Home is where the Heart is has always been the mantra of Middleton, Manchester’s post punk band The Chameleons, so after a mammoth 70 date tour spanning Europe, USA and even Dubai, where better to close out 2024 than a sell out show at The Albert Hall. With its Baroque and Gothic architecture a perfect fit with the band’s dark and moody sound.
But first up were a couple of excellent choices of support in the form of Athens, Georgia’s Vision Video and somewhat more local band The Membranes who hail from Blackpool. Vision Video’s brand of gothic post punk wasn’t a million miles from the headliners vibe, with their frontman, Dusty even joining The Chameleons’ Mark Burgess for a few moments where the two singers looked so similar they could be related.
Closely followed by The Membranes, with John Robb bouncing with seemingly endless energy, only slowing slightly to introduce the song “Snow Monkey” with it’s pecking order subject matter being compared to the society we find ourselves enduring today.
By the time the Chameleons were ready to hit the stage the hall was filled to capacity, the atmosphere electric, The voice of Quentin Crisp rings out and up on the balcony behind the stage a strange sight is visible, last seen on the artwork for the classic “in Shreds” wearing a helmet and holding a doll.
The song Rock n Roll Star kicks in and we’re off, classic follows classic as The Chameleons rip through an amazing setlist, barely pausing for breath. Impossible to pick standout highlights from such an ensemble but View from a Hill dedicated to the late, great John Lever was a lovely touch and a perfect way to close the set before the band returned for 4 encore tracks of “in Shreds”, “Monkeyland”, “Second Skin” and” Finally closing with the inevitable “Don’t Fall”
The Chameleons return early next year with a tour of Scandinavia, I personally can’t think of a better excuse for some hinterland sightseeing.
WORDS AND PHOTOS BY SIMON LEE
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