Emerging from the smoke and cinematic lighting that filled the stage, Suede immediately took control of The Usher Hall. From the first note, Brett Anderson never stood still. A consummate showman, he commanded every eye and ear in the room with relentless energy and passion.
They opened with the murky Disintegrate, followed by a pulsating Dancing With The Europeans from their recent album Antidepressants, making it clear this was not going to be a greatest-hits set. Since reshaping British guitar music in the early 1990s, Suede remain one of the enduring greats of the era, still producing potent outsider albums.
During the sublime glam-rock end coda of Animal Nitrate, Anderson leapt from the stage monitor, clapped along, swung his microphone into the air, and dumped it on stage with theatrical flair. Behind him, Neil Codling disappeared into a mop of long hair and a Les Paul, while bassist Mat Osman delivered a punchy shoulder groove. Every element, band and audience alike, locked into something unforgettable.
Newer material stood confidently alongside classics such as Personality Disorder, with its stomping chorus, while Sweet Kid, a track that shines on the radio, reminded everyone that Suede can still write songs that catch the ear and lift the spirit. In dark and uncertain times, that feels valuable. In a particularly intimate moment, Anderson performed Still Life away from the microphone, letting his voice carry naturally. A song of domestic sadness, usually reserved for late-night hours, never sounded more affecting as silence fell over the audience, creating a striking contrast to the earlier frenzy.
By the time So Young arrived, the room was electric. Fans took over the “Let’s chase the dragon” refrain, creating another euphoric gear shift. Metal Mickey followed, another early favourite that kept the energy flowing. A final encore, The Only Way I Can Love You, offered one last intimate connection, with Anderson moving among the front row before the lights came up, leaving the crowd buzzing long after the last note. Decades on, Suede remain a band capable of delivering thrills, excitement and surprise in equal measure.
