Gig review: The Wonder Stuff and Ned's Atomic Dustbin at O2 Academy Leeds

The Wonder Stuff at O2 Academy Leeds. Picture: Anthony Longstaff

Back in 1990 when these two bands last toured together, they were on the crest of a Stourbridge wave, and I was much younger, had long red curly hair and Peaky Blinders didn't exist (well not on TV anyway).

This evening they are back and along with another Stourbridge grebo – Graham Crabb from Pop Will Eat Itself who played a nostalgic DJ set.

They also have their own ale Ned’s Wonder from Froth Blowers Brewing Co, which I had to try – just for the review you understand and very enjoyable it was too.

The Ned’s, who opened the evening, never reached the heights of The Stuffies, but unlike them all original members are playing on this tour ‘Love From Stourbridge’ – in homage to the West Midlands area they were from.

Ned's Atomic Dustbin at O2 Academy Leeds. Picture: Anthony Longstaff

Singer Jonn Penney has the energy of a 20-year-old on stage, while Dan Worton is still the fast drumming man and the crowd went wild when they played Happy and Grey Cell Green.

The Stuffies jumped straight in with their memorable songs including the passionate On The Ropes and Circlesquare. At one point singer Miles Hunt asked the packed crowd if they had tried Ned’s Wonder, before ripping into It’s Yer Money I’m After Baby and it was those early songs from Eight Legged Groove Machine and Hup which went down so well.

At the end of the evening we all left with a little ringing in our ears, sore throats and skipping along to those well-trod songs.

Love from Leeds.