Sometimes you wonder about the wisdom of going to see a band from over 40 years ago still strutting their stuff. Is it just a money-spinning tour reliving past glories? Maybe they can’t quite cut it anymore live, or the music is outdated.
So, how did Haircut One Hundred live at the Cambridge Corn Exchange work out? Very well, as it happens. It’s been 45 years since their hit singles and a prime period at the top of the charts. There has been a time gap, but only in looks and age. Not at all in music terms.
The boyish good looks of the early 1980s have a more mature appearance. The performance is still high energy and high quality too. They look cool and are obviously having fun as they run through a mix of new songs and old favourites.
Haircut One Hundred back again to funk it up
It’s pretty much the original core band, Nick Heyward on guitar and vocals, Graham Jones on guitar, Les Nemes quietly hitting big bass rhythms, and Blair Cunningham on drums. Cunningham wasn’t the original drummer, but stepped in early on to record the first album.
Like I say, pretty much the originals. Supplemented by three brilliant brass players on trombone, trumpet, and sax. There’s also excellent percussion from Sian Monaghan throughout. Together, it’s quite some sound, fresh, lively, and bright.
I forgot just how jazzy and funky the Haircuts were, or indeed are. The bass thumps away, the guitars hit out a rhythm not dissimilar to Nile Rodgers and Chic. Heyward described it as a chick-a-chick style, in comparison to Rodgers’ chuck-a-chuck.
Who knows what the actual difference between chick and chuck is on a guitar! Those brass players earn their crust too, more than just a backing, there’s a real home and central role for them in the jazz funk tunes being played.
Haircut One Hundred delivers a fabulous night
The Haircut’s newer songs from their recent album, Boxing the Compass, sound very much like the older hits. That’s not a moan about them not progressing, it’s more of a compliment in that they have a sound and are sticking to it very well. It’s all very danceable.
Heyward describes the last half hour as a full-on disco party. That’s when the past hits come in, the crowd responds enthusiastically, and you are indeed into the bop about, singalong, and great night out.
The crowd demanded an encore. Sometimes that’s just a wave of applause and part of the routine. It sounded different here, a definite stomp and outcry for more. I can’t resist using the obvious line now either. Heyward did it too in the encore. Fabulous night, but a fantastic day. Yep, straight into their final and frenetic number and to end the encore.
It’s not their biggest hit, but it’s the song everyone remembers first. “Fantastic Day” sent the audience home very happy for sure. Any worries about a retro band just doing the circuit were well behind us all.
I should also mention the very accomplished Stone Foundation as a superb support band on the night. Normally, a much bigger collective in numbers and sound, they were stripped back to just three. Neil Jones on vocals and acoustic guitar, Neil Sheasby on bass, and Ian Arnold on keyboards. The trio was a class act with some powerful tunes and made you want to go see the full group when they tour.
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