Date: 29 Dec 95 12:38:25 EST
From: Joan Fradley <******@compuserve.com>
To: Eric Thompson <roses-review@freestyle.com>
Subject: Sheffield Review

I never went to Spike Island. For some reason, my 16-year-old mind decided that going to see the Inspirals at G-Mex was a better bet (good view, no rain etc), and so perhaps my only chance of attending a bona fide cultural EVENT was lost to a bunch of blokes from Oldham with crap haircuts. Is it any surprise, then, to find me shitting myself stupid at the prospect of (FINALLY) seeing the Roses in the flesh more than six months after they blew me away by cancelling their Glastonbury appearance. I guess the bastards went to see the Inspiral Carpets instead......

For those that didn't go, Sheffield Arena is the biggest shithole I've ever had the misfortune to see a band at. This was due to) Crap security blokes who insisted that no-one have any fun at all, andii) The bloody barrier which divided the standing area in two, so that those in the rear of the Arena are faced with about 30 metres of WIDE OPEN SPACE IN WHICH NO-ONE IS STANDING and still have to stay half-way back. This IMMENSELY stupid idea effectively mean't that I was nowhere near the band and couldn't see shit. 

CHEERS! Nevertheless, after queing in the freezing cold for what seemed like decades, my little heart was warmed by the prospect of seeing Fat Shaun and the rest of Black Grape. However, due to a combination of crap sound (they opened with "Tamazi Party", but it wasn't until the chorus that I worked that out) and a performance which said "we-can't-be-arsed-and-there's-booze-and-drugs-backstage", Black Grape were shite. Their set lasted about six numbers (which must have pissed off the many people who looked like they were here especially for them), and I was quite relieved at their departure, as it mean't that I could escape being squidged by a large group of testosterone-saturated Mancunians who insisted in creating a mosh HALF WAY BACK (!!) and chanting "Blue Army" at every opportunity. Sorry lads, but Alan Ball's a wanker and YOU'RE GOING DOWN.

My girlfriend reckons that she heard people talking who were convinced that we were going to get "Sally Cinnamon" and "Elephant Stone" tonight. Well, they were wrong, but we did see the near-mythical figure of Cressa (remember him?) nodding away to Black Grape by the mixing desk looking not a day older than he does on the "Blackpool Love" video. 

Vaguely star-struck, we are already dazed by the time the Roses appear. I'm sure you all know the ritual by now - lights go down, stomach-churning sound of the "Breaking Into Heaven" intro, and then four blokes appear and the place erupts. Squire does his Hendrix bit, a familiar bassline and, hearts in our mouths, the chant begins: "I don't have to sell my soul, he's already in me.....". 

You KNOW what's going to happen, but it doesn't stop the tingles up your spine, the great big grin, the sheer disbelief that they're actually here playing THAT song some five-and-a-half years after you first heard it. It's the kind of experience which you'll never get seeing Oasis, or Blur, or Pulp, or any of the bands that are supposedly the cream of British pop (and, yes, I've seen all three several times). 

THAT special.Before we can calm down, they shoot through "She Bangs The Drums" and "Waterfall", both prompting joyous singalongs as people are overcome by a mixture of nostalgia, euphoria and the kind of communal bliss which perhaps only the Roses can create. The words "chuffed to fuck" sping to mind.As "Daybreak" drools along for oooh, at least ten minutes before eventually morphing into "Breaking Into Heaven", you become aware of your suroundings and realise that everyone is dancing. 

For the first time all evening I can see Messrs Brown, Squire, Mountfield and Maddix through the smoke, dry ice and retina-burning lights, and it becomes apparent that "The Second Coming" is an LP that is mean't to be heard (and played) live - "Your Star Will Shine" and "Tightrope" (supposedly the weakest part of the set) both sound infinitely better than on record, the former in particular being delivered with note-perfect precision and a touching, emotive sensitivity. "Tears" is great, the sound improved tenfold since Black Grape's dismal drone.

"Love Spreads" sounds as cool as ever; "Made of Stone" is anthemic and completely heart-rending, the glimmering intro sending all and sundry into paroxysms of delight; and "Driving South" is a great big ROCK motherfucker making the LP version sound like The Carpenters. If you like your Freud, then this is Squire having the biggest wank in the world EVER, but to tell the truth, indulgence never sounded so good, and you find yourself gleefully anticipating the promised live LP, wishing the days away. 

Only The Stone Roses can do this.The love flooding towards the stage is overwhelming, but the band seem unfazed. They always wanted to be adored, and hey, they deserve everything they get. Coming back for the inevitable "Ressurection", I wonder why we ever let them bugger off for so long, and whether I'll ever get to see them again. BOM BOM BOM-BAM-BOM-BAM BOM BOM BOM-BAM-BOM-BAM. Its too late, and I don't even care. There's a time and place for everything, and right here, right now is all that matters.

Ian, Mani, John, Maddix - I want to shower you in gold, love, flowers, tears.I'd love to do it and you know you've always had it coming.

Martin Fradley 

Date: Fri, 29 Dec 1995 15:40:03 +0000 (GMT)
From: kevin challenger <*****@compnews.co.uk>
To: stone roses mailing list <roses-list@blob.best.net>
Subject: review: sheffield arena - 28/12/95

Well, the Sheffield Arena event came and went last night, and although it's only the second time I've seen the Roses live, I can safely say they are one of (if not *the*) best live acts around. It was a month since I saw them last, at Bridlington Spa, a small venue, on the opening night of the tour. They were absolutley excellent then, if a bit rusty, but any problems seem to have been ironed out over the tour and they performed like true pros last night in the HUGE venue of Sheffield Arena.After support from Black Grape (who were, in my opinion, shit - poor sound quality, mumbled/muffled lyrics).

The lads came out to an amazing light show and rapturous reception from the thousands upon thousands of adoring fans, and their subsequent performance lived up to all expectations. They played what seemed like the same set as they have done for the rest of the tour (Adored/She Bangs/Waterfall/lots of stuff from Second Coming, including acoustic set/Made of Stone/encore - Resurrection). 

The light show throughout the whole show was *amazing* and their performance was top notch, with Ian's voice not even faltering during the acoustic set. I can't enthuse enough about how good they were, and how good it felt to look around the Arena and see thousands of adoring followers lapping up every second of it. 

They have proved they can play small, intimate venues (like Brid Spa), and can also live up to stadium rock expectations, as they showed last night. Like I said after my review of the Brid gig a month ago, The Stone Roses are definitely BACK! Watch out!I'd like to see what Sujay has to say about it when he gets back, after coming all the way to Sheffield from the USA for the gig. Was it worth it.

Kevin Challenger 

From: "Andy 'Big' B" <******@sheffield.ac.uk>
To: roses-list@blob.best.net
Date: Tue, 2 Jan 1996 11:05:25 +0000
Subject: Sheffield Arena 28/12/95

I had waited literally ages for this - more than 6 years in fact, ever since not being able to go to Ally Pally. It was worth it. All the gigs I've ever seen faded into the background next to this one - Blur, Pulp, Oasis, even the Charlatans, you can keep 'em. 

While I don't exactly agree the lightshow was so amazing (several 200 watt bulbs swinging on bits of string), the sound was amazing, especially on Tears and Love Spreads. The keyboard player was totally ace as well, giving it some backing vocals and a bit of percussion during the acoustic set, although Mani disappeared during this part of the show, yet I've seen him in review pictures with acoustic guitars in hand - can anyone tell me what was going on? 

John is a total rock God, stalking round the stage instead of his less than energetic performance at Blackpool, and his guitar playing was unbelieveable. Robbie is not as good as Reni, but then who will be?

 Black Grape were crap, especially seeing as I saw them play two months back and they were top. We went to a rumoured after-show party at "The Republic" where Pulp turned up (also spied at gig: The Charlatans, with notebooks out hahaha) and told us the Roses were on their way, but they never showed (typical). Couple of my friends bumped into Ian and Robbie in a pub on Oxford Street, London, on Saturday, and Ian and Robbie told them they only ever go out to house/garage clubs, not indie/60s/anything else. 

Certainly, when everyone down the front (except me and my mates) stopped dancing during the 20 minute Daybreak/Breaking into Heaven you realised just how many people don't understand dance music at all - so many people were looking around or going to the bar, but it was a totally hypnotic groove. Man.

Anyway, the whole thing has changed my life. Ian's singing was even in tune! 

Go see. And can someone tell me if the mailing list is still going, or have I just been removed from it? I've received nothing off it for ages.Later,Andy B.

Date: Sat, 6 Jan 1996 14:52:10 +0000 (GMT)
From: B T Haley <*****@durham.ac.uk>
To: Stone Roses mailing list <roses-list@blob.best.net>
Subject: Rejoined

After successfully making a complete arse of myself anyway.Saw the roses in Sheffield with Black Grape.The Roses were so-so SO good, it was hard to believe that John Squire was playing live, he was so incredibly proficient and inspired too. 

After expecting Ian's voice to be horrible, I was pleasantly, shocked shall we say, to hear him sing very well indeed. His voice was very powerful and audible, it only went a couple of times during the acoustic version of Tightrope where he could have done with some backing. 

The whole event was just magical.The intro to Breaking into Heaven was played over the PA thingy then Squire joined in and it transformed into I Wanna be Adored. After five years of (what the world is) waiting (for) there was the proof that they did actually exist, to hear those songs live after so long was such a excellent feeling. 

I could go on for pages and pages, but I won't. I'm sure the set-list was more or less the same everywhere, but here it is anyway;Breaking Into Heaven (intro)
I Wanna Be Adored
She Bangs the Drums
Waterfall
Ten Storey Love Song
Daybreak / Breaking Into Heaven (2nd half)Acoustic
Your Star Will Shine
Tightrope
Tears (Squire swaps acoustic for electric halfway thru)Love Spreads
Good Times
Driving South
Made Of StoneEncore
I am the Resurrection (predictably - but still tops)

Robbie Maddix was very good, he makes a good *live* replacement, we'll see about on record soon I hope.Mani proved himself to be a fine guitarist too, I was disappointed he didn't say anything (or did he?) but they did have him in the spotlight all by himself for the intro to She bangs the drums.

Black Grape were good, although they could have done with being a bit louder and the stage looked cluttered. Kermit was ill, so they had the geeza who did the rapping on In the name of the Father standing in for him, he was definitely a good choice for a replacement. And he learned all the lyrics too. 

They did eight songs in this sort of order,Tramazi Parti
In the name of the Father
Don't know the name of this one- B-side?
Shake your Money
Kelly's Heroes
Submarine
Reverend Black Grape
Little BobKH. Sub. and RBG were definitely the best for me anyway.

 I was a little disappointed but they were still good.

All in all a tops night out..B.T.