Make It On Your Own
It's taken a while for the first concert review of 2025. I've usually done a handful of gigs by this time of year. 2025 seems to be a slow year.
This one had been booked for a few months however. Stereophonics are the first band I went to see live, my dad took me in 2010 to see them in Birmingham and since then we've seen them countless times. When it was announced they were touring again. We were unsure at first, there wasn't a local Midlands date, or even Manchester or Liverpool. Huddersfield was the closest, the fact it was my dad's birthday swayed us though.
Plans were set, and hotels booked. I planned to drive, and then I decided to fracture my left elbow in mid May. Those plans changed, but the gig was still brilliant.
I've seen both Blossoms and Stereophonics more than any other bands, and they have never disappointed.
Kicking off the evening at 7:00 PM, Blossoms took the stage with their signature neo-psychedelic charm, proving why they’re one of the UK’s most beloved indie acts. The Stockport lads, fronted by the ever-charismatic Tom Ogden, wasted no time igniting the crowd with ‘Perfect Me’, a punchy opener from their 2024 album ‘Gary’ that set the tone for their 12-song set. Tracks like ‘Oh No (I Think I’m in Love)’ from ‘Foolish Loving Spaces’ and ‘What Can I Say After I’m Sorry?’ from ‘Gary’ had the stadium bouncing, their infectious melodies blending seamlessly with their tighter-than-ever live sound.
The band dipped into their now five album strong back catalogue, playing all of the hits including Your Girlfriend’ from ‘Foolish Loving Spaces’ and ‘There’s a Reason Why (I Never Returned Your Calls)’ from ‘Cool Like You’, but it was the newer cuts from ‘Gary’ notably the title track, that stole the show. It's become one of the bands biggest songs along with show closer 'Charlemagne'.
Blossoms were the perfect support for a show of this size. The band thrive in large venues, and after the success of Wythenshawe Park last year. I'm surprised that Blossoms don't attempt more outdoor shows, or at least move away from the Academy venues that fans have become so acustomed to seeing them in.
Stereophonics stormed to the stage at 8:20pm with ‘Vegas Two Times’ from ‘Just Enough Education to Perform’, a rollicking deep cut that immediately had fists pumping. Frontman Kelly Jones, with his gravelly voice and effortless cool, led the Welsh rock legends through a 23-song set that was a masterclass in balancing nostalgia with vitality. This was their first tour in three years, part of the ‘Stadium Anthems Summer ’25’ tour, and it felt like a special show, not many people choose to play in Huddersfield. Sometimes the show feels bigger than just a concert, I've been a to a couple of shows like that, this one had a feeling that the whole town was out, to watch. People of all ages, and backgrounds uniting to watch two brilliant bands.
The setlist was a journey through their storied career, from early hits like ‘Just Looking’ and ‘Pick a Part That’s New’ from ‘Performance and Cocktails’ to the timeless ‘Have a Nice Day’ from ‘Just Enough Education to Perform’, which had the entire stadium singing, it really is just one of those songs. A song that also holds a signifcant meaning to me. I honestly think hearing this song as a a small child is my first memory of music.
Newer tracks from their forthcoming 2025 album, ‘Make ‘em Laugh, Make ‘em Cry, Make ‘em Wait’, including ‘There’s Always Gonna Be Something’ and ‘Make It on Your Own’, slotted seamlessly alongside classics, proving Stereophonics are still writing songs that resonate. ‘Maybe Tomorrow’ from ‘You Gotta Go There to Come Back’ was a goosebump-inducing moment, its melancholy chords soaring under the stadium lights, while ‘Handbags and Gladrags’ (a Mike d’Abo cover) showcased Jones’ vocal depth.
'I Wouldn't Believe Your Radio' was a highlight with Kelly playing the song on a ukelele gifted to him from the bass player Richard Jones. He even threw in a David Bowie story before playing the song.
The band had opened for Bowie during his 2003 U.S tour, and Kelly mentioned some advice he recieved from Bowie. During soundchecks the band would only play parts of songs, not wanting to waste the time of Bowie and the crew. Kelly said
“David Bowie would be watching, so we didn’t want to waste too much of his time. So we’d play a song for maybe 45 seconds, and then another song for like a minute, and then another song for a minute, and then maybe 30 seconds of a song.And then I would walk off the stage and I would walk towards the dressing room, and [Bowie] would put his arm on my shoulder and he would walk with me and say, ‘You know, if you extended a few of those songs, you might be fucking onto something.’
The band’s energy never wavered, with ‘Superman’ from ‘Language. Sex. Violence. Other?’ and ‘Geronimo’ from ‘Scream Above the Sounds’ delivering raw rock intensity, and ‘Mr. Writer’ from ‘Just Enough Education to Perform’ dripping with defiant attitude. The encore of ‘The Bartender and the Thief’ from ‘Performance and Cocktails’ and ‘Dakota’ from ‘Language. Sex. Violence. Other?’ was pure magic, the band are comfortably one of Britain's best live outfits. I've seen them perform 8 times now, and they've never put on a bad show.
The gig as a whole was really well done, both bands were great. I missed the opening act Finn Forster, but have heard positive things about his set. As a venue I couldn't fault the John Smiths stadium, they made everything easy, the catering village with bars was a great touch, and the weather played it's part perfectly.
I can see many more bands and artists adding Huddersfield to their tour plans, and why wouldn't you. It was a really good and well put together stadium show.
Thanks for reading.
Jack