adminTeenage Fanclub @Newcastle Boiler Shop, 10.11.26
After quite a while away from the live music scene, it was great to be back at a gig, particularly one that brought me back to a band I first saw in 1993 on the NME Stage at Glastonbury.
Teenage Fanclub, or the Fannies to their devoted followers, have been a band I’ve returned to many times over the years.
It was Bandwagonesque that really lit the spark but their appeal has always extended well beyond that album.
They have consistently produced great tunes, wonderful melodies, atmospheric guitar work and thoughtful lyrics. What makes them special is their ability to combine all these elements into songs that stand the test of time.
Their sound has always reminded me of The Byrds, particularly in their wonderful harmonies and melodic guitar riffs — albeit with a healthy dose of feedback and a grungier edge.
There’s something quite distinctive about the way Teenage Fanclub build a song, with Raymond McGinley’s guitar adding atmosphere and texture while the different vocal contributions blend together, effortlessly.
Songs such as What You Do to Me and Everything Flows demonstrate just how good they are at writing a memorable tune.
Hearing them again brought home how naturally those trademark melodies have endured.
The set also included Tired of Being Alone, Tomorrow People and Everything Is Falling Apart, showing that their songwriting remains just as strong beyond those early records. The Concept was another highlight.
The band has inevitably changed over the years, although perhaps not as dramatically as you might expect.
Norman Blake and McGinley remain at the heart of Teenage Fanclub, while drummer Francis MacDonald, an original member who subsequently left and later returned, is back in the fold.
Dave McGowan joined in 2004, initially taking on keyboard duties before moving to bass, while Euros Childs joined in 2019 on keyboards and vocals.Â
The support also came from Childs. His keyboard contribution added an interesting extra dimension, and the set was an enjoyable warm-up.
There was plenty of humour too: songs such as Happy Coma and some amusing musical diversions providing a relaxed start to the evening.
The Fannies were in fine form too and the Boiler Shop’s a great setting for an evening of retro-fuelled indie rock.
It’s a relaxed venue with a really good atmosphere, where you can sit, stand — or get right down to the front if that’s what you fancy!
Having played in a band myself in the early 90s, (I don’t like to talk about it though) — even covering one of Teenage Fanclub’s big earlier hits — there was something particularly satisfying about hearing that song performed live.
It brought back a few memories of those days and added another personal connection to the evening.
Ultimately, this was more than just a nostalgic trip back to a distant era. Teenage Fanclub have retained everything that made them such a great band in the first place, while continuing to write and perform consistently good music.
The years may have changed the people on stage but the melodies, harmonies and songwriting remain as strong as ever. It was great to be back at a gig and there couldn’t have been a better band to welcome me back.
David Bootle