It’s fair to say that 2016 has been a Summer of Madness in Northern Ireland. Normally when you hear such a description, you’re expecting non stop riots. This is a good Madness, and Northern Ireland Madheads had three opportunities to indulge in their favourite band this summer.
In July, the musical Our House had a run at Grand Opera House, while Belsonic offered fans the chance to experience the real thing.
It was the second time that Madness had headlined Belsonic, having appeared at Custom House Square in 2012. Like in 2016, a few days later they were followed by Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds.
There is a tenuous link between Madness and Noel Gallagher, as it was an inebriated Madness (who had just come off stage after performing) who replaced Oasis at short notice in 2009 at the French music festival where a backstage spat resulted in Oasis split.
Madness are always a popular booking at festivals, having done the afternoon legends slot at Glastonbury. Quite impressive for a band in their 50s, as most who get that slot are at an advanced age people watching on TV had thought they were dead.
Madness aren’t dead, but they are down a member, with Chas Smash leaving in 2014.
That loss is evident in the opening song, as he would traditionally kick off a Madness gig with his intro to One Step Beyond, their signature tune. One of many, you could say.
It was Madness first gig in Belfast since December 2014. They have been touring a lot since then. A tour in the summer of 2015 of small to medium sized stadiums missed Belfast, making the delays of the Windsor Park redevelopment even worse. There was Ravenhill as well they could have used.
Madness have been gigging in Belfast since 1979, playing in what Suggs described as “What was left of” The Europa Hotel.
They entered the stage to House Of Fun, before Suggs apologised to those in the audience who were expecting to see Westlife’s comeback tour, before advising those in the audience on medication or of a nervous disposition to look away as Lee Thompson did a saxophone solo during their debut single The Prince, a song which Suggs introduce by pretending he was presenting Top Of The Pops, describing them as “A bunch of hermits from North London”.
Something threw a bra at Lee Thompson. Not the first time that’s happened in Belfast either.
Naturally, there was a lot of dad dancing. Most of it in the crowd. If you can’t be silly at a Madness gig, when can you be silly?
My Girl was performed as a slow ballad, with Suggs over dramatically pretending to cry, before the song was performed as the way we all know and love it.
As is now tradition, we were treated to a Chris Foreman, billed as the best guitarist in Madness, karaoke set. He said he had taken requests from people, and had to disappoint them, that he would continue his karaoke.
Foreman recalled a walk around Belfast earlier that day when he asked what the name of the boat parked at the docks was. When told it was Bryan, he replied “like Bryan Ferry?”
The boat parked could be seen from the stage. It was a night boat to Scotland, rather than going to Cairo.
Fans were treated to Foreman singing his own version of Living On A Prayer by Bon Jovi.
When performing The Sun and the Rain, the weather obliged. Sort of. We got rain, but no sun.
It was a hit filled show, One Step Beyond was snuck in mid show, alongside Embarrassment, Wings Of A Dove, Shut Up, Our House and It Must Be Love, while Madness and Night Boat To Cairo were performed in the encore.
It typical Madness fashion, it was utterly unpredictable.
Suggs will be in Northern Ireland next Saturday, heading to Bangor to talk about his career as part of Open House Festival.
If their live shows follow the current pattern (Madness last three Belfast gigs have been 2012, 2014 and now 2016) we can expect to see them back in 2018.
Can’t wait.
Photo Album
See Also
Madness live at The Odyssey 2014
Madness live at The Odyssey 2014 Photo Album
Madness live at Custom House Square 2012
Madness live at Custom House Square 2012 Photo Album
Analogue Boy In A Digital World 