Verdict: Five stars
The Undertones are proof that feeling young has very little to do with youth.
The punk legends shot to fame after mastering the tricky art of bottling how adolescence feels - and tonight they have plenty to pour out.
They are playing the O2 Academy as part of their tour celebrating the 45th anniversary of Teenage Kicks, so when they take the stage it feels like the audience is welcoming back dear old friends.
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New fans are mixed in the crowd with clear veterans who have been with the band since they kicked things off in 1979 with their first self-titled album.
I wasn’t a teen in the 80’s, actually I wasn’t even alive, but The Undertones were still a huge part of my juvenility.
Maybe the reason they relate to the young so much is because they wrote some of their biggest hits when they were just school pals themselves, in Derry.
Now almost five decades later they have clearly kept that magic alive because when the lights go down suddenly we are all teenagers again, as they launch the show with Jimmy Jimmy.
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"The Undertones are proof that feeling young has very little to do with youth."
— Kirsty Feerick (@KirstyFeerick) September 29, 2024
Full review of last night's gig out now! pic.twitter.com/VhYxfrOVJF
They blast through their impressive 34 track set with stand out songs being My Perfect Cousin, It's Going to Happen, You've Got My Number (Why Don't You Use It!), Mars Bars, and of course Teenage Kicks .
Frontman Paul McLoone looks like he is having so much it feels like it’s his first and last chance with the microphone, as he dances and belts out the lyrics encouraging fans to join in.
Meanwhile bassist Michael Bradley banters with the audience, even giving Blue Lagoon chippy a shoutout, and says it is ‘great to be back in Glasgow’.
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He seems to mean it because when Paul says ‘what a great crowd’ and Michael is quick to agree as he asks ‘can we take you along to our other shows too?’.
The band also admits feeling nervous, despite performing so many times they could probably do it in their sleep, but yet aren’t afraid of making mistakes.
They have clear musical talent between their vocals and instrumental skills, but the true treasure is their vulnerable confidence that makes them relatable and could be the secret to keeping their youthful charm alive.
They say youth is wasted on the young, but as long as we have The Undertones records it feels like we can get our teenage kicks forever.
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