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Leeds Live

National

Alex Grove

Stereophonics review: Kelly Jones serves up thunderous show and proves he is a timeless rock god

Kelly Jones Stereophonics Leeds Leeds First Direct Arena

Thirty years ago in a tiny Welsh village in the Valleys, Kelly Jones and Stuart Cable started jamming together in Kelly’s dad’s garage.

From that moment on Stereophonics was born and three decades later the timeless band are still blasting out their vast array of hits to thousands of adoring fans across the country, with the Welsh rock gods currently in the middle of their 2022 tour to promote their eight studio album ‘Oochya’.

And on Wednesday night (March 23), Leeds First Direct Arena was the venue for Kelly and co as they played out a rip-roaring set that was full of energy and cemented their place among rock’s elite.

I’d seen Stereophonics just once before at V Festival way back in 2013. Kelly’s voice back then was instantly recognisable and as they opened with Do Ya Feel My Love - a new song off Oochya - it was instantly clear that the band, and Kelly, had still got it.

Singer’s voices can change drastically over the years but Kelly’s husky tones were as distinctive and clear as ever as the band moved into hits such as Geronimo and C’est La Vie before they played one of the first real crowd pleasers of the evening.

Maybe Tomorrow is one of the band’s most popular songs and invited a sing-along from the crowd who were enjoying every moment of this gig which felt very intimate thanks to the bowl shaped arena.

More hits followed, including some of their oldest songs from the late 90s such as More Life in a Tramps Vest, Traffic and A Thousand Trees before another classic Phonics - Have A Nice Day. One of my personal favourites, it is just impossible not to bop along to the catchy, infectious and feelgood melody of this one and once again, it was one that the whole crowd got involved with.

Moving towards the end of the set, the band slowed things down to play their famous cover of Handbags and Gladrags before rounding out the set with a high energy performance of The Bartender and the Thief.

This signalled the end and the band walked off - but of course they weren’t finished yet, and it was time for the encore.

Just Looking and Make Friends With The Morning kicked things off before they played out arguably their most famous song and their only number one single to date.

Dakota, which was inspired by none other than David Bowie, helped reignite the public’s interest in the band and could be seen as their second coming. Hands were in the air pointing to the sky as the crowd screamed along with Kelly in shouting ‘you make me feel like the one’ at the top of their lungs.

It was the perfect end to a rock-fuelled set that reminded just how good Stereophonics are. Over the years they have overcome their own struggles and heartbreak, including the tragic death of founding member Stuart Cable in 2010.

But last night proved they are still a stellar act who perhaps don’t get the credit they deserve. For me, Stereophonics are underrated. Kelly’s raspy voice hasn’t changed at all and the band as a foursome sounded impeccable.

It was a thunderous and welcome return to form, and after last night’s show I wouldn’t be surprised to see them strutting their stuff on stage in another 30 years’ time.