Shed Seven, Inspiral Carpets – The Forum, Hatfield

This was the first time I caught the Inspiral Carpets since a main stage appearance at the V Festival in 2003, when it was still a sort-of-indie festival and not the terrible popfest it is today. I had previously caught the Clint Boon Experience at the Leeds Festival in 2000, which seems like a lifetime away now!
I hadn’t caught Shed Seven in ever. I’d bought their singles and (I think) one of two of their albums in the mid 90s – but there were so many other good acts around I didn’t give them regular play, which was kind of weird because (a) I knew a LOT of the songs in their 18-track set tonight, and (b) I knew a lot of the words too!
Both bands were extremely tight – Clint Boon’s Farfisa sounding as good as ever, Rick Witter having a great voice and confidence, doing his best to engage the crowd in occasional banter between songs, which you don’t see a lot of these days.
The Forum itself was a great venue. 40 miles from my home in Basildon but very close to the A1(M) which meant that it took me just 35 minutes to drive home, which makes it only slightly further away than Southend. And a free multi-storey car park next door to the venue!

Clint Boon knew his rock history and pointed out to the crowd that we were in the same place where the Police performed a legendary early gig, when the University of Hertfordshire was still Hatfield Polytechnic. I don’t know if it was in exactly the same room (after all it was 36 years ago and the Forum does look a bit newer than that) but the venue looks pretty similar in size and shape.
Back to last night … although officially not sold out, the room looked pretty full to me and I’d guess there were about 1,500 people there. Shed Seven would probably be very happy with that on a Tuesday evening in the home counties!
After the Inspirals set I felt pretty pleased that we caught the whole thing and decided to treat Shed Seven’s set as a bonus. It was even better.
One of my best gigs in a long time, proving that even though they weren’t two bands I considered my favourites, they still knock the hell out of similar bands today. The 90s continues to be the best decade ever.
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Inspiral Carpets setlist:
- Joe
- You’re So Good for Me
- This Is How It Feels
- She Comes in the Fall
- Two Worlds Collide
- I Want You
- Find Out Why
- Dragging Me Down
- Directing Traffik
- Let You Down
- Saturn 5
Shed Seven setlist:
- She Left Me on Friday
- Casino Girl
- Where Have You Been Tonight
- Devil in Your Shoes
- Speakeasy
- Cry For Help
- Dolphin
- Long Time Dead
- High Hopes
- Disco Down
- Bully Boy
- Ocean Pie
- On Standby
- Going for Gold
- Parallel Lines
Encore:
- Missing Out
- Getting Better
- Chasing Rainbows
Tuesday 8 December 2015, 163 views
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Gigs index
- Salad – The Hope and Ruin, Brighton
- Franz Ferdinand, Los Bitchos – Alexandra Palace, London
- Sultans of Ping FC, Big Boy Foolish – The Institute, Digbeth
- Darling Buds, Theatre Royal – Academy 2, Islington
- Maximo Park, Pip Blom – Roundhouse, Chalk Farm
- Steve Hackett – Regent Theatre, Ipswich
- The Divine Comedy – Barbican Hall, Barbican
- Fightmilk, Bitch Hunt, Sassyhiya – The Shacklewell Arms, Dalston
- Altered Images, The Metatrons – Chinnery’s, Southend
- Franz Ferdinand – Concorde 2, Brighton
- Tapeworms – Hot Box, Chelmsford
- Fightmilk, The Travis Waltons – Signature Brew, Haggerston
- Hybrid Kid – Shortts Bar, Brighton
- Speakeasy Vol 1 – Buckinghamshire New University, High Wycombe
- S*M*A*S*H, The Astronauts – Club 85, Hitchin
- Thousand Yard Stare, The Shop Window – Academy 2, Islington
- Bugeye – The Horn at the Half Moon, Bishop’s Stortford
- Ned’s Atomic Dustbin – Powerhaus, Camden
- Sea Power – Esquires, Bedford
- Salad, Piney Gir – The Lexington, Islington
- Fightmilk, The Spaces – Oast Community Centre, Rainham
- Fightmilk, Gold Baby, Gutts – The Victoria, Dalston
- Genesis – Liverpool Arena
- Pop Will Eat Itself, Utah Saints, Collapsed Lung – Assembly Hall, Islington
- Salad, Maschina, Burnout, Stick In The Wheel – High Tide Festival, Twickenham
- Hybrid Kid, White Dog, Lemur Lemur – Prince Albert, Brighton
- Futureheads, Mt Misery – Esquires, Bedford
- Sea Power – Craufurd Arms, Milton Keynes
- The Primitives, Jetstream Pony – The Lexington, Islington
- Becontree 100: Nova Twins – Parsloes Park, Dagenham
- Abdoujaparov, Big Boy Tomato – The Holroyd Arms, Guildford
- Pop Will Eat Itself, Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer – Assembly Hall, Islington
- Smokin’ Donuts – The Chequers, Billericay
- Republica, All Tomorrow’s Stories, Saint Nevis – The Boston Arms, Tufnell Park
- Dream Wife – Audio, Peckham
- Xmas Freak Show – The Railway Hotel, Southend-on-Sea
- Pop Will Eat Itself, Jeana – Craufurd Arms, Milton Keynes
- Steve Hackett – The Cliffs Pavilion, Westcliff-on-Sea
- Darling Buds, Helen Love – The Lexington, Islington
- Salad, Cozy Slippers, Gold Baby, Macadamia Sluts – The Finsbury, Finsbury Park
- Hurtling, Pink Haze, Petrol Boys – The Horn at the Half Moon, Bishop’s Stortford
- Divine Comedy – Empire, Shepherd’s Bush
- Frank and Walters, Tom Hingley and the Kar-Pets – The 100 Club, Soho
- Mimik Floyd – Chinnery’s, Southend
- Supergrass – Oslo, Hackney
- Ed Borrie, Scare Taxi, Metatrons – The Doctor’s Tonic, Welwyn Garden City
- Stillmarillion – Quay Theatre, Sudbury
- British Sea Power, Enjoyable Listens – Craufurd Arms, Milton Keynes
- Standon Calling 2019 – Standon Lordship, Hertfordshire
- Latitude Festival 2019 – Henham Park, Southwold
- The Good, The Bad and The Queen – Somerset House, Charing Cross
- The B-52’s, Trapdoor Social – Apollo, Hammersmith
- Piroshka, International Teachers of Pop – Central Library, Lancaster
- King Crimson – Royal Albert Hall, Kensington
- Top Of The Alcopops! – Boston Arms, Tufnell Park
- Ned’s Atomic Dustbin, Pop Will Eat Itself, Miles Hunt – The Institute, Digbeth
- Piroshka, Lemondaze – The Portland Arms, Cambridge
- The Stranglers – The Cliffs Pavilion, Westcliff-on-Sea
- Smokin’ Donuts – The Chequers, Billericay
- Art Brut – The Haunt, Brighton
- Sleeper – Forum, Tunbridge Wells
- British Sea Power – The Con Club, Lewes
- Sleeper – BBC Studios, Maida Vale
- Cardigans, Moto Boy – Apollo, Hammersmith
- Salad, Colour Me Wednesday – Academy 2, Islington
- Abdoujaparov, Doozer McDooze – The 100 Club, Soho
- Steve Hackett – The Regent Theatre, Ipswich
- Soft Cell – The O2, Greenwich
- Shiiine On – Academy, Birmingham
- RiZE Festival – Hylands Park, Chelmsford
- Standon Calling 2018 – Standon Lordship, Hertfordshire
- Latitude Festival 2018 – Henham Park, Southwold
- Thousand Yard Stare, Salad Undressed – The Lexington, Islington
- Thousand Yard Stare, Pacers – The Lexington, Islington
- Camden Rocks 2018 – Camden, London
- Salad, S*M*A*S*H, Jesuscarfish – The Soundhouse, Leicester
- Darling Buds, Nightingales – The Lexington, Islington
- Marillion – Corn Exchange, Cambridge
- Idles – Chinnery’s, Southend-on-Sea
- Smokin’ Donuts – The Chequers, Billericay
- Franz Ferdinand, Albert Hammond Jr – Corn Exchange, Cambridge
- British Sea Power – Koko, Camden
- Bilk – Hideaways, Chelmsford
- Divine Comedy – The LCR, Norwich
- Shed Seven – Scala, King’s Cross
- Marc Almond – The Cliffs Pavilion, Westcliff-on-Sea
- Indie Daze 4 – Forum, Kentish Town
- Salad, Know Escape – The Lexington, Islington
- Star Shaped Festival – Ritz, Manchester
- Standon Calling 2017 – Standon Lordship, Hertfordshire
- Sleeper, My Life Story – The Haunt, Brighton
- Latitude Festival 2017 – Henham Park, Southwold
- Radiohead, Junun – Old Trafford Cricket Ground, Manchester
- Thousand Yard Stare, Bivouac – The 100 Club, Soho
- Steve Hackett – The Cliffs Pavilion, Westcliff-on-Sea
- Salad Undressed, Vince Petchey – Three Wise Monkeys, Colchester
- Senseless Things, Midway Stil – New Adelphi Club, Hull
- Young Band Night – Chinnery’s, Southend
- Salad Undressed, Vicky Sometani – The Water Rats, King’s Cross
- Darling Buds – The Soundhouse, Leicester
- Mike Flowers Pops, Lorraine Bowen – The 100 Club, Soho
- Asylums, Petty Phase, Horse Heads, Scarletts – The Railway Hotel, Southend-on-Sea
- Honeyblood, Ultimate Painting – Oslo, Hackney
- Undertones, Sultans of Ping – Forum, Kentish Town
- Divine Comedy, Lisa O’Neill – Open, Norwich
- Indie Daze 3 – Forum, Kentish Town
- Imogen Heap – Saint Francis Hospice, Havering-atte-Bower
- Howling Black Soul, Skuff, Smoke City Revolution – Cricketers, Westcliff-on-Sea
- CJ2, For The Love Of Bob – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- Luna Highway, Kasual Karma, John Chapman and Alex Pezeshkian, Ad Edwards – Brentwood Rugby Club, Brentwood
- Indietracks 2016 – Midland Railway, Butterley
- Tom Hingley and the Kar-Pets, Kingsley Beat – The 100 Club, Soho
- Two Faced Serenade, Lightscopes, Jack Fordham and Muscle Bomber, Zublue – Essex Arms, Brentwood
- Belly – Forum, Kentish Town
- Salad Undressed – Antenna Studios, Crystal Palace
- Brentwood Festival 2016 – The Brentwood Centre, Brentwood
- Latitude Festival 2016 – Henham Park, Southwold
- Fitness In Mind All Dayer – Brentwood Centre, Brentwood
- British Sea Power – The Forum, Tunbridge Wells
- Garbage – The Troxy, Hackney
- Thousand Yard Stare – The 100 Club, Soho
- Mo Fingers – Brentwood Rugby Club, Brentwood
- Gigantic Indie All Dayer – Academy, Manchester
- Helen Scott, Baby Blues – White Horse, Brentwood
- Lush – Roundhouse, Chalk Farm
- Estrons, Our Girl – The Waiting Room, Stoke Newington
- Luke Haines – The Lexington, Islington
- Bracknall, High/Low – Essex Arms, Brentwood
- Lovely Eggs, Phill Jupitus, Muertos – Bassment, Chelmsford
- States Of Emotion, Electric Child House, Davey James, Brown Brothers – O’Neills, Brentwood
- Lush – Oslo, Hackney
- Darling Buds, Popguns – The 100 Club, Soho
- Phoenix Fridays: Indigo, Everglows – Brentwood Rugby Club, Brentwood
- Dingus Khan, Horse Party, Superglu, Brackish Edge, Claws – The Steamboat Tavern, Ipswich
- Sisteray, Beatniks – Bardswell Social Club, Brentwood
- Little Green Cars, Other Creatures – Bar and Grill, Hoxton
- Stop The War All Dayer – The Railway Hotel, Southend-on-Sea
- They Might Be Giants – Junction, Cambridge
- High/Low, Deniers, Different People – The Edge, Basildon
- Poder de Tres, Keeley Smith, Joe Fryd – Shenfield Cricket Club, Brentwood
- Mystery Jets – South Records, Southend-on-Sea
- Shed Seven, Inspiral Carpets – The Forum, Hatfield
- Vile Electrodes, Under The Stars, Killatrix, Lixiviath – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- Asylums, Petty Phase – The Railway Hotel, Southend-on-Sea
- Baby Blues, Warm Winters, Velvet Tree, Re:Verb – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- Fireworks, Electric Pop Group, Garlands, Keep Left Signs – New River Studios, Harringay
- Lydia Lucy, Jessica Ali, Adam Wedd – Shenfield Cricket Club, Brentwood
- Dani Clay, Libby Holden, Jive Agents, Charlie Law – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- Indietracks 2015 – Midland Railway, Butterley
- Latitude Festival 2015 – Henham Park, Southwold
- Brownstock Festival – Browns Farm, Stow Maries
- Southend Village Green 2015 – Chalkwell Park, Southend-on-Sea
- Who, Paul Weller, Sleaford Mods, Kaiser Chiefs – Hyde Park, London
- Blur, Metronomy – Hyde Park, London
- British Sea Power – Roundhouse, Chalk Farm
- Thousand Yard Stare, Subrosa5 – Borderline, Charing Cross
- Madness – Chelmsford City Racecourse, Great Leighs
- Los Endos – Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch
- Juke, Takes, Ascetics, CJ2 – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- Pop Will Eat Itself – Cargo, Shoreditch
- Ride – Roundhouse, Chalk Farm
- Kaleidophone, Luke Sanders, Enemy Of The Lion, Connor Wells – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- Finding Miranda, Ends, Helen Connolly, Eva Tobin – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- Francesca Priest, Keeley Scott, Cameron Southcott – Shenfield Cricket Club, Brentwood
- Kaiser Chiefs, Public Service Broadcasting – O2 Arena, Greenwich
- Ryan Green, Luciee Closier, Leanne Louise – Eclipse, Brentwood
- Sulk, Tail Feather – Oslo, Hackney
- Velvet Tree, High/Low, Sonic Wah, Charlie Wallis – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- Bis, Ghosts Of Dead Airplanes – The Lexington, Islington
- Stardog Champions, Fashoda Crisis, High/Low, Dirty Fairies, Deniers – Saks Underground, Southend-on-Sea
- Break For Cover – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- For The Love Of Bob, Everglows, Made In Paradise – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- Carter USM, Sultans of Ping FC, Frank and Walters – Academy, Brixton
- Band From County Hell, Sophie DeBattista, Thomas James, Leigh Luscious – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- Steve Hackett – The Cliffs Pavilion, Westcliff-on-Sea
- Hafdis Huld – Phoenix Artists Club, Charing Cross
- Stillmarillion – The Tropic, Ruislip
- D’Ukes, Scarlet Echo, Aim, Wildfowl – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- Electric Child House, Matthew Haslam Hammond, Charlie Wallis – The White Horse, Brentwood
- Kate Bush – Apollo, Hammersmith
- Brownstock Festival 2014 – Stow Maries, Essex
- Killing Jimmy, Flares, We Stand Tall, Matthew Haslam Hammond – Essex Arms, Brentwood
- Brentwood Festival 2014 – The Brentwood Centre, Brentwood
- Lydia Lucy, Juke, Matthew Shepherd, Kate Thomas – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- Latitude Festival 2014 – Henham Park, Southwold
- Pete Brame, Jared Richter Band, Molly Rainford, Rocheii – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- Luciee-Marie Closier, Bow Flats, Francesca Priest, Matthew Attwaters – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- Pop Will Eat Itself – Academy 2, Islington
- Arctic Monkeys, Tame Impala, Miles Kane – Finsbury Park, London
- Wolf Alice, Superfood, Gengahr – The Portland Arms, Cambridge
- Yes – The Cliffs Pavilion, Westcliff-on-Sea
- Sunny Moon, Ordinary Noise, For The Love Of Bob, Annie May Adams – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- Darling Buds, EN – Borderline, Charing Cross
- Mannequins, Tones, Jessi Cooper, Velvet Tree – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- Menswear, Patrick Duff – Bush House, London
- Republica, Space – Academy, Islington
- Franz Ferdinand – Roundhouse, Chalk Farm
- Ryan Green, D’Ukes, Lorretta, Philip Marino – Society of Old Brentwoods, Brentwood
- Republica, Sophie-Ellis Bextor, Glenn Gregory, Polly Scattergood, Stornoway – The Bedford, Balham
- Maximo Park – Sebright Arms, Bethnal Green
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