Warwick Arts Centre, April 1st 2000.

Prefab Sprout aren’t the type of band to keep to regular schedule; if the majority of bands haven’t put a new record out within 2-3 years, you wonder what has happened to them. Their last LP the ‘critically acclaimed’ “Andromeda Heights”, was released 7 years after its predecessor, the epic “Jordan, the Comeback”.

So it will come as no surprise to you now, when I tell you that this is the Sprout’s first tour for TEN years, coinciding with the release of the new album, “Sleeping Rough”, and in part to promote the new single, the theme tune from the TV show “Where the Heart Is”. In that time, personnel have changed. The longest-serving line up of Paddy McAloon on vocals, brother Martin on Bass, Wendy Smith on Keyboards and Backing Vocals, and Neil Conti on Drums, ceased to exist when Conti left the band around the time of the “Andromeda Heights” , to be replaced by various percussionists.  Conti does return for this tour (and the proposed Fleadh slot), whilst Wendy Smith has been unable to take part due to maternal obligations; she recently had a baby, and is being temporarily replaced on this tour by Jess Bailey.

The band came out, with Paddy sporting a new look, which had comments raising from a refugee from the Dubliners to Captain Birdseye (personally I’d go for a cross between George Harrison and Gibbons or Hill from ZZ Top). The first song they played was “I remember that”, a subtle reference to the audience possibly, for not forgetting that they are still around, and offering a reward for keeping the faith.

Paddy offered dark humour in his patter, making cynical references to Brittany Spears; “We were supposed to duet this song with Brittany Spears, but the stabilisers on her bicycle came off on the way here so…”, and Westlife, remarking that “Seasons in the Sun” pipped “Carnival 2000″ as the song to ‘usher in the millennium’. The band was in jovial mood, as Paddy threatened to embark upon U2, and The Wurzels medleys, before thinking better of it.

It came across that he was not only keeping the atmosphere light, but also having a pleasant dig at the number of un-talented artists riding high in the charts today. They themselves seemed rusty, with Jess Bailey hitting a few bum notes on the keyboards, Neil Conti starting to play the wrong song on the set list, and even Paddy forgetting the words to one of his songs, but these mistakes only helped in contributing to the dark humour of Paddy, and the light relief given to the audience.

Apart from the new single, “Where the Heart Is”, no new material was played; Paddy preferring to play the songs the fans knew and loved, the songs that struck an emotional chord in your heart, the songs that would serve you perfectly, sitting by the sea front at 3 in the morning (or 4, depending on if your listening to ‘Faron Young’). References were also made to his heroes and icons; The Beatles in “Electric Guitars”, Bruce Springsteen in “Cars and Girls”, God in “The sound of Crying”, and although not played tonight, Elvis in “The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.”

All the classics were played and the themes were clearly evident; the different points of view when a relationship has broken down, “When love breaks down, Cruel, Goodbye Lucille (Johnny Johnny), Life of Surprises” the differences of opinion relating to searching for a Utopia “Cars and Girls, Looking for Atlantis, Lions in My Garden, Jordan: The Comeback”, with the final song of encore illustrating the plight of so many talented bands of previous years which have not been publicly accepted with changes in fashion “Prisoner of the Past”.

Even with a lot of songs stripped down compared to their recorded versions; the band sounding wonderful, and this rarity proved to be a night to remember! Don’t stay away too long next time, Paddy.

Craig Aston

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