LIVE REVIEW: Supergrass Rock City, Nottingham 10.5.25

There are few bands who reaped a catalogue of deserved rewards in the 1990’s that can now boast an original line up and still able to cut it live, some exceptions include blur, Headswim and Supergrass. The latter, formerly a trio of lead vocalist/guitarist Gaz Coombes, bass player Mick Quinn and drummer Danny Goffey, now boasting official 4^th member keyboardist Rob Coombes, make the quartets live return at Nottingham’s Rock City playing a 30th Anniversary tour since their debut long player I Should Coco was unleashed on an unsuspecting general public.

Following what seemed like a farewell appearance at the poignantly held Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert, this 2025 tour has been eagerly anticipated since the bands playing on their reunion dates was echoed as being some of the very best playing the band had ever done. Slight composition rearrangements, matched with youthful energetic effortless playing, to witness such skill, seemingly carefree showmanship and euphoric receptions is like watching a We Are The Champions Ron Pickering shout ‘away you go’ before all bedlam is let loose.

Entering the stage to The Sweet Blockbuster, the crowd duly ask for an ‘I’ please and the band oblige with I’d Like To Know, followed by Caught By The Fuzz, Mansize Rooster, Alright all played at a speed and precision most bands would do well to keep up with, luckily these Decathlon musicians have plenty in reserve to see them score heavily achieving gold medal status. Gaz’s voice has matured splendidly, the squeals, screams and harmonies on the likes of Lose It, Lenny and Sitting Up Straight sound magnificent, Quinn provides plenty of mighty bass tones and even shows off some of his own guitar skills as band members share instruments on We’re Not Supposed To and the closing mellow tones of Time To Go.

Rob has a quiet effortless charm behind the keys, it’s pleasing to see the Coombes brothers come together as Gaz goes to the high rise to play alongside his elder sibling. For many the visual highlight of the evening might be seeing the miraculous octopus drumming of Goffey, keeping the pace with these tunes created when the band members were half their age is like seeing water flow of a ducks back without any click tracks, like Goffey says from the stage, playing with clicks allows for mistakes but also helps show off his perfect timing which is fabulous viewing, the crowd lapping up each beat pogoing from the front to the back.

As the last echoes of stellar tracks such as modern blues Time, Richard III rock explosion, heaven sent Sun Hits The Sky, bouncy castle bounce of Grace (dedicated to a smooching couple at the front spotted by Gaz), before the final bow of P(h)umping On Your Stereo, the crowd have been treated to an all time great band at the very top of their playing, here’s hoping this wont be the final tour by these Peter Pan’s of rock.

All photos are copyrighted to Andy Ellis via Rock News – News – Reviews – Interviews

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