Happy Mondays -Warrington Music Festival 2013

Happy Mondays -Warrington Music Festival 2013

I First heard a Happy Mondays track in the 90's,I hadn't realised they had been together for as long as they had years before.

Like 'The Stone Roses' their songs were anthems for Manchester people and fans of the baggy scene across the North West, so I loved everything from the album 'Bummed' and 'Pills & Thrills & Bellyaches' respectively.

 

I had my first live 'Monday's Experience in 2008 when they made an appearance at a charity 'Versus Cancer' gig in Manchester at the MEN Arena along with The Farm,Inspiral Carpets & Peter Hook, it was a little disappointing, 'Shaun Ryder's vocals were not up to par they were barely on speaking terms and he wasn't allowed to earn money due to addiction to heroin things were tense, he was barely audible he looked like he didn't want to be there, Bez was just Bez the star of the show,but it wasn't particularly memorable for me.

 

So tonight in my birth town of 'Warrington' live and free for one night only 'Happy Mondays' are back here in all places 'The old market place' as the Saturday before there was a ticket giveaway 2 to a person, and people camped overnight to get the lucky tickets to see them you had to wait for 10am,there were  approx 2'000 tickets.

 

Me and my guest went early to work out the queueing system, we were first in the queue we're used to gig etiquette, hardly anyone turned up until well into support bands set.

 

Supporting tonight are 2 bands from 'Warrington' 'In Blue Skies' and 'The Ambersons' the first band sounded like a tribute band for 90's and now radio hits with a female singer although the guy sat on the percussion box had rhythm and was impressive, they sang covers of 'Coldplay' and 'Bruno Mars' and afterwards handed out free Cds and wristbands to the crowd.

 

'The Ambersons' were the most entertaining lead singer looked a little bit like 'Kid Rock' but sang with the harmonies of 'Orson',they played their own songs,he dressed in white ,he seemed confident and outgoing for  a new act I think he knew how to work the crowd which is always good.

 

'The Mondays' took to the stage at 9.30pm Bez walked up to the mic and began "Ladies and Gentlemen, Warrington introducing The Happy Mondays!!!" the crowd went crazy ,now the kids seemed to vanish behind us and the adults in it now were the ones yelling and pushing to the front some pissed up some not so pissed trying to enjoy it without getting whacked in the face or having lager thrown over their heads ( IE it was very difficult).

 

Shaun walks onto the stage in Shorts and Blue and White striped T-shirt and shades with freshly shaven head "Manchester,Liverpool,Warrington" and Bez who leaves the stage and lets 'Rowetta' walk on after him she arrives wearing what looks like a red and black Ann Summers outfit with tights and thigh high boots with riding crop tucked in at the leg I'm guessing it was for 'Shaun' to keep him in check and get him to complete the show for us haha.

 

They kicked off with 'Loose Fit' then classic indie hit 'Kinky Afro' next up was my fav track from 'Pills N Thrills' 'Dennis & Lois,Bez arrives back on stage for some of the show clambering on the amps, shaking his marracas, his eyes goggling out of their sockets, and the crowd now mainly consisting of 40 and 50 somethings, I did think what am I doing here with this lot but most of he time  I went nuts too ,possibly worse than them as I knew the words and was sober !!

 

Then it was onto '24 Hour Party people' and then class tune 'Hallelujah', Shaun cracked me up with each track as he kept saying 'Is This an 80's song or a 90's song' bless him he cant remember much of it, then he exclaimed 'h not done this one in a while I like that turn it up' which could only mean one thing 'Mad Cyril' to which I went bonkers for,then another track showcasing 'Rowetta's vocals 'called 'Bobs Your Uncle'.

 

Approaching Encore time the whole place goes Beserk when 'Step on' starts,'Rowetta' is trying her luck winding up Showsec man standing with his back to the stage,she thinks its funny to whack him over the head with her red tassle sticks,he looks back bemused and she keeps doing it he isn't having much fun but its entertaining.

 

Last track of the night is 'WFL' Wrote For Luck and Bez comes back on the stage (The video for this has a connection with the town if you've ever seen it ,it's filmed in a club ages ago in Warrington the club was called 'Legends' well closed own now obviously.)

Bez comes back on stage and wows the crowd,he then picks up setlists and distributes them to people in the crowd and loses a flip flop in the process.

 

He then beckons a fan to come up on stage the guy is in wheelchair and Bez is losing patience with security who then help him out and in a moving moment  Bez hugs him and has dance in jest with him, that guy was in the queue with us top geezer, he's a big fan so kudos for that one mate Nice one !! There was no allocated disability area for him so he'd risked getting hammered at he front, they played just over and hour,then when they left the stage was the usual setlist chaos I did manage to get one, Class gig Happy Fridays all round!!

 

 

LMI  x