Myself and a friend enjoyed a pleasant two hour drive from Bradford to Lancaster through some gorgeous scenery in some refreshingly good weather for a change this summer before grabbing a bite to eat at the local Yates – home to the usual bunch of expected patrons on a Saturday night – not, as we should have done, for a chippy tea, but an all-day breakfast followed by a chocolate pudding. Though we did both have a pint so I’m sure the Hotpots wouldn’t be too upset with our choice of food if we accompanied it with some choice alcohol, the theme of their new sixth album ‘A Hard Day’s Pint’ released this week.
We really should have saved ourselves as the Dukes – a small but well-kept theatre with a good range of drinks and a pleasing atmosphere – had laid on some hotpot to eat but we were too full now to appreciate it so passed. We did, though, pick up some goodies from badges to a t-shirt to the aforementioned new album, alongside some free stickers including one to promote the band’s collaboration with the police force to promote the upcoming new PCC position.
The gig kicked off promptly at seven thirty with no support. They made reference to an alleged support called ‘Jamie Winehouse’ who had meant to be there but had instead gone to see Chas of Chas and Dave fame who was at the competing theatre that evening. Whether this was true or not I don’t know but if it was we got some great jokes at the expense of Chas and some extra songs in the setlist so I’m certainly not going to complain. Though it would have been nice to have heard the Re-entrants again as support.
Out of the half dozen times I’ve seen the Hotpots this was the biggest venue I’ve seen them in – and the first seated gig of this size I’ve been to – and whether it’s because of this or the general buzz of it being their named town, it was the most enjoyable time that I’ve seen them. Their performances were spot-on and the crowd were well into it (a surprisingly older crowd I found, perhaps we were the only twenty-somethings not going out clubbing on a Saturday night), creating a much happier, sing and clap-a-long atmosphere than I’ve seen at one of their gigs.
The group came on in the style of a classic ITV game show to give us their first half which was scattered with hits old and new. It was new album opener ‘Let’s Get Leathered’ which kicked things off, a song perfect for live gigs with its crowd-interaction latter half which got everyone engaged with the song. The band themselves were on fine form, joking between themselves and to the crowd, and really bringing the set to life.
The drinking theme continued with classic track ‘Bitter Lager Cider Ale Stout’ and oldie ‘I Met A Girl On MySpace’ which I’ve never heard live before I believe. The singable classics continued with ‘I Fear Ikea’ and ‘EBay ‘Eck’, and then the danceable ‘CHAV’, at least in our seats. Their act certainly feels better suited to such a venue away from the dark and gloomy bars I’ve seen them in previously. The increased stage room complete with bunting and full proper lighting was certainly a change.
The variety feel of the first half continued with a great ventriloquist section (great as in funny, not in skill, as the joke was!) and a welcome play of first album track ‘Uncle Bernard’. The little dummy they had would punctuate the gig throughout and add some laughs to various points.
Next up was ‘Pirate Bernard’ for the excellent ‘Cinema Smugglers’, with the crowd willingly taking part in the yaars, and new track ‘The Perfect Pint’ which everyone quickly picked up and sang along to and was sung fantastically live considering it sounded a tricky song to pull off, and allegedly the first time it’s been played.
The first half was brought to an end musically with personal favourite ‘Has Anyone Seen My Dongle?’ with Dickie Ticker taking lead vocals. But it wasn’t the end of the entertainment with a funny take on ‘Play Your Cards Right’ (or “Utilise your deck in an appropriate fashion” as they called it due to copyright) where a young child in the audience won a t-shirt. Again, though, we did find ourselves unable to come to a gig and escape the, excuse my language, wankers that are determined to make idiots of themselves at gigs. Following in the tradition of the tosser with the vuvuzela at an Electric Six gig to the last hotpots one I went to where two people formed their own pointless mosh-pit and kept hitting into people, this gig had two women at the back that kept shouting out over the band and an idiot next to us who seemed intent on making a prat on himself and then lost the card game in spectacular fashion by saying higher (increase!) on an ace thus losing the game. He was then a bit of a pain for the rest of the gig.
Anyway, after a brief interlude and a try of a new J2O flavour (I live an exciting life) it was back into the venue for the rest of the generous two-hour set. Brilliant opener ‘Mek Us A Brew’ began the second half and was an excellent rendition, before they rattled through more top-form versions of songs, from ‘Keys, Wallet, Phone’ to ‘I’ll ‘ave One With You’. New track ‘Kebablishment’ was an instant favourite and the skit prior to it that covered fast food restaurants and the fire brigade (or the fire people as we now know them) was quality and even had the band in hysterics.
‘The Beer Olympics’ and ‘He’s Turned Emo’ were well received by the crowd before the band disappeared for a quick costume change into their rave gear for a powerful triple punch of ‘Lancashire DJ’, complete with an impressive conga around the seated venue from the crowd, ‘Me PSP’ a personal favourite, and ‘Chippy Tea’ to conclude the set.
Naturally they came on for an encore and it was an impromptu acoustic version of ‘Cottaging’ that began it which, though not one of my favourite album tracks, was great to hear live, before the band came back on for three more songs. ‘The Girl From Bargain Booze’, complete with swaying hands, was a thumbs up from me; the ‘Shopmability Scooter / Hey Jude’ mash-up was excellent; and the traditional ten-minute ‘Bang Bang Thumpy Thump Dance Remix’ closer was as enjoyable as ever.
Overall it was an excellent gig with two hours of music being great value for money. Out of all the times I’ve seen the band this had to be the best with more crowd interaction and jokes. The band were as tight as ever and the sound system delivered their hits to us perfectly, matching the spacious and comfortable venue that allowed the crowd to appreciate the lyrics and musical layers. With some great tongue-in-cheek variety sections and an expanded set list it was always going to be a good night, and it was.
A thoroughly enjoyable gig and definitely worth the two-hour journey time. 8/10
Set List
Act One
Let’s Get Leathered
Bitter Lager Cider Ale Stout
I Met A Girl On MySpace
I Fear Ikea
EBay ‘Eck
CHAV
Uncle Bernard
Cinema Smugglers
The Perfect Pint
Has Anyone Seen My Dongle?
Act Two
Mek Us A Brew
Keys, Wallet, Phone
I’ll ‘ave One With You
Kebablishment
The Beer Olympics
He’s Turned Emo
Lancashire DJ
Me PSP
Chippy Tea
Encore
Cottaging (Acoustic)
The Girl From Bargain Booze
Shopmability Scooter / Hey Jean
Bang Bang Thumpy Thump Dance Remix
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