Live Review: Squeeze

Almost fifty years on from the band’s establishment, Squeeze kicked off their Food For Thought tour at the end of October, promoting their new EP of the same name. Providing some much needed support to the Trussell Trust, the band encouraged fans to bring donations with them to the concert. These will form part of much-needed food parcels for millions of people who are struggling this Winter.

The towering edifice of the Birmingham Symphony Hall was the perfect backdrop for Squeeze to showcase their musical prowess, and was also testament to their dedicated fanbase as swathes of excited admirers flooded the stalls and circles alike.

The night began with an opening performance from the eccentric punk poet John Cooper Clarke. Curious onlookers scattered the venue to listen, highlighting that Cooper Clarke is perhaps an acquired taste. Standing limply on the stage, looking like a mix of an ageing goth and punk rocker, Cooper Clarke provided some engaging rhymes with his popular poems like “I Wanna Be Yours” and ‘Tw*t” much to the amusement of the audience.

The band took the audience on an exciting musical journey with Squeeze’s impressive back catalogue, their classic numbers interspersed with newer endeavours

It is perhaps easy to go to a show with preconceived ideas of well-established bands. Sometimes, said bands are ageing rockers who still think they are in their early twenties, screaming into a mic and trying their best to get through the setlist in one piece. This could not be further from the truth – as Squeeze burst onto the stage, the lights went down and the cheers from the crowd illustrated why Squeeze still have the ability to sell out shows.

Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford, often hailed as ‘the heirs to the Lennon and McCartney throne’ emerged onto the stage with their entourage, launching straight in with much loved classics like ‘Take Me I’m Yours’ and ‘Up the Junction.’

The band took the audience on an exciting musical journey with Squeeze’s impressive back catalogue, their classic numbers interspersed with newer endeavours. The applause was deafening as the crows showed their approval for the much-loved anthems.

Despite minimal crowd engagement, only stopping to say the names of the songs, Squeeze demonstrated how their music speaks for itself. The ambience was electric and the band effortlessly commanded the audience, having fans up and dancing without saying a word. Particularly worthy of note were their performances of ‘Tempted’ and ‘Labour of Love’, which seemed to be real crowd pleasers.

Squeeze’s decision to recognise the current cost of living crisis is certainly worthy of admiration. Millions of people across the UK are currently facing extreme poverty and hardship, and Squeeze have certainly used their fame as a platform for good. On this note, I was pleasantly surprised by the tracks that were played from the band’s new EP. Particularly poignant was the catchy number ‘Food For Thought’, with Squeeze’s signature clever lyrics. It certainly left the crowd with something to ponder – a great opportunity to have fun, but also to reflect on the state of our society and how we can make a collective effort to help those in need. Tilbrook certainly sang the hard-hitting lyrics with a noticeable emotion – ‘pointing fingers spreading blame, politicians with no shame…pay less taxes, ditch red tape, cosy contracts for their mates, cutting help right to the bone, empty stomachs freezing homes’.

Whilst this transition certainly changed the atmosphere of the room, it was an essential and poignant reminder of Squeeze using their platform to comment on social issues. For that, they must be commended for such a selfless endeavour, further strengthened by their choice to donate profits of their EP to the Trussell Trust.

Particularly poignant was the catchy number ‘Food For Thought’, with Squeeze’s signature clever lyrics. It certainly left the crowd with something to ponder

The thrilling performance came to an end with the eponymous track ‘Cool for Cats’, which demonstrated the panache of the other band members – particularly stand out was Stephen Large’s performance on the keyboard, whose raw energy and talent on the keys solo undoubtedly sent the crowd wild. Squeeze are known for having enjoyed a varied line up since their inception, with Difford and Tilbrook being the only constants in the band. Boasting members like Jools Holland on the keys until 1980, the end of the show was the perfect opportunity for both founding members to introduce their current bandmates. Simon Hanson provided a punk-infused energy on the drums, whilst bassist Owen Biddle commanded the stage with his groovy basslines and striking vivacity.

It was almost impossible to notice that the band had returned to the stage to perform the encore, due to the incessant screams and cheers from fans who clearly had a steadfast appreciation for such a great band. They returned to play the encore ‘Black Coffee in Bed’, which provided the perfect close to a truly memorable night.

Whilst most of the audience appeared to be from a certain generation, Squeeze have certainly shown that their music is still relevant, exciting, and will hopefully usher in a new wave of younger fans. The fact that they continue to sell-out shows across the country is testament to their innate musical talent, groove and ability to craft songs that both get people dancing, but also thinking. Their lyrics are brilliant and their individual flair for each instrument certainly shines through.