Supergrass arrived at The Riviera Theatre on their US tour to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their debut album, I Should Coco.
It’s hard to believe that it’s been 30 years since Gaz Coombes, Mick Quinn, and Danny Goffey got together and created one of the nineties’ standout albums, I Should Coco. Obviously, there’s an element of nostalgia to any anniversary show, but were you to be dropped in the Riviera Theatre to see Supergrass for the first time, you would be forgiven for thinking that this was an energetic, contemporary band touring a new release.
From the moment they stepped on stage, those in the audience lucky enough to be around when Supergrass really were the new kids on the block were transported back to their youth. Supergrass always stood out in the nineties as something different. The songwriting, both from a melodic and lyrical perspective, was always a level beyond many of the bands that found success at that time, and I Should Coco was an incredible debut album for such a young trio. Whilst many will remember it for the band’s breakout hit, “Alright,” the album had many layers that really showed off both the songwriting and musical chops of the trio. Alongside high-energy tracks like “Mansize Rooster” and “Caught By The Fuzz” were songs such as “Sofa (Of My Lethargy)” and “Time,” making the album an exciting but layered listen.
Another thing that set the band apart was how incredibly tight they were when performing live. Time has only improved the live experience. These four friends have been doing this for more than 30 years, and at the Riviera Theatre, it really showed. With it being an anniversary show, they performed the whole of I Should Coco, though not in the tracklist order. There was a special treat for fans when they performed “Sofa (Of My Lethargy,” which Gaz mentioned they rarely ever played live. That’s a song from the first album that has Sgt. Peppers-era Beatles’ undertones, and really demonstrated the depth of Supergrass’s songwriting ability. It was a real treat to see it performed live. Alongside the I Should Coco songs, Supergrass also debuted “Diamond Hoo Ha Man” in a live setting after rehearsing it in soundcheck just that day. There was also a handpicked selection of classics from the Supergrass catalog, including “Moving” and “Richard III.
Gaz Coombes still demands your attention as a frontman, and is one of those rare vocalists who seems to have lost none of his range the older he has got (not only that, but he doesn’t look like he’s aged a day since the release of I Should Coco, although that’s maybe the magic of stage lighting). His vocals were flawless all evening, and with Mick and Danny providing a rock-solid foundation, and Rob adding some texture on keyboards, you could be forgiven for thinking you were listening to the recorded version of some of these songs.
The band had the audience on their feet, begging for a couple more tunes after the last notes rang out of “Time To Go.” They obliged with “Sun Hits The Sky” and “Pumping On Your Stereo,”and then it was over. A perfect evening celebrating I Should Coco, from a band that clearly still has a lot to offer. Based on the reaction of the audience, a new album/music from this foursome would be welcomed by open arms in Chicago. We can hope.
WORDS BY: Phil WaltonPHOTOS BY: Kirstine Walton
