Gene, Albert Hall. 26th March 2026

It’s been a while since I’ve been in Albert Hall (I had to check, it was June ‘25, longer than I thought). Anyway it’s nice to be back in here with Gene. They were brilliant in Leeds last year, so expectations are quite high. That was their first time out in 20 odd years, it was intimate and a little bit wild and wonderful, but they’ve got a few more dates under their belts now, so I suspect tonight will be different. They start slow with ‘You’ll Never Walk Again’, it’s a gentle opener and the mic mix sounds weird, but as it goes on fears are put aside, as Martin finds his voice, sounds great and the band fire up. They settle in quickly, Martin throwing his mic arm out to the crowd and they respond, arms aloft in admiration. A crowd can make or break a gig and although some of the packed floor space is keeping its powder dry, there’s plenty of life down there and up on the balcony. People hugging, air drumming, singing (in tune). Phone recording is mercifully at a minimum. Martin is clearly having fun. He’s the showman in a sharp black suit, the rest of the band keeping it simple and static in polo shirts. They deal of course largely in sweeping indie tunes, but ‘This Is Not My Crime’ packs a bit more punch. After their guitar tech gets a cheer for service to the band, then boos for leaving and moving back to America, Martin stalks around the stage, showing off his moves and his range. He was great but perhaps a bit restricted on the Brudenell stage, he looks much more comfortable with space to roam. ‘Truth, Rest Your Head’ charges the room with a meatier sound, it’s magnificent and is rewarded with a crowd in fine voice. The acoustics in this room are marvellous and it sounds glorious. There’s an amusing anecdote about working security at a book fair, before the gentle ‘Stop’ calms us all down. Although Martin shedding his jacket is greeted with the expected whistles, which he seems to love, albeit shyly. ‘Where Are They Now?’ is what they’ve been building to. It’s a real moment and sounds massive. ‘Save Me, I’m Yours’ is beautifully sedate and transports me, before ‘Speak to Me Someone’ provides a mid-set gear change, starting unassumingly before exploding in rapturous joy. Having lost the room a bit, ‘The British Disease’ wakes everyone up. It doesn’t go off though, it’s not a young crowd, so excitement is capped at hands in the air and singing. However ‘Haunted By You’ does predictably raise the temperature of the room. If it weren’t for hundreds of people singling along, I could be back in my bedroom in the 90s listening to the radio. Funny how some songs do that. ‘Olympian’ too hits a strong nostalgia note. What a song though. Worthy of being classed a classic. It’s worth the ticket alone. I’m hit with massive dose of dopamine, my whole body tingles and I’m pretty sure I float. This is why I come to see bands play live. There’s nothing like it. After a short break, everyone’s on their feet now, even on the balcony for ‘London, Can You Wait?’, as they return for the first encore and the lighting tech starts having some fun. Everyone’s having fun. Martin’s at the lip of the stage, knighting people with his mic stand, before taking another breather (joking that he keeps popping off for some cheeky ketamine) while Steve solos in the spotlight. Martin does return fired up for ‘Fighting Fit’, then they all leave again. The double encore confuses a few patrons, who walk out before Martin returns and sits at the piano, delivering ‘Drawn to the Deep End’ solo. It’s a comedown encore, but no less powerful and ‘Is It Over?’ makes a good shout for song of the set. It’s clear though that the room prefers ‘Sleep Well Tonight’ as a singalong breaks out for the final time and leaves everyone fizzing with excitement. They play for nearly 2 hours and it passes quickly, very quickly. Were they as good as in Leeds. Yes, but it was different. Leeds felt special, a real one off, but the bigger room suits these songs and it’s a joy to hear them play for large adoring crowd. Welcome back Gene.