Suede play packed Rough Trade East concert

Last Friday, Suede gave some lucky fans the opportunity to take a peek at what to expect from their show at Ally Pally on 30^th March.

The teaser gig was obviously focused on the promotion of the band’s latest album, Bloodsports, which was recently released after a little over ten years of silence.

The anticipation was high but proved to be well rewarded, with people dancing and singing choruses out loud like they hadn’t been waiting for anything else. Besides, Suede members themselves seemed to deeply enjoy the stage’s vibrations, performing even if in front of such a small audience.

Rousing the public to express and share their involvement in the concert and demonstrating some impressive frontman skills, singer Brett Anderson made clear that Suede are back and in a very good shape.

Played in the same order as they appear in the record, songs like Barriers and Snowblind were positively received, followed by the first single It Starts And Ends With You which gained additional excitement.

However, predictably, there was room for old hits too. The crowd responded with understandably more enthusiasm, and was particularly thrilled by tracks such as Trash and Beautiful Ones, – both from Coming Up, one of the group’s most commercially successful records – which were the usual “best saved for last”.

Suede played with the same energy and fervour of an upcoming band, as if time has not passed, not because they needed to attest their skills as musicians but because, just like an emerging band, they still have that passion that fuelled them in the first place and prompted them to build a career out of it.

After the show, the group made themselves available for a signing session, amicable and modest despite their exhaustion. Ticket holders to Suede’s next performance will not be disappointed.

Verdict: ••••

Rita Vicinanza

Photos: Marika Parizzi

For further information on Suede visit here.

Watch a live performance of It Starts and Ends with You here: