A two-foot tall Elvis is presenting a birthday cake to a grinning roadie, while the crowd raucously sing "Happy Birthday". Welcome, folks, to another night with The Wildhearts. "Another sold-out London show," frontman Ginger remarks, with obvious relish.
No, this ever-loyal fanbase ain't going anywhere, despite the temptations of Mistress Nu-Metal and Master Punk-Pop to tempt them in the years between the band's 'split' in 1998 and now. Proof of that comes when the same fanbase puts their first single in five years, 'Vanilla Radio', into the Top 30 three days later.
That 'Vanilla Radio' now integrates seamlessly into the set alongside their 90s material, with no introduction necessary, is testament to how The Wildhearts have rehabilitated themselves back into a band of the present rather than the past. While new B-side 'O.C.D.' goes down less enthusiastically, future single 'Stormy In The North, Karma In The South' does receive a warm welcome from the faithful.
What The Wildhearts do isn't rocket science, they simply cherry-pick the classic songwriting tools of the past - big choruses, neat harmonies, bouncy riffs - and meld them into timeless tunes. Their role call of previous singles - 'I Wanna Go Where The People Go', 'TV Tan', 'Sick Of Drugs', 'Caffeine Bomb' - are all variations on the same theme, but rise above the bar thanks to the tricks described above, and slick, observational lyrics that are as much a mirror of the audience as the band.
That's why the crowds keep coming back, and they're rewarded tonight with two rarely-played gems from the back catalogue - the joyous rush of 'The Miles Away Girl' and the bittersweet kiss of 'Jonesing For Jones', which sets drug addiction to pummelling, staccato riffs and a wry chorus.
After all the self-inflicted wounds, it seems The Wildhearts have finally grown up and decided to give this music game their full attention, while still maintaining a teenage sensibility. They, and their army of admirers, won't give up so easily this time around.
