If you’ve had a night out in a Manchester indie club in the last few decades, chances are you’ve danced along to an Inspiral Carpets track.
‘This Is How It Feels’, released in 1990, is the jewel in the Manchester band’s crown and the ultimate club night closer. Those first few seconds are the starting pistol for groups of revellers to throw their arms around each other ready for that anthemic chorus.
Tonight was no different, as a sold-out Albert Hall sang back the words ‘This is how it feels to be lonely, this is how it feels to be small’, as if their lives depended on it.
Looking around the room, decades worth of Inspiral Carpets merchandise adorns members of their loyal fan base. Those who have followed Stephen Holt, Graham Lambert and Clint Boon’s careers since the 80s are proudly wearing the band’s retro cow t-shirts. Whilst others have made a new purchase from the merchandise stand prior to the gig tonight.
It’s 40 years since they formed, and whilst the line-up has changed numerous times, including the addition of Clint’s son Oscar who joined for some dates of this tour on bass, the magic of the band remains.
The night definitely already has a nostalgic feel to it, looking around the converted chapel, reunited friends are hugging and shaking hands - possibly the first time they’ve seen each other in years, or perhaps since the last Inspirals live gigs in 2014.
After a support slot from local band The Stanleys and a rousing set of Madchester classics by DJ Dave Sweetmore, the band kick off their long-awaited return to a Manchester stage with ‘Joe’ - the first track taken from their 1989 baggy record ‘Cool as F**k’, which rips the crowd into action.
The audience are immediately in the palm of the 90s legends’ hands as they soar through songs including ‘She Comes In The Fall’, ‘Caravan’ and ‘This Is How It Feels’ - a song that has taken on a life of its own, becoming a staple on the terraces of football stadiums up and down the country.
It’s been a double-dose of 90s reminiscence at the Albert Hall this week, as the Inspiral Carpets gig follows Hacienda regulars Orbital’s return on Thursday night.
Keyboard player Clint Boon remarks ‘This is beautiful, you beautiful people’ before gesturing to the large VIP section, where he had friends from Argentina who had travelled to Manchester for the special gig tonight.
John Cooper Clarke appears on the video backdrop reciting his feature in ‘Let You Down’, before upbeat ‘Caravan’.
Original drummer Craig Gill, who was a young teen when he joined the band, took his own life as a result of debilitating tinnitus in November 2016. After their tragic loss, it was uncertain whether the Inspirals would ever come back to play together.
The most special moment of the night occurred during the encore, when footage of Craig was played in tribute. It wasn’t just members of the band who returned to the stage, they introduced Craig Gill’s son Levon, who was met with a standing ovation and roaring applause.
You could feel the poignancy in the room as, holding his drumsticks aloft, Levon went to the back of the stage and sat behind the drum kit, underneath the footage of his late father. He proceeded to follow in the footsteps of his dad and play the drums effortlessly. It clearly meant a lot to him and the rest of the band, who kept looking back to show their support.
After this, Clint went on to dedicate the penultimate track to ‘a chap who has supported us since day one’, BBC Radio Manchester presenter Mike Sweeney, who was watching the band from the balcony and was visibly taken back by the gesture.
They close the encore with 1994 stratospheric hit ‘Saturn 5’, which sees singer Stephen Holt head into the standing audience, immersing himself into the special atmosphere.
Clint Boon exclaims ‘This is one of the best moments ever…see you next time’ before the Inspiral Carpets leave the stage to a chorus of the fans’ signature ‘Moo!’ chant and cheers.
Please don’t leave it as long until next time we see you Inspirals - Manchester loves you.
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