Mondays send their audience home Happy.

Happy Mondays at The Engine Shed.

I’m starting to really appreciate the Engine Shed as a music venue more and more these days. In a strange way it reminds me of the Park Stage at Glastonbury and that’s probably where the Happy Mondays might perform if they did Glasto.

Just like the Park Stage there was a slightly unruly audience to see a slightly unruly band as the Mondays rattled though their back catalogue as befits a greatest hits tour. No here’s one from our new album here, it was nostalgia all the way. Does Shaun Ryder have to work on that shambolic persona he effects? Consulting his set list before every number he expresses genuine surprise as he learns the next song on the list. Bloody Hell (or words to that effect) here’s one from the 80’s.

Ryder aspires to incompetence but the show was anything but as the band give an accomplished performance as does Ryder whatever impression he may wish to give. Definitely accomplished is the lovely Rowetta who needs a big voice to rise above the considerable decibel level produced by the band. This she does with ease. She makes a beautiful sound.

Then we come to Bez, described as a dancer and percussionist. What exactly does he do asked my wife. He certainly can’t dance unless you count Dad dancing and there’s very little percussion but what would the Happy Mondays be without him?

It’s nice work if you can get it.