There were plenty of pre-gig shenanigans it seems, as the former Brighton boy looked to get his many mates from the area in to the  show, an important homecoming event for him (he was based here for a few years back in the 2000s), as he laid it on the line with his new album, Matador.

 

With the venue bursting at the seems, and on the second gig of his UK tour, Coombes and his four band mates exclusively performed post-Supergrass material, and mainly from the Matador album, which has seen his stock rise once again, winning plaudits across the board, and easily displaying his continuing skill as a songwriter.

 

Beginning the set with the mini-epic Buffalo, the lead track from the Matador album, and on the piano, straight from the off this was going to be his night despite the fact that many in the audience wouldn't have heard the album. Not unexpectedly, the audience reaction was a little muted as they digested the new material. While this may have presented a problem for a less confident artist, in-so-far that many 'established' artists would rather intersperse newer material within a show that included some of the 'hits', Coombes is head strong and determined to continue to make his mark as a musician and songwriter, and not to be in hoc to his past. Reforming Supergrass and wheeling out the hits can wait for another day; for now he's excited about the album, excited to be in Brighton, and moving decidedly forward as an artist.

 

Playing the tracks from the album fairly straight, with very little deviation, it was heartening to hear songs such as 20/20, Seven Walls, Needle's Eye, To The Wire, Detroit and The English Ruse working in the live arena despite the fairly complex sounds and arrangements on the recorded version, although at times, the subtle nuances and dynamics of songs such as the Girl Who Fell To Earth were inevitably lost within the live mix. Vocally, however, he sounds in fine fettle, his voice as strong as ever; soulful even, with a little hint of Steve Marriot when he reaches for the big notes.

 

Admitting to flying by the seat of his pants, but seemingly happy to be back on his former home turf ('Brighton, my old friend', he says at one point), nevertheless the fogs of time have dented his memory: at one point he asks the audience if he has ever played The Old Market before, with an audience member confirming that he has. Subsequently, Coombes turns to one of his band mates to say 'I owe you a tenner'…

 

Finishing off his set with To The Wire, he comes back for an encore to perform solo, the title track off the new album, before the band join in to effectively replay the song, before closing out with the rousing, disco grooves of Break The Silence, a highlight if his previous solo album, Here Come The Bombs.

 

In the end, Coombes has largely won over an audience who have been at times subdued due to the fact that this is mainly new, and unheard, material, but who are obviously highly respectful of Coombes. I hear no moronic call outs for Alright or any of the other Supergrass hits during the set…

Jeff Hemmings