In 2022, following an eight-year live hiatus, Hard-Fi advised that they would play a handful of dates, including a gig at the Kentish Town Forum in London. Whether it was the length of time since Hard-Fi last performed live or an opportunity to step back to an era when people legally smoked cigarettes at live venues, this date sold out instantly.
Hard-Fi didn’t need any fancy lighting, gimmicks or complex computer artwork, just the humble image of their 2005 debut LP debut, Stars of CCTV, a black CCTV camera on an almost neon yellow backdrop.
When the Staines-upon-Thames quartet opened the Troxy set with “Middle Eastern Holiday”, whilst this has continued to hold itself up as a classic and galvanised Hard-Fi fans, there were concerns that Hard–Fi was going to repeat the same set order as they did at the Forum dates in October 2022. When the equally excellent “Gotta Reason” followed, it appeared as if these trepidations were being realised. When the lesser-known “Stay Alive” from Killer Sounds followed, which didn’t make the previous Forum set, there was an added collective release of serotonin and relief. Hard-Fi was back to bring an innovative sound and not fall back on the safety blanket of banality.
As with the Forum set, the same nine songs from Stars of CCTV made the setlist. As well as mixing up the order of play, there was an innovation as to how these songs were performed, which further penetrated fan’s passionate, deep-seated admiration for these songs. Fans delighted in singing along when an extended version of “Suburban Knights” transformed into acapella mode. Frontman Richard Archer knew what to say without any verbosity or drama to succinctly maintain the growing crowd momentum. By simply saying, “London, can you still have it large?” another release of serotonin was secreted as the audience basked in the brilliance of “Hard to Beat”.
Whilst “Seven Nation Army” didn’t make the set, the melodica still did for “Better Do Better.” Hard-Fi also dropped a new song, “Always and Forever”. Hard-Fi’s confidence in debuting new material had reached new heights and, as a result, was better received at the Troxy than at the Forum. Whilst “Living for the Weekend”, as expected, played out the set, Archer’s compere skills by subtly suggesting the day of the week of this performance ensured another fresh wave of excitement.
Hard-Fi classics, especially those from their debut LP, will always dominate their live sets; their ability to get fans to relive these songs in new ways will likely ensure that fans will be interested in new future chapters in the bands’ career.
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