A stunning document of a stunning band, playing a stunning live show.
By the time the second Wildhearts album arrived in 1995 the band had already been embroiled in much controversy and shenanigans such as destroying the Kerrang! offices after a lukewarm EP review – the norm. Possibly less wise was royally pissing off their own record label by insisting the follow-up to the ridiculously good 'Earth Vs The Wildhearts', would be a double disc affair. A fan club album later, ('Fishing For Luckies' would provide more label/band hatred for many years after) and the single disc 'P.H.U.Q.' (pronounced fuc... you get the idea) landed with an almighty explosion. Maybe not quite as gloriously tough or snarly as its predecessor, the glistening hooks, stonkingly memorable choruses and fantastically nimble size twelve to the arse 'P.H.U.Q.' provided was quite jaw dropping.
That it all happened just over two decades ago makes me feel old and wrinkled, or at least it did until the twentieth anniversary celebration rolled into town last year, sell out audiences greeting it across the UK. 'Never Outdrunk, Never Outsung – PHUQ Live' is the result and smash me over the head with a shattered pair of drumsticks if it doesn't act as a juddering fist of proof of just how good this band are on stage. Ginger Wildheart, CJ Wildheart and Rich Battersby reunited is a thing to behold and, flanked this time by bassist "Random" Jon Poole, their powerful, furious, precise, good time, attitude-infused Rock 'n' Roll may never have sounded better.
Sticking to the original album's running order (incidental between song music (which is turned into an expletive-laden sing along here) included) surprises by becoming the perfectly-paced set; 'I Wanna Go Where The People Go', 'Just In Lust', 'Nita Nitro', 'In Lilly's Garden' and the other nine songs, simply fantastic. With the crowd pleasingly high in the mix, the chants, shouts and cheers that are so much a part of any Wildhearts show genuinely allow you to feel the energy and excitement of being in the crowd, while the band are faultless throughout.
This leaves 'Never Outdrunk, Never Outsung – P.H.U.Q. Live' to be a stunning document, of a stunning band, playing a stunning live show.
Steven Reid