03 November 2023 (gig)
05 November 2023
It’s not just been a fantastic day for Haircut One Hundred but a fantastic year.
Since reuniting as a band this year after decades apart with a special gig at the O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, Nick Heyward and the boys have embarked on a full-scale tour, which included their gig on Friday at the Cambridge Corn Exchange.
It was great to see Haircut originals Nick Heyward, Les Nemes and Graham Jones back on stage together.
Unfortunately, drummer Blair Cunningham has been unable to play on the tour for health reasons, and the band and the audience wished him well while welcoming his replacement Faithless drummer Andy Treacey.
It certainly meant a lot to Nick and the boys to be up doing what they love best which was evident by their appreciation to the audience and the sprinkling of nostalgic anecdotes of their years as friends. Nick told the crowd: “The vibe on this tour is just amazing. I love being up here……This is it for life now, you’re not gonna get away from us” – a sentiment lapped up by their loyal fans.
The night got off to a great start for music lovers with a corking background soundtrack of 60s and Motown classics followed by live support by the charismatic band Barbara. Exuding Harry Styles/Mick Jagger/The Kinks vibes, brothers Henry and John Tydeman from Brighton and their band gained a whole new set of fans with their modern yet quintessentially English retro pop.
Bursting onto the stage after a Thunderbirds countdown and a medley of retro TV classic sounds, Nick and the boys took the fans on a trip down memory lane, starting with Baked Bean from the legendary 1982 album Pelican West.
When they launched into Favourite Shirts, the crowd were well and truly back in the 80s, wearing their cable knit jumpers (the band’s trademark ensemble), and reliving the fantastic music of this No 2 chart album.
Stand-out songs on the night included Nobody’s Fool and Marine Boy, while Soul Bird transported the audience along on a funky vibe. Special mention to the fantastic brass instrumentalists who certainly added even more oomph to an already vibrant show.
As well as the fabulous music, the band also shared numerous anecdotes with the crowd, treating them to some funny stories from back in the day, endearing them even more to their fans. A notable laugh-out loud memory was the band’s purchasing of a BullWorker bodybuilding aid, the must-have item for young men in the 80s.
The band closed the set with crowd-pleasing hit records Love Plus One and Fantastic Day, raising the roof of the Cambridge Corn Exchange. When they came back on for their encore, another treat was in store, including a cover of Harry Styles’ As It Was and then an extended version of Favourite Shirts.
It’s great that Haircut One Hundred have reformed and continue their legacy for the joy of fans and younger music lovers too. The love in the Corn Exchange that night was palpable, between both the band members and the audience. Love Plus One times a million.
