Inspiral Carpets - Shepherd's Bush Empire, London, 5/12/2003
by Anthony Strutt
published: 28 / 12 / 2003

intro
Always a great party band, the reformed Inspiral Carpets show themselves to be still capable of living "up to their legend" at a shortened, but impressive set at the Brixton Academy
Well, it is the first week of December and everyone gathered here is already in a party mood. The Inspiral Carpets are not just a great live band, but also, of course, a groovy band to party too... The evening kicks off with a 40 minute set from Puressence, whom to my ears make more sense than Radiohead, but who come from a similar direction. They go down down very well. After the fabulous set on their previous tour in April, tonight's stage set leaves a lot to be desired. There is no film show or special effects like last time, just a number of large milk bottles on stage. The set is shorter than last time too lasting a mere 85 minutes but the songs they play are different which is a good thing . The band play mainly a singles set with two covers thrown in in the encore , both of which come from the 60's. Only two new songs are played both from their recent three CD 'Cool as ....' box set, the first disc of which has now been pulled from it and released as a Greatest Hits album. A classic band who live up to their legend.It is good to have them back, if only for a short while. Set List : The Real Thing Generations Weakness Come Back Tomorrow She Comes in the Fall Saturn 5/ Two Worlds Collide Uniform I Want You Move Sackville Directing Traffic Iron Dragging Me Down Out of Hand Out of Time Joe 96 Tears Tainted Love This is How It Feels
Band Links:-
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialInspiralshttp://www.inspiralcarpets.com/
https://twitter.com/inspiralsband
Picture Gallery:-


interviews |
Interview with Tom Hingley (2003) |
![]() |
One of the most famous of all the Madchester groups , the Inspiral Carpets have recently reformed and have a new box set out and have just toured. Frontman Tom Hingley talks to Anthony Strutt about the group's history |
live reviews |
Rescue Rooms, Nottingham, 24/3/2013 |
With their original front man Stephen Holt back with them after an absence of twenty four years, Dave Goodwin watches the Inspiral Carpets play a frenzied show at the Rescue Rooms in Nottingham |
Shepherd's Bush Empire, London, 10/3/2007 |
Brixton Academy, London, 4/4/2003 |
features |
Cool as... (2003) |
![]() |
The reformed Inspiral Carpets recently toured Britain, and also have an excellent new box set 'Cool as...' out soon . Anthony Strutt reflects back on their history, and profiles this new retrospective |
digital downloads
soundcloud
reviews |
Inspiral Carpets (2014) |
![]() |
Exuberant comeback album from the Inspiral Carpets, which finds the group reunited with their original vocalist Stephen Holt |
You're So Good For Me/Head For the Sun (2012) |
most viewed articles
current edition
Douglas MacIntyre - InterviewJann Klose - Sugar My
Sarah Cracknell - Interview
Jimmy Webb - (With support from Ashley Campbell and Thor Jenson), Cadogan Hall, London. 27/5/2022
Loop - Interview
Jarvis Cocker - Good Pop Bad Pop - An Exhibition of Objects and Keepsakes of Jarvis Cocker
Tom Newman - Interview
Dwina Gibb - Interview
Simply Red - La Marina, Valencia, Spain, 7/6/2022
Rolling Stones - Anfield, Liverpool, 9/6/2022
previous editions
Stewart Copeland - Police Deranged For Orchestra - Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, 11/9/2021Music Festivals - Profile 2022
World Party - Interview
Sam Brown - Interview 2008
Cliff Richard - Vs Elvis Presley
Gypsy Dave Mills - Interview
Cathal Coughlan - Interview
Ruskin Arms - The Image That Made Me Weep
This Mortal Coil - Interview
Suzi Quatro - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Lucky Ones - Slow Dance, Square Dance, Barn DanceVarious - Heroes & Villains – The Sound Of Los Angeles 1965-1968,
Gabi Garbutt and the Illuminations - Cockerel
Soup Review - Go and See
Girls At Our Best! - Pleasure
Def Leppard - Diamond Star Halos
Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway - Crooked Tree
Norah Jones - Come Away With Me: 20th Anniversary Edition
Dave Stewart - Ebony McQueen
Emile Sande - Let's Say For Instance
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart