The Wedding Present / The Victorian English Gentlemen's Club

With such a long name you would think they are trying to compensate for something. The Victorian English Gentlemen’s Club, with their two gals and a guy set up, are not everyone’s cup of tea. The mixture of shouty, shall we say barks are not what you would expect supporting the long running Wedding Present. 'A-A-A-A-Amateur Man’ is an annoying headache of a song, and only the poppier sound of ‘Ban the Gin’ makes up for it. More like modern yelping, with not much structure, but I suppose it’ll make you dance. If you’re pissed.



Just like people want the bloody football to, The Wedding Present come home to Leeds to a swelling crowd, some old, some not-so-old. The three guys and a gal keep stating that they are getting on a bit, and that Leeds is very loud, but they love it really. Since the band have been going since 1984 (excluding, if you can separate the two bands, the break for side project Cinerama in 1977-2004) their sound is amazing, no cock-ups, good structure (take note Victorian whatever you are). Stuffing in a track from the Cinerama era in the form of ‘Wow’ (which looks uncomfortable for singer David Gedge, after the break up with long-term girlfriend and Cinerama band member Sally Murrell) the rest of the setlist is filled with old and new TWP lovelies. ‘Corduroy’, ‘Montreal’ and the fairly new ‘I’m from Further North Than You’ join forces with ‘Brass Neck’ and ‘Take Me’.

Although the new songs are not as punchy as before, and have a sad air about them, the lyrical content is similar, simple and straight to the point. The guitars glide over David’s quiet rumblings and painful wailings, all delivered in a broad accent, giving the feeling it is a shame some of the best songs come about through very emotional times, but that’s what it normally takes.

FUTURE GIGS