Star and 1996’s Coming Up, with flawless performances from fellow-founder Mat Osman on bass, Richard Oakes on guitar, Neil Codling on guitar / keys and Simon Gilbert on drums.
With guitars (and too cool for school Codling) recalling The Cult, the unhinged angst of Personality Disorder bears down on the audience as Anderson narrates his lyrical magic with lush theatrics, dropping to his knees before getting onto all-fours. To the causal observer it may look like he’s put his back out or perhaps dropped that elusive trolly pound down a crevice on the stage, but na, he’s simply a blatant exhibitionist and really, isn’t that what makes Suede’s live performances such a thrill? 15 Again completes this phenomenal opening run from Autofiction, the guitars glazed in ‘80s goth, the chorus a euphoric swirl, spinning them straight back to the early days.
Keeping up momentum they launch into a run of classics, Anderson at one point acknowledging that many people will be like “urgh” when they play a new track but some will be like “yeah!” As the towering drums of The Drowners ignite the room, he jumps off the stage to take a stroll through the crowd before intoxicating us with glittering beast, Animal Nitrate and making my night with a pristine rendition of 1996’s Trash, articulated with a glorious melodrama which wouldn’t be out of place on Broadway.
They continue to flit between the classics and newer numbers, including My Dark Star, dedicated to their faithful following in the front row who’ve been traipsing over the UK, come rain, shine, snow or broken-down vehicles to attend their gigs. She Still Leads Me On raises goosebumps but also invokes a surge of clapping, the intimate but uplifting confessional laying bare Anderson’s love of his late mum, and how her presence lingers on. The Wild Ones, from 1994’s Dog Man Star allows the band to head off stage for a bit while Anderson boasts about his “beautiful, beautiful” guitar playing on this acoustic number, admitting he knows about two chords and is working on an E minor. To be honest, I’m a little disappointed but not surprised when it turns out he’s pretty good…
Ending the set with a delicious onslaught of classics, namely So Young, Metal Mickey and New Generation, Anderson puts his mic through a punishing workout, flinging it on to the stage and at one point hurling the wire about before wrapping it tightly around himself…yeah, whatever floats your boat, Brett.
They come back on for a one song encore with the Beautiful Ones…well what else could it be and what else is required? It’s pretty stunning, the audience singing along with jubilation. Of course, the real beaut tonight is Brett Anderson, his charm shining through every second of the performance. And with new tracks as good as this lot, we’ll be seeing and hearing a lot more of Autofiction in years to come.
Autofiction is out now on BMG. https://www.suede.co.uk/
Words: Shirley Mack @musingsbymarie
Pictures: Calum Mackintosh@ayecandyphotography