Their comeback tour was set in motion with an intimate last-minute show at Warrington’s Parr Hall in May. Ian Brown and the boys got things underway in earnest on Saturday, delivering their unique brand of indie psychedelia to Barcelona’s Razzmatazz club.
Judging by the audience demographic, there must have been quite a convoy of planes taxiing to the runway at Manchester Airport. It must have all been very bemusing for the locals, used as they are to leaving it rather later before heading out for their Saturday night fiesta, as the doors were thronged by short-haired fellow Brits entering at 8pm. The culture clash rather continued within the venue. Anticipation mounted as fans who had hoped twenty years for this moment and soon the predictable football chants began to rent the air.
The Stone Roses walked out on stage to a wall of noise. As soon as the crowd heard the first riff of ‘I Wanna Be Adored’ issue from Mani’s bass amplifier, they went into a frenzy, many yelling the bass line at the top of their voices.
Brown wielded a tambourine in each hand, shaking them venomously at the audience whilst singing with characteristic swagger; Squire seemed happy for him to take the limelight, more intent on ensuring his guitar sounded as clean now as it did it 1989. Late in the gig, having brought out classics such as ‘Waterfall’, ‘Fool’s Gold’ and ‘She Bangs the Drums’, the guitar introduction of the classic ‘Love Spreads’ received the biggest cheer of the night and the crowd began to dance away without a care in the world.
Fittingly for this comeback tour, the band chose to encore with the timeless ‘I am the Resurrection’. Mani, John Squire and drummer Remy playing the entire five minute instrumental from the eponymous first album rounded off an absolutely fantastic evening. With the band leaving the stage after an emotional group hug, they bowed to their baying loyal fans, delighted to be back.
