Spitfires - Bodega, Nottingham, 10/9/2016
by Dave Goodwin
published: 8 / 11 / 2016

intro
Dave Goodwin watches Watford indie rock quartet the Spitfires make a brilliant showing on the live circuit as they take their new album 'A Thousand Times' to The Bodega in Nottingham
Watford quartet the Spitfires are the latest band to grace the stage at the Bodega in Nottingham, a venue that over the last year or so has got better and better with its sound and lighting and to the extent that it is now one of the best venues in the city. The Spitfires are fronted by Billy Sullivan who also plays guitars and writes the material for the songs, and also consists of Matt Johnson on drums, Sam Long on bass and vocals and Chris Chanell on keyboards and backing vocals. It's probably good to note at this point that if you are going to see them live they are loud. Very loud. In fact I've not heard the Bodega ringing out like that for a long time. The Spitfires are two gigs into their tour which has them sporting their second album ‘A Thousand Times’ which was released on 26th August via Catch 22 Records, and follows on from their critically acclaimed debut album, ‘Response’. Of the tracks on the new album the first single to come from it, ‘So Long’, is really a taste of things to come, and has already reached number one in the UK vinyl chart. I can't help drawing a likeness to the early Jam, especially as Sullivan up front energises and morphs into a Welleres-que type. The energy is the key to this band though. Even keyboardist Chanell moves around like he means it. Every now and then Sullivan pulls back and dips and weaves and uses more room on the small Bodega stage than there actually is. The Fred Perry clad crowd love it too. Halfway through Sullivan pipes up in one of the breaks, "We've got a new album out called ''A Thousand Times'. Has anyone bought it?'" Several hands go up and a few squeals of delight follow and Sullivan confidently shouts, "Yeah...it's fuckin good, innit?" He knows they are good. And as a live outfit they are very good. The crowd respond again with chants of "Spitfires, spitfires...." And Sullivan replies with arms held wide gesturing them to give him more and chant louder. Which they do. Full on attitude and excellent Mod-ish style sounds ensue and proper crowd dancing erupts until the final encore is finished. We all go home feeling like we've just had the best meal in centuries. Marvellous! Photographs by Dave Goodwin http://www.davegoodwinimages.com
Also at Bodega, Nottingham
Band Links:-
http://www.thespitfires.org/https://www.facebook.com/TheSpitfiresUk/
https://twitter.com/thespitfiresuk
Picture Gallery:-



most viewed articles
current edition
Spear Of Destiny - InterviewRobert Forster - Interview
Fiona Hutchings - Interview
When Rivers Meet - Waterfront, Norwich, 29/5/2025
Carl Ewens - David Bowie 1964 to 1982 On Track: Every Album, Every Song
Brian Wilson - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Chris Wade - Interview
Pistol Daisys - Waterfront, Norwich, 29/5/2025
Credits - ARC, Liverpool, 17/5.2025
Nils Petter Molvaer - El Molino, Barcelona, 24/4/2025
previous editions
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EPBarrie Barlow - Interview
Boomtown Rats - Ten Songs That Made Me Love....
Dwina Gibb - Interview
Oasis - Oasis, Earl's Court, London, 1995
Sound - Interview with Bi Marshall Part 1
Beautiful South - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Trudie Myerscough-Harris - Interview
Manic Street Preachers - (Gig of a Lifetime) Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, December 1999
Serge Gainsbourg - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
most viewed reviews
current edition
Peter Doolan - I Am a Tree Rooted to the Spot and a Snake Moves Around Me,in a CircleGarbage - Let All That We Imagine Be The Light
Vinny Peculiar - Things Too Long Left Unsaid
Little Simz - Lotus
John McKay - Sixes and #Sevens
Suzanne Vega - Flying With Angels
HAIM - I Quit
Vultures - Liz Kershaw Session 16.06.88
Billy Nomates - Metalhorse
Eddie Chacon - Lay Low
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