Tag Archives: Madness

Madness, Gig Review. Tranmere Rovers, Prenton Park.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Madness at Prenton Park. May 2017.

In amongst the groups of men wearing pith helmets and dreaming of night in the arms of dusky Egyptian maid, the hen parts walking with vigour as the thought of one step beyond the matrimonial alter dawned upon them, the sense of the naughty and the mischievous strutting round in their baggy trousers and the division of blue and red Fezs took centre stage. The feeling of contentment inside Prenton Park was infectious; a party inside Prenton, the pitch, soon to be replaced for another season, was being lovingly trampled upon, and whether in the stands or on the ground this was an evening on the Wirral peninsula which would light up the area as much as the rightly adored Light Night across the Mersey in Liverpool.

Madness, Gig Review. Tranmere Rovers, Prenton Park. full post

(517 words, 1 image, estimated 2:04 mins reading time)

Madness, Can’t Touch Us Now. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

There are not many bands that have the special relationship with their fans that Madness have enjoyed and continue to revel in. Even after almost 40 years, the rapport between the members of the group, their cool glance at life during the endearing decades in which they have placed their bowler hats and well manicured smiles and sometimes sarcastic roll of the eyes, and the audience, has never once wavered, so much so that as the decades have fallen away, as age has withered us, it can be suggested that to Madness, Can’t Touch Us Now, is the cherry on life’s nutty cake.

Madness, Can’t Touch Us Now. Album Review. full post

(422 words, estimated 1:41 mins reading time)

Madness, Gig Review. Liverpool Echo Arena.

Suggs at the Liverpool Echo Arena. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

The curtain draws back at the Echo Arena and suddenly one of the biggest indoor parties opens up before an excited and fervent audience full of passion.  A collective desire to see one of the best bands of their generation perform their new songs and greatest hits for them, it can only mean one thing…that Madness are back in town again.

Madness, Gig Review. Liverpool Echo Arena. full post

(456 words, 1 image, estimated 1:49 mins reading time)

Madness, Oui Oui Si Si Ja Ja Da Da. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

It can be of hardly any surprise to find that the latest album from the stable of Madness doesn’t match the career defining album The Liberty of Norton Folgate released in 2009. However, this should not stop the loveable rogues of north London continue their 21st century renaissance as one of the best bands to have graced the British charts in the last 40 years.

Madness, Oui Oui Si Si Ja Ja Da Da. Album Review. full post

(497 words, 1 image, estimated 1:59 mins reading time)

Madness, The Rise And Fall. 30th Anniversary Retrospective.

Madness are one of the quintessential British groups that made their name in the late 1970’s and who still, over 30 years later, are able to raise a smile of joyful expectation when they announce a new album or showcase one of their much anticipated sell out night at venues up and down the country.

After much success with their previous three studios albums; One Step Beyond, Absolutely and 7, all of which made the U.K. top ten, the band released in the autumn of 1982 their fourth and arguably their best album The Rise and Fall.  This would stand musically head and shoulders above all other contenders till the men from North London hit music gold in 2009 with the inspired and tantalising concept album which surrounds the love of London and its people in The Liberty of Norton Folgate.

Madness, The Rise And Fall. 30th Anniversary Retrospective. full post

(1043 words, 1 image, estimated 4:10 mins reading time)

Madness, Gig Review. Wolverhampton Civic Hall.

Madness in Wolverhampton. Photgraph by Ian D. Hall

Originally published by L.S. Media. December 18th 2009.

To a certain generation the evening felt like a school disco from their childhood in the early eighties. Not only did the audience have the pleasure of seeing the band on a short film but then there was the musical interlude before the main act. A superb D.J playing all the tracks the late thirty and early forty something’s would remember with fondness such as Tenpole Tudor’s Swords of a Thousand Men and The Undertones’ My Perfect Cousin.

Madness, Gig Review. Wolverhampton Civic Hall. full post

(392 words, 1 image, estimated 1:34 mins reading time)