THE UNDERTONES @ ELECTRIC BALLROOM, LONDON

Touring to promote the release of their remix mashup album ‘Dig What You Need’, The Undertones played an extensive set of songs from more than 40 years of releases and almost half a century of the band’s history, being formed of all original members and Paul McLoone on vocals.

They exploded on stage with track one of the A-side of their eponymous debut album, ‘Family Entertainment’, following a three-year break from last playing the venue. Then taken from the new release they performed ‘I Need Your Love The Way It Used To Be’, showcasing original guitarist brothers Damian and John O’Neill’s relentless riffs that drive the band’s songs.

Before playing ‘Jump Boys’ the band comically read out slips of paper dedicating their songs to various people in between, then moved onto their album ‘The Sin Of Pride’ with ‘The Love Parade’. They featured from the new release again with two more tracks, ‘Thrill Me’ and ‘Enough’.

The Undertones dedicated their well-known anthem ‘Teenage Kicks’ to recently passed NME writer Gavin Martin who gave the band rave reviews back in the day. Then playing again from their new album with ‘Oh Please’, they soon moved onto another classic anthem, ‘Here Comes The Summer’. Punk song ‘Male Model’ and ‘Dig Yourself Deep’ followed before they finished their main set on ‘(She’s A) Runaround’ and The Ramones’ punk drumming style of ‘Get Over You’; their encore containing another song from the new album, ‘Here Comes The Rain’.

12/03/22: The Undertones @ Electric Ballroom, London.