House Of Love - Leadmill, Sheffield, 17/4/2005

  by Helen Tipping

published: 11 / 4 / 2005

intro

Helen Tipping rolls back time with the reformed House of Love who returned to the Sheffield Leadmill in April after an absence of 16 years

The House of Love return to the Leadmill after an absence of 16 years.  They were the first band I saw when I came to Sheffield as a student in 1988, so I felt it was only fitting that I went to see them on their return. Despite an acrimonious split in 1989, Guy Chadwick and Terry Bickers got back in touch, initially on the phone, before starting to write together again in 2003.  The resulting album. 'Days Run Away', is a bit of a mix, and it's reviewed elsewhere on this site.  Live however, things seem to hang together well, and it's hard to tell what's old material and what's new, unless you're really familiar with it.  Terry Bickers is obviously enjoying touring again, being eager to meet fans and autograph hunters before the show begins.   The House of Love don't disappoint, playing the hits, as well as the less well known tracks.   Right from the opening track - 'I Don't Know Why I Love You' -  I found the swirling of the guitar sucking me into a vortex and I became totally mesmerised by the music, only coming back into consciousness when the last notes of 'Love in a Car' faded away and they walked off stage.  They didn’t stay gone for long, coming back for an encore of 'Wheel' and 'Shine On', which met with the approval of the crowd, and then they were off for an early Sunday night at the Leadmill finish.   Was it like this first time around?  I can't remember. Too many gigs and too much beer has passed since then! 

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