Hi °C | Lo °C 'Zuton Fever' took hold of the Nerve Centre audience last Tuesday night when the Liverpool quintet arrived on stage.
The band strode on and blasted into the title track of their second album 'Tired of Hanging Around.' As the opening chords rang out the pogoing began and barely stopped the whole night.
The concert marked the beginning of a series of great gigs coming up with The Magic Numbers, Declan O'Rourke and new hopes, Young Knives, all playing the venue in the next few weeks.
The night began with the moustachioed Luke Toms with his own brand of uplifting indie pop. He was well received but the audience were itching for The Zutons and let out a primal roar when they appeared. On their second visit to the city the band seemed appreciative of the ecstatic reaction that greeted them and singer Dave McCabe exchanged banter with the Derry faithful during the show. The band were on top form, playing a tight, well-oiled set to a packed venue.
McCabe was in fine voice throughout and fantastic harmonies came from bassist Russell Pritchard and saxaphonist Abi Harding. Harding missed the show last time round and she received a rousing ovation from the males in the audience when McCabe dedicated 'Pressure Point' to her.
The biggest cheers of the night were reserved for 'Don't Ever Think Too Much', 'Why Won't You Give Me Your Love?' and of course their recent Top Ten hit 'Valerie'. The crowd was worked into a frenzy with finale involving two drumkits and a melodica before the band said their goodbyes and ambled backstage, exhausted and dripping with sweat after giving their all in a fantastic performance.
While other British bands seem content on partying like it's 1979 with angular new wave rip offs, it's refreshing that The Zutons seem to still believe in the importance of a great tune.
In McCabe they have a fine songsmith who writes catchy melodies in the tradition of a Liverpool lineage that stretches from The Beatles, through to groups like The La's and peers of The Zutons like The Coral. Talk about something in the water, there really must be something truly magical in the Mersey.
