Glenn & Chris leading Squeeze's current incarnation.
I finally got to see Squeeze in concert. How I remember their video “Black Coffee in Bed” being the first thing I saw on MTV. Of course, my immediate reaction to it was “what the hell is this?” But thanks to repetition and teenage curiosity, I grew more interested in them…just in time for their first breakup with a farewell appearance on SNL. By the time I left for Marquette, Singles 45’s and Under was always a standard CD, cassette or record in every “thinking” college student’s music collection.
Back in 2003, Mark and I had the great fortune to see Glenn Tilbrook on a solo tour at the Cactus Cafe. (This show deserves its own story because the guy is that amazing.) He primarily did Squeeze songs so it only whetted my appetite for a reunion to happen eventually. On VH-1’s Bands Reunited the following year, I knew the host would fail since it was a pre-mature move. After Glenn’s Cactus show, a fan asked if he was still friends with Chris (Difford). He gave an enthusiastic yes and said they talk on the phone frequently. They just couldn’t work together right now. So when VH-1 came a calling (or ambushed them if you go with Kurt Harland of Information Society’s take), I could see the apprehension in Glenn’s face and Jools Holland telegraphing an obvious “no” to the very naive host.
Chris Difford sharing the vocal duties.
Thankfully, it’s all water under the bridge for Chris and Glenn now! Just my luck too they came to America for a Reunion-30th anniversary tour. After reading this book, I gained a greater appreciation of Squeeze’s material which made going mandatory for me. My friend Chip from Waterloo has been updating me with their remastered albums too.
They hit the stage after 9 PM and I lost the bet on the opening number. I assumed they’d start with “Take Me I’m Yours,” over the more obscure one I didn’t know. There was also a huge backdrop screen behind them. Various video images were shown on it to highlight or emphasize the song’s lyrics or mood. My personal favorite was for “Hourglass.” Normally, it’s one of their hits I avoid on the radio but I knew they’d do a memorable performance. Having an ongoing rapid-fire montage of Squeeze over 30 years made it more special. I scored Mark a copy of the set lists so I’ll have to ask him what they did exactly, I only recognized material from 45’s and “Hourglass.” Even if I didn’t know it, this band rarely does anything to cause a mass exodus to the bathroom or bar.
Glenn singing.
We all had a great time. The band was definitely on a roll with their impressive catalog. My only disappointment was this being exclusively a reunion tour, there’s no new record for them to promote. Maybe there will be in the near future because they proved that after 30 years, Difford & Tilbrook stil “got it” and their amended collection of singles will remain standard issue. Heck, “Cool for Cats” will be on the upcoming Rock Band 2.