SQUEEZE, ADAM ANT & Haircut 100 - Clearwater

By: Lori Smerilson Carson | Photos: Randy Cook

Under the dome of the BayCare Sound amphitheater in Clearwater, an occasional cool breeze swept through the stifling heat that resembled an oven. This was appropriate because just as something amazing comes out of an oven, Haircut 100, ADAM ANT and SQUEEZE cooked up an incredible night of musical entertainment!

Haircut 100 started the party off with “Nobody’s Fool” displaying the tight, timeless sound that Lead Vocalist Nick Heyward, Guitarist Graham Jones, Bassist Les Nemes, Drummer Blair Cunningham, Saxophonist Nick Gomez and Trumpeter Ben Caiazza have. They not only brought back wonderful memories with hit songs “Fantastic Day”, “Love Plus One” and “Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)”, but they also brought the crowd to their feet singing and dancing along.

Next the party continued as frontman, Lead Singer Adam Ant took the stage with his band Guitarist Will Crewdson, Bassist Leigh Gorman and Drummers Jola and Dave “Greenie Green who flanked the stage while the audience was drawn to ant style drumming which commanded crowd attention and enthusiasm. It was a true travel back in time watching Ant gliding across the stage and throwing in his signature spins while singing hits, “Dog Eat Dog”, “Friend or Foe”, “Prince Charming”, “Desperate But Not Serious”, “Antmusic” and capping off the night with “Goody Two Shoes” and “Stand and Deliver” while the crowd was singing and dancing, gearing up for the final segment of the party.

SQUEEZE took the stage to begin their ninety-minute show and people were enthusiastically ready for this last musical journey. Guitarists/Vocalists Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford brought the audience to their feet as they started their set with” Pulling Mussels (From the Shell)” along with bandmates Guitarists Leon Tilbrook and Melvin Duffy, Bassist Owen Biddle, Keyboardist Stephen Large, Percussionist Steve Smith, Drummer Simon Hanson and Vocalist Danica Dora. They brought us back in time playing “Up the Junction”, “Another Nail in My Heart” and “Is That Love” before they played their latest trixies album (as promised in my latest interview with Glenn Tilbrook) of their newly released tunes, starting with “What More Can I Say” and including “The Place We Call Mars” which was spotlighted in red. With strong vocals and incredible riffs and key changes, the audience was truly intrigued by these new songs that lead into “Trixies pt 1” and “Trixies pt 2” before we were thrust back in time with “Black Coffee In Bed”. The absolute fun continued with “Slap and Tickle”, “Cool for Cats” and “Tempted” before ending this highly energetic show with “Take Me I’m Yours”. All in all, an amazing night of music that created fantastic memories.