It's been two years since this five-piece have played live, and it was touch and go that they would do this show, let alone any others. Ben Ottewell, one of three singers in the band (and one of three guitarists to boot) had intimated that the band may not get together ever again, but somewhere down the line they decided to dip their toes in the waters again, find out if they could work together and whether or not there was any strong interest out there.

 

Although one can never be really sure how things are going on a relationship level, we can be sure that there is, judging by tonight's reaction, a lot of interest and, indeed, love for this most unassuming of bands; a group of five blokes who surprised all – and themselves – by actually succeeding in this most fickle of businesses.

 

To recap: they won the Mercury Music Prize in 1998 with their debut album, barely two years after playing their first gig together. Not only was their unique take on psychedelic blues rock rather against the grain, their peculiar line up of three distinct singers and four singer songwriters is not normally a recipe associated with longevity. You know, clashing, competing egos, that sort of thing, although The Beatles and Queen are two notable examples that have bucked the orthodoxy. But, their obvious talents as musicians, songwriters and, particularly in the case of Ben Ottewell, singers has been a major factor in their success. That, and the overall image of a band that likes to have a laugh or two, and who don't take themselves too seriously, aligned with a feeling that here are five guys who could have been us, such is their down home personality. They look like five ordinary blokes walking down the street on any given day, so un-rock like do they look…

 

Tonight, they largely reeled off the hits (and misses) and, despite only a few rehearsals, demonstrated their skill as a band, a live sound that has been fine-tuned over the years. Beginning with Revolutionary Kind, which features all three guitarists, it's a fine way to proceed, the acoustic opening  slowly opening up into a gently expansive, yet experimental sound that could be very loosely described as psychedelic-blues-country-rock-pop-dub. Ian Ball then takes over the mic for the equally weird yet wonderful Shot Shot, before Tom Gray takes the reins; three very different sounds, different approaches to songwriting and lyrical content, and yet it somehow gels into fine music.

The ska-caribbean vibe of Get Myself Arrested provokes the first big sing-a-long of the night, while the outwardly pop structure of Girlshapedlovedrug is injected mid-song with a psychedelic rock wig-out. And old favourites Tijuana Lady and How We Operate are once again sung with aplomb by Ottewell, a gifted blues singer with oodles of soul emanating from this bear of a man.

 

Sure, this was a bit of a home gig, and they had home advantage (three of the band live here), but Gomez have been lifting spirits and winning fans for nearly 20 years. Although their inner-relationships might sometimes be rocky, the relationship with the fans remains strong and was fortified again tonight.

Jeff Hemmings