Del Amitri are one of those bands whose music sneaks up on you. You think you know a couple of songs, then you find yourself at a gig remembering far more than expected, realising just how many great tracks they’ve released over the years.
I first saw them ten years ago at Newcastle City Hall in 2014, and back then, I was mainly there to hear my favourite song by them: “Move Away Jimmy Blue”. What struck me that night was just how many excellent songs they had in their catalogue. This time around, it was a chance to see them in a far more intimate setting at The Boiler Shop—a venue that suited them well.
Support came from Mandrake Handshake, a London/Oxford-based eight-piece with a sound that’s hard to pin down—somewhere between new wave, psych rock, and experimental folk. I hadn’t heard much about them before, but they delivered a mesmerising performance, filled with hypnotic rhythms and swirling instrumentation.
There’s something timeless about Justin Currie’s voice. As soon as they launched into “Nation of Caners”, it was clear that his delivery carries a perfect mix of melancholy, cynicism, and warmth, effortlessly drawing the crowd into their world. “Kiss This Thing Goodbye” and “Always the Last to Know” were early highlights, their melodic hooks and lyrical wit still sounding as sharp as ever. The beautifully wistful “Driving With the Brakes On” was another standout, delivered with a delicate intensity that had the whole room spellbound.
The set also included material from their upcoming album, which is due for release in 2025. “The Ones That You Love Lead You Nowhere” and “All Hail Blind Love” blended in seamlessly with their older songs, proving that Del Amitri still have plenty to say.
If the gig had been strong throughout, the final stretch was outstanding. “Move Away Jimmy Blue” was every bit as intense as I’d hoped, Currie’s voice carrying all the weight of its bittersweet storytelling. For the encore, they returned with “This City Loves You Back”, before leading the audience in a singalong of “Nothing Ever Happens”, a song that, even 35 years on, still resonates with its soaring chorus mixed with quiet sadness.
It was the perfect ending to a gig that proved Del Amitri are still as vital as ever.
Del Amitri have always had a way of sneaking up on you, and tonight was no different. They played with the confidence of a band that knows exactly what they’re doing, delivering a set that mixed nostalgia with fresh energy.
Many thanks to Elaine for the photographs and Laura and Chris for assistance with the blog entry.
Setlist: Nation of Caners, Opposite View, Not Where It’s At, Kiss This Thing Goodbye, Always the Last to Know, It’s Never Too Late to Be Alone, Missing Person, Driving With the Brakes On, Buttons on My Clothes, Don’t Cry, Don’t Cry, Just Like a Man, Lonely, The Ones That You Love Lead You Nowhere, All Hail Blind Love, Move Away Jimmy Blue.
Encore: This City Loves You Back, Nothing Ever Happens, Be My Downfall
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