Last year it was Madder Lake supporting Spectrum for the latter’s 50th anniversary. On Sunday it was Spectrum supporting Madder Lake for their 50th.

The show at the Way Out West Club in Newport was an afternoon one. It’s a great venue with lots of light coming in. It’s well laid out and could accommodate the big crowd.

Spectrum were on fire. There was lots of energy in the band & they sounded rockier than I have ever heard them. All 5 were there: Mike; Broc O’Connor (bass); Daryl Roberts (keyboard); Robbo Robertson (the everywhere drummer) & Brenden Mason (the everywhere guitarist). It was great to see Broc up there after his major surgery late last year. He was playing well, singing bv along with Brenden & looking happy.

MIKE ANNOUNCING; ROBBO (PARTLY OBSCURED); BROC

They played lots of favourites from the Spectrum song book (& a couple from the Ariel back catalogue): Launching Place, Worm Turning Blues, Jamaican Farewell, Lottery …

Late in the set a woman pulled a chair up beside me, opened her handbag, took out ear plugs & put them in …………….. I couldn’t believe what I had witnessed. Spectrum are never loud & in the Jimmy Barnes league. Why was even more relevant as the set ended with the 2 all-time Spectrum/Murtceps greats I’ll Be Gone and Esmeralda. Why would anyone want those 2 songs muffled …………..

And the Madders. They were great as always. I do like it when these 2 bands share a show.

NO WRIST STAMPS AT WOW. YOU GET A WRIST BAND INSTEAD. THIS IS IT.