If you talk to any 00’s kid who grew up around the indie scene, they will all probably say that The Subways meant something special to them growing up. Their youthful energy really struck a chord with that core audience and even before and after the gig tonight, revellers are sharing stories of how they saw them back in 05 in the Barfly. However, to this reviewer, they mean a heck of a lot more. Almost 12 years ago they played an intimate gig in the Welsh capital; which was quite possibly the hottest show on record ever! It was also the place where my now wife and I shared our first ever date and coincidently, we had one of their songs playing at our wedding as we walked back down the aisle as husband and wife. So yes, I think it’s fair to say that this little band has had an impact on my life.
Tonight in Cardiff’s Clwb Ifor Bach, they come off of the back of their newly released fifth album “Uncertain Joys” to a crowd that have grown up with them and followed over the years. What might be lacking in full blown energy from the audience side, can’t be said from what is on the stage. Coming straight out of the gates with “Oh Yeah”, both Billy and Charlotte exude that youthful exuberance from 20 years ago; like a Duracell Bunny jumping around on bass, or the pure joy in Billy’s eyes when the crowd are singing back. His smile is infectious and you can tell that every time he gets on stage he’s lapping it up.
It’s quickly followed by “Black Wax” one of the highlights on their latest release which is propelled by its huge bluesy influenced riff backed up seamlessly by their newest member Camille on drums. One of the themes tonight and nice little touches is the way that Lunn introduces each of the songs with the inspiration behind them. Be it friends losing jobs in pants factories with “We Don’t Need Money To Have A Good Time” or caring for his mother during “Mary”; one of the high points of the evening that gets the Welsh crowd in fine voice. The hits don’t stop coming as well with select picks from “All Or Nothing” in the form of “Kalifornia” and “Turnaround”, the later with its “dirty bass breakdown” making sure that their energy doesn’t drop whatsoever.
We also get to see a bit of a new side to them, with the addition of the synthesiser which is present over their new record. The title track sees Lunn spitting bars effortlessly during the chorus, whereas “Love Waiting On You” makes one feel as though they are floating in the room. The impact of their first record is one that still resonates with the fans today. The opening notes of “I Want To Hear What You’ve Got To Say” are unmistakeable and as soon as it starts you can sense the anticipation building. It results in a culmination of everyone bopping along each of them with the biggest grin plastered over their faces.
For the first time on a tour, they’ve included a cover in their set and their version of Blondie’s “Hanging On The Telephone” is delivered in that punchy way you would expect from a band like The Subways. It’s refreshing that the “bravado” of the encore is taken away this evening and instead they burst right into “Girls & Boys”. The sheer size of the song is bigger than the room it’s being played in and in an ideal world should be echoing around the walls of arenas.
“With You” has the biggest sing along of the night, which starts off mellow but builds and builds into a crescendo that feels joyous and makes you forget about everything else that is going on in the world. Everything finishes this evening with their biggest hit “Rock & Roll Queen” and for a moment everyone in the room gets to feel like they are a teenager again, headbanging along in the prime of their youth. Even during the extended outro, Billy makes his way through the crowd soloing down on his knees. Unfortunately, there’s no upper balcony for him to launch himself off into the crowds here as would usually be the case; instead everyone instead gets to surround and worship him in his craft.
It’d seem cliched to use their album title to sum up what the band are like and the feelings they evoke amongst their fans but it’s true. We chose “Rock & Roll Queen” for our wedding because there is something about it that still feels fresh, it’s full of energy and at the end it leaves you with a spring in your step. So thank you to The Subways, for staying vibrant and keeping us feeling young again; here is to another 20 years!