The Courteeners / Ida Maria

Having only found out I had press passes for this sold out show at 5.30pm today created a bit of a rush job to get to Hull Asylum, on arrival I thought I had walked into the wrong gig, finding Ida Maria on stage as she performs her probably only hit 'I Love You Better When Your Naked'. The Courteeners' fans obviously did not have any love for her, as she was hit by numerous paper cups spraying their contents over her. Surely the strangest choice of support act I have ever had the misfortune to witness.



Once she leaves the stage the DJ drops some madchester sounds, creating a preview of what is to come, the lights dim as Oasis Rock & Roll Star pulsates out of the speakers creating an almost 1994 feeling of pre Britpop as cup after cup of lager (hopefully) is thrown onto the stage. The Courteeners must have been enjoying the tunes as once Oasis has finished they walk out on to the stage.

For those uninitiated with Courteeners they can only be best described as an Oasis for the Noughties, when they used to be relevant. Even the lead singer is called Liam!!! Looking at the audience you could even be forgiven you where at an Oasis gig as the audience is 80% lager drinking white male.

Opening up with 'Aftershow' gets the crowd going wild as bodies are suddenly started to be pulled out of the crowd just seconds into the show, oh yes this is going to be fun. Fray tells the audience, "I can't believe it is Monday night it feels like a Friday!'" which I would have to agree with.



'Kimberley', 'Trying Too Hard To Score', 'Acrylic' just blend into one long song until 'Please Don't Pretend' gets a mass sing-along going, particularly the line "Cos it's got fuck all to do with me!!!" As 400 Britpop wannabees raise their pints of lager into the air in mock celebration. The audience participation starts to get aggressive as Cavorting rips into gear with the fist punching getting more & more violent lifting some lads of the floor!!!

The low stage of the Asylum makes it difficult to see the band beyond the soundboard, people around me are stood on tables, chairs in fact anything that can enable them a view of their heroes. By now the lager is being thrown around freely as the drunken young males dressed in their Officers Club ripped jeans & striped T-shirts do a stutter dance whilst singing to each other in a more than friendly way. Some must be with girlfriends as there are a number of girls stood around the bar area with faces of pure boredom.

New song 'That Kiss' creates a crowd lull; I guess most of the crowd have yet to hear the latest track as it has had very little air play which is a shame as it is actually a very good track, why a certain music magazine only gave it 2 out of 10 I will never know.



Finally 'Not Nineteen Forever' which has almost been a soundtrack for this year's summer festivals, lifts the roof of the place, this is not just a metaphor either as the fans stood on the tables & chairs punch the air forcing the suspended ceiling tiles to fall out!!!

Suddenly the show is all over as soon as it starts, so how good are Courteeners?? Well sounding like Oasis fills a void for the under twenties who can experience a bit of their own nineties Britpop era. Which is possibly a good thing, however if they do make it to the big time which they should, judging how quick this show sold out and how much the crowd enjoyed themselves, then watch out at next year's festivals (they are already scheduled to play V next year), take along a brolly & some waterproofs whatever the weather because it is not going to be a very pleasant experience, but the music will be good...

FUTURE GIGS