Shaun Ryder threw his inhaler into the crowd at the end of an incredible evening filled with movers and misfits.

★★★★☆ (4.5/5)

HAPPY MONDAYS PERFORMING AT FIRST OF THREE SOLD-OUT GLASGOW BARROWLAND BALLROOM SHOWS.
PHOTOCREDIT: ROSS WARDROP

Although rave culture is huge worldwide, it is fair to say that something special was happening in Manchester in the late 1980s and 1990s. The so called Madchester scene saw a fusion of musical styles like alternative rock, indie, dance and house fill up vibrant clubs with people ready to dance and have a good time. Local acts churned out hits that would go on to be celebrated long past the end of the scene and many probably achieved more than their wildest dreams thought possible. Though ripe with tragedies that extended well past the walls of the iconic nightclub of the time The Hacienda, Madchester created a unique phenomenon that left a lasting impact on British culture.

Happy Mondays are Madchester legends and have kept the fans delighted with tours, DJs sets and appearances throughout the years. The Been There Done That Tour saw the colourful group sell-out venues up and down the country and lead to two extra dates in Glasgow being added due to the demand of from Scots. The line-up for the tour was unmissable and cheerful fans flocked to the Barrowland Ballroom. Merriment was in the air as the large pit filled up.

The first of the night’s support was London’s brilliant hip hop/electronic dance group Stereo MC’s. The group was formed in 1985 and have created masterful tracks and worked some of the biggest names in the world. Rob Birch performs with hunger and intensity aside the beautiful and intriguing Cath Coffey. Together, they capture the rave fuelled rhythm of the 1990s and it hits like an explosion. There set skipped past in flash and fans of the style should grab every available chance to experience the talent of this pair.

Up next was the Madchester rock band Inspiral Carpets. Beginning as The Furs and playing Psychedelic Furs covers, school friends Graham Lambert and Stephen Holt turned into their own as they evolved the Inspiral Carpets. Seeing Lambert and Holt on stage with keyboardist Clint Boon is grand triumph for a membership that has been challenged over the years. There were a lot of fans in the house as the room sings along heartily with Holt. Boon was joy to watch as his love for performing shone out.

The night was on a soaring high after the first two courses and the main event came out like a plump turkey. One by one, members of the band took to the stage and as hit single Kinky Afro started up. Shaun Ryder picks his spot where he would remain glued for the set but Rowetta keeps a watchful eye on him throughout has a mother aura to her as she supports him on stage.

Ryder’s is on strong form – certainly for his standards. He manages most of his lyrics with surprising clarity and is relaxed as he banters with Mark "Bez" Berry, although this banter sounds very jumbled and is barely comprehendible. Bez gives the crowd everything they came for with his loaded, constant dancing. He is beyond lost in the groove and is so absorbed that he prowls stage inciting fans to go harder. Bez climbed up and down equipment, scanning the room and looking for literal ways to get higher; might have been possible he was already high enough.

The setlist was a crowd pleasing ensemble of the irresistible dance numbers that are filled with heart and sweat and they showcase entirety of the group’s career. The heavy God’s Cop is only elevated beside the baggy celebration of Loose Fit. The Barra’s dance floor is sea of dropped alcohol and gyrating bodies as the John Cale produced 24 Hour Party People is played. At the end of Wrote for Luck, Ryder threw his inhaler into the fans showing the reality of aging in one of the biggest dance acts in the country. Bez remained on stage last, still celebrating with fans and still looking on another planet.

Happy Mondays is not the show for sound quality but is damn good party with damn enjoyable songs. The group still go hard, likely at their own cost, to give a good performance and they have proved that they still will not disappoint their fans.