Gomez still bringing it on

Gomez

Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton

Concert review and photos by James Watkins

It's hard to imagine that 11 years ago, a virtually unknown bluesy rock band scooped the Mercury Music prize ahead of The Verve's biggest selling album Urban Hymns and Pulp's This Is Hardcore.

But Gomez and their debut album Bring It On, hit the British music scene by storm in 1998. Since then it's been a long road for the Southport quintet, who have just seen the release of their sixth studio album A New Tide released this month.

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It seems no co-incidence to understand why the music scene has changed greatly in the past decade as I guided my way through the huge crowd on my way to the Wulfrun to get in.

Unfortunately for Gomez, the gathering of teenagers that lined the street wasn't for them; it was for McFly, who were playing the same night at the Civic Hall.

Amazingly, the Wulfrun was only half full and perhaps that was a good thing, because the crowd that turned out tonight had been following a long journey of consistent vision.

Simply put, this gig was for them. Tom Gray's evocative voice alongside Ian Ball and Ben Ottewell led a string of pretty harmonies and gutsy blues as the band played an intimate set that showcased songs from every album in their back catalogue including a rocked-up electric version of Get Myself Arrested that saw drummer, Olly Peacock end the track with an elaborate fast paced drum solo that whipped the crowd up perfectly before playing new single Airstream Driver ahead of fan favorites How We Operate and Whippin' Piccadilly.

It's not often that you get so much space and freedom to enjoy a gig at the Wulfrun, but tonight the fans were treated to a show they will cherish amidst memories of when they first discovered the band.

Gomez might have faded from the limelight in recent years, but their songs and fans seem to have stood the test of time and with that quality remaining entact and the obvious ability to entertain in the most intimate of venues, they will no doubt return in the near future with further offerings.