‘I SHOULD COCO’: SUPERGRASS CELEBRATE 30 YEARS OF BREAKTHROUGH ALBUM

LIVE REVIEW | SUPERGRASS w/ Sports Team | GLASGOW BARROWLAND BALLROOM 9th May 2025 by Anne Kelly

Anniversary tours are usually an easy sell to music lovers. A night to indulge in ultimate nostalgia, reliving not just the music, but the energy of moments gone by. With the 90’s Brit-pop revival at a peak following the resurgence of bands such as Pulp or Blur – plus the cash cow reconciliation of a certain brother duo – there’s a massive market sized hole offering the chance for one generation to relive their youth while simultaneously captivating the next to continue the musical legacy.

This month, we celebrate 30 years of I Should Coco, the debut release from key 90’s players, Supergrass. And what better way to mark the occasion than to take the seminal album on tour, performing the track listing from start to finish, for the very first time. Despite a decade hiatus and no new music for 17 years, Supergrass’ demand hasn’t dwindled and upon announcing the anniversary tour, 2 nights at Glasgow’s Barrowland Ballroom were an instant sell out.

Before diving straight into the headliners, opening act Sports Team deserves an honourable mention. Just weeks away from the release of their third album Boys These Days the band appear well rehearsed, tight with captivating stage presence. From the upbeat opening ‘Drop’ and ‘Bang, Bang, Bang’, Sports Team took listeners on a brief journey of their vast discography in just 30 minutes. Suitably styled and loaded with dry English wit, Sports Team unravel something more endearing with each track. Taking a moment to express their gratitude to Supergrass, the Cambridge band claim that the headliners are the pinnacle of what a band should look like 30 years down the line, all before giving latest single ‘Sensible’ it’s live debut and closing on a personal favourite of mine, ‘Maybe When We’re 30’.

As an album, I Should Coco proves itself ideal for a live run through. Playing the full album in track order, the opening few tracks cause the Glasgow crowds to erupt . ‘I’d Like To Know’ followed by their breakout ‘Caught By The Fuzz’ and hit single ‘Mansize Rooster’ are all well known enough that even the more passive crowds can join in with a sing song. “This is track 4” announces Gaz Coombes before launching into one of their best known singles ‘Alright’, a song which sends shock waves of adrenaline through the room.

Whilst Gaz is the natural figure head of Supergrass, his band mates are just as iconic. Bringing the original line-up of bassist Mick Quinn, drummer Danny Goffrey and Gaz’s lesser recognised big brother, Rob Coombes on keys, there’s an unspoken bond felt between these guys, something unique that can only be earned through years of hard graft together. Switching the dynamic up during ‘We’re Not Supposed To’ heightens that connection between them; with Danny off the drum kit taking the role of bassist, Gaz donning an acoustic and and Mick on lead guitar, whilst Rob remains quietly tucked behind his station (sporting a Sports Team cap), yet solidifying his role as the backbone of Supergrass.

What these album celebration style shows do best is shining the light on the deeper cuts of the record. Tracks such as ‘Lenny’, ‘Strange Ones’ and ‘She’s So Loose’ may not have the same radio ready familiarity, but to the fans tonight, these songs have the power to transcend listeners to a forgotten moment in time. An easy highlight tonight is the first (well, technically third) live outing of the song ‘Sofa (Of My Lethargy)’, which Gaz admits they have never, in all of 30 years, performed live before this tour. An epic psychedelic trip from Supergrass which clearly resonates deeply with seasoned fans in the crowd, closing their eyes and immersing themselves in the moment.

By this point in the show, I’ve been captivated myself, completely lost in the moment which continues to until I Should Coco phases out fittingly with ‘Time To Go’.

“You want a few more then” asks Danny before the unmistakable sounds of ‘Richard III’ fill the room. The tranquility in the room has now burnt away and the fire in this crowds belly has ignited, and for the first time tonight, a sea of bodies come flooding towards the stage; the party just stepped up several notches, refusing to let up until the bitter end.

Performing a collection of their “Greatest Hits” was always going to evoke a strong response, but this was somewhat unexpected from the mostly 40’s/50’s aged male demographic who until this point had been lurking in the shadows. ‘Moving’ followed by ‘Grace’ was nothing short of a spectacular for tonight’s audience, memories made for a lifetime.

“We’ve played this venue so many times” announces Danny “must be at least like 20 times” before being met with an eruption of applause by stating “It’s genuinely my favourite venue to play”. Usually a throwaway comment from bands to appease the crowd, but whenever anybody says this in reference this to the Barrowlands, I’m inclined to take their word for it.

Returning with an encore of ‘Sun Hits The Sky’ before their biggest hit ‘Pumping On Your Stereo’, the stormy nature of the crowd have shifted me even closer to the front and there is a real sense that nobody is quite ready for the night to be over. But, with sweat making up for 99% of the rooms atmosphere by this point, it’s probably about time we make our way into the fresh air. Fittingly the speakers blast ‘Time Of My Life’ on exit which ensues a roaring sing-a-long, reflecting the feeling of the night in a nut shell.

If anybody is second guessing themselves as to whether or not they should catch Supergrass on this tour, then my response would 100% be “I SHOULD COCO!!”

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Anne Kelly

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