Squeeze – 1 December 2012 – live at the O2 Apollo, Manchester

Buy the CD here!

Here are Snipturn’s snippets of the Manchester show – thanks Snip!

12 Responses to "Squeeze – 1 December 2012 – live at the O2 Apollo, Manchester"

David Bailey says:

1 December 2012 at 12:18 pm

See you there!

Reply
packetofthree says:

2 December 2012 at 12:52 am

Well, what a strange evening and what a brilliant gig!

It’s 33 years since my first Squeeze concert at the Manchester Apollo and it is almost as cold tonight as it was in 1979. I park my car in a tiny side street next to a boarded up house which was up for auction under a street lamp saying “Warning! Car thieves operate in this area”. I don’t expect to ever see my car again.

Paul Heaton is an entertaining chap and it’s great to have him as a support act on the tour given the depth of material he’s recorded with The Housemartins, The Beautiful South and solo. I’ve loved his sense of humour in every venue. He says “When I did I solo record I didn’t realise it meant you’d sell just one copy.” At least tonight he doesn’t say that Chris and Glenn found out the same. He says he’s had a letter of complaint, and this one’s not from his family, that he only lasts for 40 minutes. He says that’s the first time he’s had that complaint.

It’s nearly time for Squeeze and instead of the usual introductory video there’s a large man with no neck who thinks he’s a comedian. I remember that he’s called Peter Kay. Others don’t. He says he stood outside the Manchester Apollo in the freezing cold with a bag of mint imperials in 1990 waiting for the band to sign something and they barely looked up at him – and now look, he says, “I’m up here introducing the band.”

“It gives me great pleasure”, he says, “To sit on a bath tap.” Then he finally introduces the band.

Squeeze are tighter than previous gigs. Maybe it’s the afternoon spent rehearsing. I watch the gig from the Circle so I can see the incredible light show that Dan has created for the Pop Up Shop Tour. I particularly like the effects in Some Fantastic Place and Pulling Mussels (From the Shell) and the video of From the Cradle to the Grave is fabulous and warmly received by all around me. The acoustic interlude is my favourite part of the show, with the band interacting, smiling, feeding off one another and doing some great, great solos. Without You Here is rearranged in a 1980s way with an introduction that is just like Germ Free Adolescents by X-Ray Spex. Musically I think Take Me I’m Yours is wonderful this tour, especially with Glenn playing a 12-string solo. There’s definitely more jazz as this tour progresses.

During Goodbye Girl Glenn plays the Ukelele whist kicking the bass drum. That’s so cool. I still think Goodbye Girl sounds like the theme tune to The Muppets.

I had a photo pass tonight but the venue wouldn’t let me take photos. My friends didn’t have photo passes and took hundreds of great shots. Topsy turvy. After the gig I go to the pub round the corner and they’ve stopped serving. I wander off after my goodbyes to inspect the space where I think my car used to be. It’s still there. Thank goodness.

Thanks to Squeeze for another great night. Still fantastic 33 years later.

Reply
1. JOHN W says:
  
  6 December 2012 at 11:55 am
  
  A great night , waiting for the CD of the show. Paul Heaton was far better than I thought he would be.
  
  Reply
  1. packetofthree says:
    
    9 December 2012 at 12:08 am
    
    Yes Paul Heaton was excellent John – I really enjoyed his set – and nice to see some old favourites and great new material there too. Let us know what you thought of the CD won’t you?
    
    Reply
Mark says:

2 December 2012 at 6:28 pm

Neat reveiw David, really evocative of your whole evening. I still haven’t seen the full production.need to wait until Wednesday week. Don’t suppose trhe Kay fella will be there but i hope they have the heat on.
p.s. i’ll have a listen and let you know about the X-Ray Spex similarity.

Reply
Graham says:

2 December 2012 at 10:36 pm

Spot on review, we were at the Gig. They were truly excellent

Reply
James Wilcox says:

6 December 2012 at 3:24 pm

Going 02 London next Friday.. cant wait

Reply
1. packetofthree says:
  
  9 December 2012 at 12:06 am
  
  See you there James! It’s going to be a fabulous night :)
  
  Reply
  1. james says:
    
    11 December 2012 at 11:12 am
    
    Anybody know what Beauty South numbers Mr Heaton does in the support act? Loved the band years ago
    
    Reply
Sarah Cousins says:

7 December 2012 at 6:30 am

So excited especially after watching this :) Going to UEA, Norwich on 16th December!

Reply
1. packetofthree says:
  
  9 December 2012 at 12:05 am
  
  Have a great time Sarah – don’t forget to tell us all about it – it’s now the last night of the tour!
  
  Reply
Sarah Cousins says:

7 December 2012 at 7:30 am

So excited especially after watching this :) Going to UEA, Norwich on 16th December!

Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply