The dreaded "live album" has often deserved its' disdainful reputation. A hit and miss affair, it's often a holding operation rushed out to slake the fans' thirst while the band gradually prepare something moe substantial. It's usually easily distinguishable: y'know - shoddy sound quality, poorly-performed songs - and leaves you with a feeling somewhere between frustration and downright anger.
Well, obviously no-one told SHED SEVEN, as this generous 17-track live collection is one of the best of these "Greatest Hits -live" affairs your reviewer has clapped ears on in yonks. Powerfully delivered with flair, verve and gobby charm, "Where Have You Been Tonight?Live" leaves you in no doubt that this veteran indie combo's continued existence is definitely for the common good.
The mood is exultant and exhilarated throughout. You don't get to see Rick Witter's simian lope,obviously, and he sensibly leaves the pronouncements to a matey minimum, never veering too far from "you're on form you lot, aren't yer?" and its' numerous variations. But for once, actually leaving it to the music to, er, move yer seems the logical option.
I can't really be bothered to waste further space discussing Shed Seven's spurious Britpop associations, because they've got an awesome hit-stuffed set in its' own right and while there are a couple of sorry omissions (wot? no "Ocean Pie"? - boo!) we get wired'n'hungry versions of "Getting Better", "Dolphin", "She Left Me On Friday" and a naturally anthemic "Chasing Rainbows" that more than compensate.
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It does succumb to filler a couple of times. I could live without the beery pathos of "Long Time Dead" and probably "Eyes Before", but the clumsy grace of "Devil In Your Shoes" and a genuinely affecting "Cry For Help" show admirably that emotion runs far deeper than superficial level in Shedworld.
The Sheds have been continually written off for being about as fashionable as outside bogs and jars of farthings, but "Where Have You Been Tonight?" suggests their lust for life remains undimmed. Besides, even their detractors couldn't fail to be moved by the sound of several thousand poeple screaming the lyrics to "On Standby" back at Witter during the encores. Indeed, by the time they've rounded off with the mini earthquakes of the Who-ish "If The Music Don't Move Yer" and a viciously good "Disco Down" it's hard to see why they're so stupidly pilloried.
So, sure, Shed Seven will never be intellectuals and sonic envelope pushing remains a concept as alien as dairy farming on Mars, but y'now SO WHAT?? This is one case where brash, cheeky charm and big-hearted pop suss really ARE enough. In this context, at least.
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