Teenage Fanclub
Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London
08/06/2010

A somewhat overused metaphor it may be, but seeing Teenage Fanclub really is like catching up with an old, estranged friend, as starkly illustrated by their set tonight. Initially it’s slightly awkward and a little uncomfortable, but after fifteen minutes of ice-breaking, they really find their stride, and from that point on you could happily stay here all night.

You see, messrs Blake, Love and McGinley are not pop stars, nor are they frontmen in truth, arguably with the exception of Norman Blake. So, they amble on stage with little in the way of fanfare, to an audience on the whole too mature to get over-excited, and strike up ‘Start Again’ from ‘Songs From Northern Britain’, perhaps the nearest they’ve come to true mainstream success. Four songs in it’s apparent why we love them so, with the new material – from the mighty fine ‘Shadows’ album – sounding instantly familiar alongside their back catalogue highlights. What they’ve got that makes them spesh is a knack for writing immaculate, intelligent, wholesome guitar pop songs, and they possess that in triplicate, with three of the finest singer songwriters of their generation – an unfair monopoly when you consider the chancers elsewhere with a fraction of their talent. Though we’re loathe to use the word “feelgood” to describe them, that’s ultimately what they are – there’s no hidden agenda or message, nor a sinister lyrical underbelly, just pristine sunshine pop.

The classics are out in force tonight - ‘Ain’t That Enough’, ‘Sparky’s Dream’, and triumphant ‘Everything Flows’ – balancing the latter-day recordings, though there’s no difference in quality regardless of period. Inevitably their 90-minute set leaves you wanting – no ‘Starsign’, ‘Mellow Doubt’ or ‘God Knows It’s True’ for starters – but with such a rich body of work they’d have to play for five hours to satisfy their loyal followers. Both audience and band would’ve had the stamina, we’re sure.

Andy Slocombe