inspiration

INTERVIEW: Rick Witter from Shed Seven on hairbrush singing, Showaddywaddy, Duran Duran & Victorious Festival

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum

I like to explain what kind of fan I am before a review/interview. I tell Rick I’m dead nervous as I’m such a fangirl. We’ve seen the Sheds many times, here at Victorious, in local venues and at the Shiiine On Weekender many times in Butlins. “Don’t be nervous,” he tells me. “I’m a nice guy. We’ll just have a nice chat like we’re round a pub table.” And he is a nice guy.  

  • Read on for reasons including how to select a festival setlist from material going back to the 90s
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Victorious Festival 2025 Day 2 starring Shed Seven, Utah Saints, Public Service Broadcasting, The Pill & Betty Boo

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum

WHEN?: Saturday 23 August 2025 (press ticket)

In our attempt to fill the sad Welly gap, before we realised that Hot Wax were possibly the new best thing, we knew The Pill, who opened the Common Stage today, were a cert. We’d seen them support Welly in Southampton earlier this year, and we could see and sense the potential.

  • Read on for reasons including Shed Seven, Utah Saints, Public Service Broadcasting & Betty Boo
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GIG REVIEWS: Panic Shack, Snapped Ankles & The Pill

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Carron Stacey, A Humdrum Mum

WHEN?: All May 2025 at Papillon, Southampton

Snapped Ankles are a Mr H thing, but off we went to our favourite new venue, Papillon in Southampton. We have a tea towel from the tour, Hard Times Furious Dancing, hanging in our disco area. They certainly do make you move!

  • Read on for reasons including The Pill and Panic Shack
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GIG REVIEW: Scissor Sisters and Alison Goldfrapp at The 02

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN?: Friday 23 May 2025, tour runs through 15 August 2025

AG Setlist: Ride A White Horse; Number 1; Dreaming; Believer; Find Xanadu; Reverberotic; Rocket; Ooh La La; Strict Machine; Fever

SS Setlist: Laura; Better Luck; She’s My Man; Tits On The Radio; I Can’t Decide; Lovers In The Back Seat; Running Out; Take Your Mama; Paul McCartney; Fire With Fire; Mary; It Can’t Come Quickly Enough; Sex And Violence; Any Which Way; Comfortably Numb; Invisible Light; Let’s Have A Kiki; I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’; Return To Oz; Filthy Gorgeous; Music Is The Victim

It’s the Friday night of a bank holiday weekend and we arrive at our seats early to see an extraordinary greatest hits support set from 1 of our favourite pop stars.

  • Read on for reasons including special guests Self Esteem and Sir Ian McKellen
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ALBUM OF THE MONTH: A Complicated Woman by Self Esteem (May 2025)

Posted on by mrmonstagigz

WORTH A LOOK?: ****1/2

Tracklist: I Do And I Don’t Care; Focus Is Power; Mother; The Curse; Logic, Bitch; Cheers To Me; If Not Now, It’s Soon; In Plain Sight; Lies; 69; What Now; The Deep Blue Okay

There’s a thematic through-line to this album with the final track’s title being referenced in its opening song as Self Esteem sings: ‘We’re not chasing happiness anymore, girls. We’re chasing nothing, the great big still, the deep blue okay – and we’re okay today.’

  • Read on for reasons including how Madonna was in the audience for Self Esteem
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