IMS_Blog

Reviewed by Ian Scott
The venue was rubbish, with a stupidly early finish time to the gig to make way for whatever crap absolutely had to be on afterwards, but the music was good! Don’t ask me for a set list because I couldn’t remember on the night but it was a good mixture of Tom’s older stuff and tracks from the (finally here) new album (some of their best ever work).

Having wound our way to the front, all be it to one side, and endured listening to some anal discussion of the “top five greatest three pieces” from the guys next to us, who seemed more inclined to analysing things than simply enjoying being in the presence of one of them (and they got the list wrong), the band finally took to the stage. Beginning with what seemed a few sound problems during the opening track (Treehouse I think) didn’t seem to matter as the band rocked and quickly established a rapport with the crowd. And if there’s one thing Buffalo Tom can do it’s put out a danceable, enjoyable rock track. It’s just a shame they had to keep it moving because of that damn 10 pm curfew—even if it did become the running joke. Highlights included Tangerine, Three Easy Pieces, and CC and Callas, Taillights Fade plus Mineral with that damn glitter ball, mentioned earlier in the gig, being lit up so green to match the lyrics. They saved the best until almost last. As the encore brought out a thunderous version of Rachael with everyone jumping around like mad people (even the guy who had brought a huge bag to the gig couldn’t get in the way). Crutch seemed a strange song to then close on—can’t help wonder if it wasn’t for the enforced early finish if something else would have come out after it.

So, they were good, we got tired dancing, we smiled. What more is to ask?

More photos, taken using my phone, may be found in the photo gallery