House Of Love - 12 Bar, London, 27/3/03
by Anthony Strutt
published: 18 / 4 / 2003

intro
One of the great indie acts of the early 90's, the House of Love have recently reformed with original guitarist Terry Bickers back in the line-up. Anthony Strutt watches them at their first London gig since they got back together play a secret show
The House Of Love are back. Tonight's show was only their second show since they reformed. Their first reunion show took place the week before this gig at Brighton's Sussex Arts Cafe. They played for 50 mins then and the set consisted of half new, half old songs. Tonight we got only 4 old songs and 7 new songs. The entire set though was cracking. I liked the House of Love, but I was never a massive fan. Tonight's gig was very hush hush with no information about it being posted on the 12 Bar weekly listings flyer and the band being announced as playing as Terry and Guy. It was guitarist Terry Bickers that leaked news of the gig on to a House of Love fan site, but this meant that the audience to view their London come back was limited to only 75 punters Pre gig the punters were really noisy. They almost drowned out the support acts, but during the House of Love's set they were very respectful and in silent awe. That was not surprising as this was a great concert and was very convincing. What was more surprising was a good chunk of the set was sung by Terry Bickers who left the House of Love shortly before their eponymous second album was released and very early on in their career. The songs played kept the House of Love feel but very much have now moved on, depending less on the effects which their earlier material relied on and more on strong guitar playing. Both frontman Guy Chambers and Terry looked great and sounded in fine voice. They were joined on stage by the original House of Love drummer Pete Brown and a new bassist Matt Jury. This was 55 minutes of class. Set List: Low Black Clouds Celebrate Christine Gabriella Kinda Love Blind Whatever Get You She Paints Words Love In a Car Shine On Days Runaway
Band Links:-
https://www.facebook.com/TheHouseOfLoveOFFICIALPicture Gallery:-


interviews |
Interview (2007) |
![]() |
Back together to play some 'Don't Look Back' shows and having had their first EP and album just reissued, Anthony Dhanendran chats to Guy Chadwick from the House of Love about his influential band's destruction in the 1980's by the recording industry itself and their future recording plans |
live reviews |
Leadmill, Sheffield, 17/4/2005 |
![]() |
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 |
ICA, London, 10/2/2005 |
favourite album |
The House of Love (2012) |
![]() |
In our ‘Re:View’ section in which we look back at albums from the past, Cila Warncke examines the House of Love’s seminal 1988 eponymous debut album, which has just been re-released in a three CD edition |
digital downloads
reviews |
She Paints Words in Red (2013) |
![]() |
Pleasant, but unadventurous second comeback album from the reformed House of Love |
Days Run Away (2005) |
most viewed articles
current edition
Cornbury Music Festival - Great Tew Park, Oxfordshire, 8/7/2022...10/7/2022 -The Final GoodbyeBathers - (With Cowboy Mouth and Sugartown), Strathaven Hotel, Strathavan, 17/6/2022
Felix Cavaliere - From Pelham, NY to Rock n Roll Hall of Fame
NIck Godfrey - Interview
Prolapse - Peel Sessions 20.08.94 and 08.04.97
Queen and Adam Lambert - O2 Arena, London, 20/6/2022
Andy Ellison - Interview
Dorothy Bird - Jimmy's, Liverpool, 30/6/2022
Dwina Gibb - Interview
Sarah Cracknell - Interview
previous editions
World Party - InterviewSam Brown - Interview 2008
Cliff Richard - Vs Elvis Presley
Television - The Drug of the Nation : Part 2
Television - The Drug of the Nation : Part 1
Richard Hawley - Leadmill, Sheffield, 11/9/2005
Paul Clerehugh - Interview
Candlelight Tribute to Coldplay - Manchester Cathedral, Manchester, 1/4/2022
Oasis - London Finsbury Park, 5/7/2002
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
most viewed reviews
current edition
Hurrah! - David Jensen 08.12.82Moon Under Water - Fragments EP
Paolo Nutini - Last Night in the Bittersweet
Marine Research - John Peel 18.05.99
Brooks Williams and Aaron Catlow - Ready for the Times
Burning Hell - Garbage Island
Jeff Beck and Johnny Depp - 18
Dave Edwards - Many Rivers
Jessie Buckley and Bernard Butler - For All Our Days That Tear The Heart
Blue Orchids - Angus Tempus Memoir
related articles |
Pete Fij and Terry Bickers: Live Review (2014 |
![]() |
Anthony Strutt watches ex-Adorable front man Peter Fij and House of Love guitarist Terry Bickers play an intimate show to promote their debut album, 'Broken Heart Surgery', at the Firebug in Leicester |
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