Lightning Seeds Live At Somerset House review by Ryan Beardsley
I’ve always been sceptical about fate, the stars aligning, whatever you want to call it. But when I saw The Lightning Seeds were playing a show in London on the same day as the World Cup Final, I couldn’t help but think maybe, just maybe…
Flash forward a few months, and it wasn’t to be, but what the hell, we can still have a wonderful Sunday afternoon with some of Britpop’s most underrated hitmakers.
In the beautiful surroundings of Somerset House, it’s full to the brim. The sun is shining as Ian Broudie and friends make their way on stage in typically understated style. By the time the familiar bars of Change reverberate around us, everyone is up and dancing like we’re back in the nineties.
Sugar Coated Iceberg is still as joyful and breezy as ever before. It’s time for a big singalong for Marvellous, which is just that. Broudie still has the voice to make it count for those high notes, and his distinctive scouse croon is as catchy as ever.
We get a deep cut from way back in the shape of Feeling Lazy from 90s classic Jollification, a perfect tune for a hazy summer’s day before Perfect itself brings Somerset House to a standstill with its achingly beautiful chorus.
It’s hit after hit with Byrds cover You Showed Me before Lucky You has everyone, young and old alike, hopping up and down. It’s a family affair today as Broudie’s son Riley is on guitar duty, and it’s clear he’s a proud father as he gives him a cue for a standout solo, no harm there.
Then the one we’ve all been waiting for, Three Lions. Broudie is self-aware enough to joke about what could have been, amending the lyrics to the even more painful “sixty years of hurt”. But it’s an amazing sight: thousands in attendance bellowing out “It’s Coming Home”, the oldies like myself have our moment, and the younger ones have their TikTok content, so everyone’s a winner, except England.
The band finishes up with one that nineties football kids will know well, the former Goal of the Month theme Life of Riley, which whisks everyone back to a simpler time and wraps up what has been an absolute delight. Maybe I’m getting old, but more gigs at 4pm please! The sun is still out, you’re home in time for tea, and no hangover the next day, Marvellous.
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