My 2024 gig journey started with Liverpool’s Cast at Kentish Town Forum and ended at the same venue with another Liverpool band, The Lightning Seeds. The night kicked off with the infectious electronica track “Life’s Too Short” from their fifth album, Tilt, setting the tone for a celebration of 35 years of The Lightning Seeds.
From the shimmering synths to the iconic strawberry emblem flashing in various designs, the atmosphere was light and carefree, filled with jangly pop goodness. Ian Broudie, now 66, sounded fantastic throughout the set, showcasing his vocals that have stood the test of time long with his somewhat unsung guitar playing.
The band played songs from all points of their discography, taking fans on a journey through their hits like “Pure,” “Lucky You,” and “Sugar Coated Iceberg.” The audience became a choir of “ooohs” as they sang along to their favourite tracks, reminiscing about the band’s psychedelic-tinged 90s sound.
The Lightning Seeds surprised with three covers during the evening of which were, Wreckless Eric’s “Whole Wide World” with Eric joining the band on stage and The Byrds’ “You Showed Me.” The night climaxed with an acoustic version of “Be My Baby,” sandwiched between “Marvellous” and the heartfelt “The Life of Riley,” dedicated to Ian Broudie’s son, Riley, who now plays guitar in the band.
It was a brilliant moment to see the real-life Riley Broudie sharing the stage with his father, embodying the love and joy that The Lightning Seeds bring to their music and performances. Just like Riley, the audience left the venue that night feeling grateful for the memorable experience and the timeless music of The Lightning Seeds.
Sat in decent seats with no one directly in front so at a level I didn’t hamper vision of those behind meaning that I could do a few recordings.
Ready or Not
Tomorrow Never Comes
Pure
Be My Baby
Life of Riley
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