Squeeze and a bag of Trixies
by Scotty P
A British New Wave trifecta washed in a crowd at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in downtown Vancouver for a stacked bill; Haircut 100, Adam Ant, Squeeze?
A few lucky fans ran into Squeeze drummer Simon Hanson (who smelled amazing) and snagged some selfies just outside the venue. He was gracious and promised to smile for my camera.
Opening the night, Haircut 100 proved that their sophisticated, brass-infused pop is completely timeless. Backed by a powerhouse six-piece band, the group completely filled the room with exceptional, on-point musicianship. Stellar trumpet and saxophone solos, driving a rich sound that made it impossible to stay seated. The crowd was dancing from the opening notes, but the energy peaked during ecstatic performances of their biggest hits, including “Boy Meets Girl” and the foundational new wave anthem “Love Plus One.”
After a quick turnaround, Adam Ant took the stage. The shift was immediate, trading Haircut 100‘s breezy brass for a heavy, hard-rock contrast. Driven by powerful dual-drummer Burundi beats, the toms took an absolute beating all night, creating a tribal, rhythm that reverberated through the venue’s architecture. It was sustained and intense. Sporting his signature charismatic swagger, between dancing twirls Adam Ant paused to grin at the audience, asking, “Fancy having a sing?” before launching into a flawless run of his most iconic tracks. The crowd obliged, shouting along to every word of “Goody Two Shoes” and the iconic “Stand and Deliver.”
As the night’s final act, Squeeze took the reins to show exactly why they are revered as titans of British pop songwriting. Frontmen Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford guided an incredibly tight performance that included a brilliant showcase of their newest project—a fictional-nightclub concept album. Introducing the fresh tracks, they described it as “a set of songs about fun… it’s called Trixies.” The highly anticipated new material was brilliantly received by the Vancouver crowd, slotting seamlessly alongside their legendary catalogue.
And seriously, whatever vocal routines Tilbrook is using to keep his singing voice should be canon for all vocalists.
Squeeze kept the momentum rolling with their absolute finest hits. The set featured an unforgettable, blistering guitar solo during “Cool for Cats”, a soulful, crowd-wide singalong to “Tempted”, and a driving, high-spirited performance of “Take Me I’m Yours”. Complete with affectionate band intros that showcased their stellar touring lineup including keyboardist Stephen Large anchoring synth riffs, Squeeze closed out the night in absolute triumph, cementing a legendary evening of music at the venerable QE. Trixies aren’t for kids!
Scotty P, Vancouver BC
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More images available at Scotty’s Red Lenses Photography Instagram HERE