It was one of those gigs were you just had to be there. The Get Up Kids have been away for five years but since announcing UK dates this gig has been highly anticipated. Kingston was not disappointed.ÿ
Dave House was lone support and I missed a couple of early songs as I was intrviewing TGUK. Davw’s a great songwriter a d one who comes across as sincere and passionate on record. With his live show he manages to recreate both, adding energy to make his set hugely entertaining. His vocals remind me of The Weakerthans no end, but ulimately Dave is his own man and very few can match his storytelling style. By the last few tracks there are some pretty major singalongs – playing in front of family and friends he never needed to win anyone over, but the sweaty 300 in the Peel left with a smile on their faces nonetheless.ÿ
From the second the Kansas fivesome started ‘Coming Clean’ the Peel fell in love. This is no money grabbing reunion tour – The Kids love it. They play with a smile and with energy, cracking a few jokes inbetween songs. James Dewees loves it -he plays with such an infectious grin that even those in attendance who weren’t fans of the band would have been won over. Th setlist was pretty flawless. ‘Mass Pike’, ‘Action and Action‘ and ‘Valentine’ get huge singalongs. During ‘Holiday’ the crowd sing louder than the band. It’s special stuff – one of those ‘you had to be there’ moments.ÿ
They hope to return next year and there may even be a new album. Maybe. The Kids are back – and on the basis of this performance they’ll be teaching a few of their younger peers a thing or two.