OK, they came, they saw, they rocked.

"I must admit, when we did those gigs at Christmas, I did it for the money. Tonight though we're doing it for free. What is wrong with me?" Miles.

Certainly was a weird one tonight. The smallest gig that I can remember The Wonder Stuff playing in the UK, well, since 1989 I reckon. And best of all, completely free to the lucky few. It's fair to say if you really wanted to go to the gig you could go. Even if it means sending 100's of emails to XFM, or standing outside HMV at 8.30 on a Monday morning, or hanging around the venue in the hope someone has a spare.

The venue? Well, its like a small version of the Irish Centre, or maybe, Dudley JB's if you took the back 2/3's out. Or at a push, the Garage in Islington. Yep, it's small. Stuck at the back of the tiny stage is the familiar keystone cops backdrop, the radio controlled gear, the drumkit, Stewy's now familiar candle-amps (bearing the surname of his ladyfriend "potton"), and the rest of the familiar sights.

So rumours abound. A request only set. On at 7.40. No 8.00. No 8.30. Maybe. And a pre gig meet at the tiny Hogs Head where it takes ages to get served. And so to the gig itself. For the first twenty minutes its 1988 again, except for the hair. Miles has got some now, and it doesn't look bad either trivia fans. Poison, Ruby Horse, Give Me More, and Unbearable are executed hungrily. Just when you thought it would stay that way, time for On The Ropes , and the ever brilliant Mission Drive and Circlesquare. Shame though, that someone pushes his way from the back of the venue right to the front irrespective of who gets pushed, jostled, fallen over and felt up on the way. If you want to be at front, don't jump the queue. Oh, and if you want to hit people repeatedly in the face for seventy minutes with your timewarp long hair, do me a favour, and ask first. Ta.

"Any requests?". Typically people ask for songs they know they won't hear. Bangbangratatat. Room 410. Someone even asks for Goodnight Though. (Why? It's the last song they always play). Someone else shouts for Anything. Anything isn't good enough, and so it's time for Piece Of Sky.

I could list the songs and the titles, but it doesn't really do them justice. They were great. Golden Green features the audience again chanting along the words long before Miles takes the mike. Don't Let me Down Gently features Stuart throwing some amazing bass shapes, before it quickly becomes apparent his bass has conked out and he's leaning at funny angles to find out what's wrong. And when I say to Miles as he drinks his bottled water - "That looks nice, Can I have some?" - he dutifully obliges. Geezer. And about 5 minutes from the end, I realise this is the first gig they've played in ages without a keyboardist that I can see.

Encore time. Miles reveals that the original plan was for them to play an acoustic in-store at HMV (terrible idea) until Martin suggested otherwise. What a brilliant idea. And then onto the genius of Can't Shape Up, A Wish Away, and the final Ten Trenches Deep. It's all over by 9.30, and nobody can believe it. So soon? Oh quit griping, it was worth what we paid. Ever feel like you've been treated? 

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