4 years ago I sat with Rick as Shed Seven were about to play the Northampton Roadmender. We spoke of the longevity of Shed Seven’s music, the magic formula that has led to them maintaining a 20+ year career touring the same handful of records with an ever expanding fan base. Rick was quite resolute in the fact that Shed Seven had no urge or, indeed, no need to make new music. For now the die hard army that have followed Shed Seven from conception to present day were more than happy spend the next 20 years as they had done the previous. This is a back catalogue that is in no way broken and definitely not in need of repair. As the years tick by they are one of only a handful of bands from that era that can still pull it off in the same way they did in their youth. And that resonates. For 90 minutes you can go and see Shed Seven and briefly forget that you’re 40 and out way past your normal bed time.
The 90’s revival has been so huge that there’s absolutely no need for any of the bands to step outside of that ‘Britpop revival’ bubble. Bands are coming out of the woodwork all over the place knowing full well there’s absolutely no pressure or requirement to start churning out new music. Have half of those seen their fellow bandmates or even picked up an instrument in the years that have passed? Who knows, but it is what it is. It’s pure indulgence, nostalgia in all it’s glory.
Shed Seven have been captains of their own ship for years, steering a steady course without confrontation or consequence. So when the band announced that new music was coming, it was met with joy and trepidation. The excitement in the build up to hearing the first single overshadowed by the internal mantra of “please don’t be shit, please don’t be shit”. Whilst at the same time questioning whether or not it is possible that they could do anything that would even touch Change Giver or A Maximum High? Such a monumental musical bar that they have set for themselves, realistically an album in the same league. Really?
Wednesday 20th September saw thousands of middle aged Britpop revellers gather around their wirelesses as Radio 6 aired Room In My House. And my relentless mantra to the indie gods had paid off. It was, indeed, not shit. Far from it. It’s classic Banksy guitar, un-mistakable Witter lyrics, as if time had actually stood still. Good lord they’ve actually done it. As far as comeback singles go they haven’t put a note out of place. Shed Seven at their hip-jiggling best.
So, until November 10th……
Make sure you catch the band on one of their forthcoming winter dates:
Mon 20 Nov Inverness – Ironworks
Tues 21 Nov Aberdeen – The Garage
Wed 22 Nov Edinburgh – The Liquid Room
Thur 24 Nov Dublin – Olympia
Sat 26 Nov Leicester – 02 Academy
Mon 28 Nov Sheffield – O2 Academy
Thu 30 Nov Glasgow – 02 Academy
Fri 01 Dec Glasgow – O2 Academy
Sat 02 Dec Newcastle – O2 Academy
Mon 04 Dec Blackburn – King Georges Hall
Tue 05 Dec Stoke – Victoria Hall
Thu 07 Dec Cardiff – Uni Y’Plas
Fri 08 Dec Nottingham – Rock City
Sat 09 Dec Sheffield – O2 Academy
Mon 11 Dec Norwich – The Nick Rayns LCR, UEA
Tue 12 Dec Bournemouth – 02 Academy
Thu 14 Dec Bristol – O2 Academy 1
Fri 15 Dec Birmingham – O2 Academy 1
Sat 16 Dec London – O2 Brixton Academy
Mon 18 Dec Leeds – O2 Academy
Tues 19 Dec Leeds – 02 Academy
Thu 21 Dec Hull – City Hall
Fri 22 Dec Manchester – Academy 1
Sat 23 Dec Manchester – Academy 1
