When a band opens a show with two of their best known numbers you begin to wonder how they're going to be able to wind up a show on an appropriate high. Squeeze did this tonight with Take Me, I'm Yours followed by Up The Junction - songs that have previously featured at the other end of the bands sets.
However, as they pepper their set with familiar songs and you realise that there's still a considerable range of superb songs left to choose you realise that you are listening to a band with a back catalogue of songs of considerable merit. They eventually finished after one hour and fifty minutes still playing hits - the last one being Another Nail In My Heart.
Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford are another couple who have found the unfortunate facts of rock'n'roll life - that when you've had an illustrious past like them that the public will flock to see you together when they wouldn't whilst you remain apart. Last time I saw Tilbrook he was playing King Tut's Wah Wah Hut (approximate capacity of 300) whilst Difford was seen supporting Elvis Costello. Tonight the reformed Squeeze played a packed Carling Academy which holds 2,500. The math is as compelling as it's obvious.
Two of the reformed band are from Glenn's solo band whilst the bass spot is filled by the returning John Bentley who played on the three albums before the bands' first split in the early 1980's.
The set was filled with just about every song you might expect and a good few that you wouldn't - Slightly Drunk, I Think I'm Go-Go, Melody Motel and Messed Around being good examples. Only down point was the inclusion of Frank's Love Circles which I've always thought an extremely poor example of their songwriting craft (or, less politely, it's shite!). Tillbrook remains one of the most gifted singers around, and his songs are able supported by Difford's excellent lyrics.
When introducing the band Glenn said "he's back for good" when introducing Bentley. I'd like to think that means there will be some kind of future for Squeeze. If nothing else, tonight showed how much I'd missed them in the relatively short time they've been away
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