LIVE REVIEW: Stereophonics album launch

With the switching on of Oxford Street’s Christmas Lights this week, and enough DVD boxsets on the market to insulate your whole house with, it’s not surprising for musicians to jump on the ‘greatest hits’ bandwagon in the hope of being a worthy stocking filler.

But what makes a change is for a band to be actually deserving of a greatest hits album. Stereophonics launched their new greatest hits album ‘A Decade in the Sun’ this week with an intimate gig at Riverside Studios in Hammersmith and I was there with my MTV News Crew to check it out.

We were given a taster of some of the gems these boys have thrown our way in the last ten years. Stereophonics have always been one of my favourite bands to see live. They ooze just enough coolness, nicely welded with some high rockin energy, and an honesty in their lyrics that fires up the coldest heart.

THE HIGHLIGHTS:

The Bartender and the Thief –The guys opened the show with this all time favourite - Guitarist Adam Zindani named this as his fav Stereophonics track. Good choice!

It Means Nothing – Kelly slowed things down with his acoustic guitar giving his bandmates a rest and a chance for us all to get all lovey dovey. Ah bless.

Dakota – The boys only no. 1, finished off the night and kept many a crazy hopping audience member very happy.

You can’t see a decent rock show these days without someone bearing a bit of flesh – too right! Usually this is the job of the drummer - Cue Javier Weyler. I love a bit of heckling, and a few rowdy members of the crowd screamed for Mr. Jones to ‘take it off’ but Kelly rightly pointed out that’s what Jav is there for.

Kelly and co. are due many pats on the back for their jam-packed greatest hits album of 20 tracks (plus a double CD version with another 20!) So I guess as a band their answer to choosing what singles make the album is – ah feck it! Stick them all on!

And they’ve still got it. Two newbie songs grace the album -'You're My Star' and 'My Own Worst Enemy' (which the lads performed at the launch) and before the show the guys told me they have lots of other new material on the way with a new album out next year – fingers crossed.

It’s not easy to last a decade in this business, there are a lot of ‘rockbands’ who just don’t have the stamina, and of course talent, to survive. Thankfully Stereophonics have a long time left in the sun - once they remember the sunscreen!