Project House, Leeds gig – Friday 14 August 2026
As Half Man Half Biscuit fans, I guess we are a community, and I’m sure I write on behalf of all of us in sending condolences to the family of Joe, who won’t be with us at this gig. His wife Sarah sent in the words below and asked if we could include them here – CtSO
A message from Sarah…
My beautiful husband Joe died in June.
Joe was a big Half Man Half Biscuit fan and introduced me to the music almost 30 years ago. With so many favourites, choosing service music was a minefield. You can guess the rest.
We had plans to come to Leeds together tonight. As with many tickets over two years since diagnosis, we bought with hope rather than expectation. Every possible opportunity was taken. For days when Joe was too sick, we donated tickets to MacMillan nurses and volunteers. Given Joe’s eclectic tastes that was surely an eye opener for them.
I find it difficult to express to the band my gratitude for the joy they have given us over many years. It all comes out very ABBA. Instead it has to be a simple thank you. From the hilarity in a sudden ‘what was that lyric?’ discovery (“pulled up at Bangor on Dee”) to the stunning beauty of Oblong of Dreams. You have been so important to all our family. I just know that Joe’s grandsons will quote you and pass on some oddity to their own children.
Like many fans we grew into middle age and beyond alongside HMHB. Wry observation and eye for the ridiculous gave us a quote for all situations. Singing along in full voice was the greatest medicine for the worst of times – Bat Walk anybody?
I will never forget standing with Joe in the back row balcony in The Coro, Ulverston. We cried, we sang and we pointed up at the roof. One of the happiest nights of my life and I can picture it so vividly. It was truly perfect.
Thinking of you tonight Joe. I love you. I miss you.
Serry
And now, as I’m sure Joe would have wanted, on to the reviews…
✉ Letters Sent (67)
Skip to the most recent comment
(1 month ago by Exxo)
Hendrix-tattoo
Sorry for your loss, Sarah and my sincere condolences to you and your family.
R.I.P Joe…
14 August 2026
Irish Niall
Strength and condolences to you and your family Sarah and to all who knew and loved Joe. A glass or two will be raised to his memory.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
Niall
14 August 2026
johnny kwango
We were both very saddened to hear this news Sarah. Although we only knew Joe by sight, the story of your relationship with the music of the band is remarkably similar to ours, with my having introduced Mrs K to the band when we met 26 years ago. Our thoughts will be with you (and Joe) this evening as we sing along boisterously to Oblong of Dreams.
14 August 2026
Rory
Sorry for your loss Sarah – he sounded like a great man. Reasons such as those you so beautifully described is why many of us enjoy HMHB so much. RIP Joe and condolences to you and your family.
14 August 2026
dic aberdaron
raises glass
rip joe
14 August 2026
Mel
Hi Sarah,
Really sorry to hear of your loss. We try to get over for one HMHB gig a year and were sat in the back row in Ulverston. While we never met I remember you guys, ye were even more wrapped up in the gig that the normal. May he rest in peace and hopefully your kids, grandkids and great grandkids keep accompanying to gigs in random towns around the UK.
Take care
14 August 2026
The Tutor With The Beard and The Polio
Condolences Sarah.
The “pointing up at the roof” made me laugh (and also made me wish I was called Joe just so I could do that).
14 August 2026
D LIST PAUL ROSS
Gutted – Jack’s…easiest 40 points ever…unless in your head you were sure it was played last time.
14 August 2026
Horror Clown
Was played time before last.
14 August 2026
D LIST PAUL ROSS
Phew…thanks…and apologies – I’m melting.
14 August 2026
Hendrix-tattoo
Third Track
Part Time Punks was worth the admission fee alone…
15 August 2026
Chris The Siteowner
Handwritten setlist via @LornaSimes on Twitter.
15 August 2026
johnny kwango
Hey that’s me holding that set list. How did that get here before I had time to post it myself! 🤔
15 August 2026
Old tige
Damn I guessed the wrong Iceland song in FBL. Eager to read the reviews.
15 August 2026
Telly Savalas
Terminus is on that setlist, but they definitely didn’t play it.
15 August 2026
dic aberdaron
part time punks… ‘kin’ ‘ell!!!!!!
thanks chaps
batterie’s replenished…
15 August 2026
Cream Cheese and Chives
Discussing the forthcoming Booker shortlisted Friday Night Fever pre-gig, several of us were celebrating the fact that other than location and setlist, the key components of all gigs remain constant and pleasantly comforting. So it is when I look back on the night the morning after. Nothing changes. Always brilliant and always life affirming.
The tent like venue made me wonder whether there might be a song about the ideal home exhibition in the offing. Alas ,no! Maybe next time.
Madame Claude were genuinely entertaining and the song about the ostrich and emu was a treat. The headliners were predictably great with the addition of Vicky’s brass making possible a couple of less frequently played numbers. Of course, it was crazy hot but what did we expect?
My lack of accuracy in trying to predict setlists is starting to plumb new depths but so what? I wonder if Terminus went west for reasons of time or because of the heat. As well as the touching dedication of Oblong of Dreams , the inclusion of Part Time Punks on the birthday of my deceased best friend was fantastically apt as he and I first bonded over a love of the TVPs.
Same old, same old. Another top night!
15 August 2026
John Nutton
Great gig last night wasn’t at the front although I think that would make a good song super fan at the front people think your a cXxt very good you made the Front pity your mother you were definitely the runt. Stop waving you pathetic get we aren’t doing the only song you know yet. Honest you are the funniest guy we ever met isnt it your bedtime yet.
15 August 2026
Trevor martin
Great gig and eclectic set list but I was struggling to hear the band clearly l, maybe due to the nature of the room. Couldn’t hear any of Nigel’s banter, partly drowned out by this recent phenomena of people who attend gigs and spend the evening talking to their friends
15 August 2026
Sloppy
Christ that venue’s hot.
Another cracking gig with added Victoria.
Not sure if I passed out, but the set list didn’t quite match what I remember.
Always good to catch up for a pre gig pizza and just back in time for a Rovers win!
We’ll gloss over the five hour train journey back to The Oblong.
See you In Oxford!
15 August 2026
CARRIE ANNE
Roger’s review, with thanks as ever to Gez at https://www.hmhb.co.uk/index.htm
Project House, Leeds, Fri 14th Aug 2026
Roger Green:
Of course we had the announcement of the re-arrangement of the London and Nottingham shows. That was a bit of a sod, but the health of the band members takes priority. It’s back to the pandemic days when we last had that kind of gap between shows. We had to find other stuff with which to kill our time in the interval.
Chris The Site Owner appeared on Steve Pringle’s Mix Tapes bloggy thing. It’s still out there on the web somewhere if you poke around. It runs a bit like Desert Island Discs. A collection of songs (great choices, Chris) together with chat.
Hungry Heart – Bruce Springsteen
Doctor Wu – Steely Dan
Possible Side Effects – HMHB
Walk On By – The Stranglers
Have You Ever Had It Blue? – The Style Council
Moments In Love – The Art Of Noise
Birds – Anouk
Scottish Pop – Spearmint
High Hopes – Pink Floyd
Oblong Of Dreams – HMHB
Ahead of the release of his book courtesy of Route Publishing, Steve Hill also appeared on Mix Tapes. Terminus was his HMHB choice. Route also recently published Das Gruppe On The Wall, being Paul Hanley’s recollections of The Fall’s links with Manchester’s Band On The Wall venue. That’s a fine read. Niall from The Hitchers (and Half Arsed Half Biscuit) became a most excellent guest on that very same podcast. His musical choices included HMHB’s “Floreat Inertia”.
You may also have seen an entry on the HMHB Stuff And Related Nonsense page on Facebook, where Brian McCloskey had posted a Smash Hits interview with the band, exactly forty years after its original appearance. In the interview, Nigel explained that he spent his time either in front of the telly or listening to his Fall records. Plus ça change. All very wholesome stuff.
On Pancake Day, we listened to Robert Johnson’s If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day, to see if we could identify the links to HMHB’s song with a similar title. No reference to squeezing lemons, drinking limeade, or philosophy students in Robert’s version.
We noted that Look Mum No Computer was representing The UK at Eurovision. A name bearing a slight similarity to a HMHB song. A coincidence? I suppose we’ll never be sure. In the end, he scored one whole point. Not a complete waste of time turning up then. “Look Mum, one point” was the predictable newspaper headline.
Big Ups to Kerry McCarthy, MP for Bristol. She was pictured on her Facebook page with a pair of Joy Division Oven Gloves. And I noticed that Tony Iommi was awarded an MBE “for service to music and charity”. And frowning as well?
Andy Kershaw died in April. After John Peel passed along the way, his show remained one of a dwindling number of places where you could hear HMHB on the radio. I remember talking to Andy at the gig in Brampton in 2006. RIP.
Karen and I are still struggling to keep our gig attendance rattling along. Wharf Chambers in the middle of Leeds show some decent stuff. We were there for a splendid afternoon featuring Nervous Twitch, I-Nichi and Indignation Meeting.
Basildon, Birkenhead, Grimsby and Rotherham are among the bigger places in the running for the title of the UK’s first Town of Culture in 2028. The 15-strong shortlist, released by the government’s department for Culture, Media and Sport, also includes the medium-sized Corby, Great Yarmouth, Leith, Pontypridd, and Port Talbot. Smaller places such as Ilfracombe, Isle of Bute, Lerwick, Sandown, Strabane, and Stockton Town Centre Ward round off the list. Surely to goodness, the award must go to Birkenhead?
Radcliffe And Maconie played “Part Time Punks” by Television Personalities on their Sunday morning programme. I had to look up when HMHB had covered this fine song. It was at Castleton in 2022. (I wrote that bit ahead of tonight’s Leeds show.) For those who struggle with the modern ticketing ways, I noticed this on the Radcliffe And Maconie Facebook page: “I’m old enough to remember when buying a ticket just meant buying a ticket, not downloading an app, creating an account, verifying your email & sacrificing a goat.” That comment led to this reply: “I wanted to look at a restaurant menu the other day and they wanted me to open an account first. Fk them, I’ll go somewhere else.”
Came the day of the gig. Phew! What a scorcher! In line with the weather over the previous few weeks the sun beat down, the temperature was high, and, yep, boom boom boom let me hear you say hosepipe ban. A little bit of venue reconnaissance told us that Project House was like a big metal box, a much larger version of the one where Alec Guinness was locked up in Bridge On The River Kwai. On a hot day like this, we were expecting the worse.
This is a new venue for HMHB in Leeds. Joining a long list of places they have played previously. The Polytechnic, The Town And Country (as The O2 Academy was known in those days), The New Roscoe, The Cockpit, The Duchess (many times), The Uni (Riley Smith Hall and Stylus), The Irish Centre. Er, I think that’s it. But happy to be told otherwise. Joseph’s Well would have been a good addition back in the day, before the following started to grow. And I remember Geoff talking to me about a question he had been asked regarding the possibility of playing The Brudenell. But that never bore fruit. Not yet anyway.
A few of we Biscuiteers were staying at the same Premier Inn (Whitehall Road), which enabled a social gathering in the bar. Karen, Gilly, Daisy, Lorna, Andrew, Phill and I chewed the cud over Biscuit and world matters, whilst Tony was a victim of a late running Cross Country train. Andy and Brian joined us ahead of check in. Later on, a similar group walked to the venue, meeting Nigel and Denise, followed by Neil, on their way out to an executive tea somewhere or other.
Many other regulars joined us in the queue: Graham and Sarah, John and Kim, Alex and Lynn, Steve, Sue, Postman Tony and we saw Karl pottering about outside, maybe psyching himself up for the evening.
Inside the venue Postman Tony introduced me to Another Sarah. In the light of it being so hot tonight, he pointed out that he was wearing long trousers, so as to cover up his MUFC tattoo. Well, you never know. We said Hello to Nigel and Jo from Goole, and John, and I had a good catch-up with Katherine and Karl from my locality. I exchanged waves with Lou. Brian very kindly handed over a HMHB poster he’d, ahem, acquired. “My house is an emporium of shite,” he said.
I wasn’t particularly paying attention to the music coming out of the PA, although I did notice “The Whole Of The Moon” and “Dear Prudence”.
And so to the support band. Madame Claude play a set of ska songs. Unless someone tells me otherwise, these were all their own compositions. Grand stuff. The singer covered a lot of ground and would have needed a cold shower afterwards. I didn’t get a set list, and the only song titles that I caught were This Is My Girlfriend and Jelly Legs. Don’t know much about the band. They are worth tracking down though.
And so to HMHB. The walk-on song was Rhinestone Cowboy, with a bit of a crowd singalong, although not to the extent that I recall from previous occasions. Gomez appeared, just as there was chat about heat warnings coming through on mobile phones. Fortunately, there was no evidence of outdoor barbecues tonight. Nigel’s weapon of choice was an acoustic guitar. He was not as chatty as he can be. Maybe wanting to be done and dusted as soon as poss? Although he did lead a chorus of We Are Leeds (or should that be Leads?) Surely, he hasn’t changed allegiance?
Nigel noticed the security guys handing out cups of water. “This is fantastic service,” he said. I agree. The water was most welcome. On several occasions. Although he mused that perhaps the cups could have been bigger. “The usual, please, mate.” After “McCalliog And His Hens”. Later, he said that there was something both celebratory and melancholy about a security guy walking along with his arms aloft, handing out the water. Nigel made him the Man of The Match.
Victoria joined the band on stage, playing on “Even Men With Steel Hearts” and “Big Man Up Front”. “She was in Brassed Off”. Nigel did the routine of walking on his knees. A sight to behold. Brian commented that that seemed to confirm that Nigel is back to full fitness. The only celebrity spotted tonight was “Julia Bradbury, ladies and gentlemen. All you need is some dense woodland and some hydrochloric acid.” Although she was ticked off for leaning on the defibrillator, “She walks well,” added Nigel. “We were going to call this bit The Hydration Break”, he told us at one point, to universal booing.
There was a shout for Honved from the mosh pit. “That’s one of ours” was the usual response, but Nigel added “or perhaps you’re just a Honved fan? There’s a few Augsburg over there”.
Tony picked up a snippet of Neil Young’s “Powderfinger”. There was a bit of chat about Kes. Based in and around Barnsley, not Leeds. Nigel and a punter in the crowd were the only ones who knew the names of the horses that Casper failed to place the bet on. Crackpot and Tell Him He’s Dead. There was a chorus of Happy Birthday for a John in the crowd. I think it was Danny Jones who was mentioned as a mate who had passed way. Apologies if I’ve got that wrong. In reply to Someone who shouted “Jimmy Rimmer'”, Nigel said “Yes, he’s dead. I hope he is, they buried him.”
The military precision of this band showed when Nigel asked the others “It’s this one, isn’t it? I’m right about something,” ahead of “The Light At The End Of The Tunnel”.
Nigel was asked what he thought about the eclipse which had happened earlier in the week. “It was an eclipse,” he replied. I suppose that’s it. There’s not a lot to add.
The songs played tonight were:
She’s In Broadstairs
A Man In Constant Sorrow
Third Track Main Camera Four Minutes
Record Store Day
McCalliog And His Hens
Reflections In A Flat
Persian Rug Sale At The URC
We Built This Village On A Trad Arr Tune
Even Men With Steel Hearts
Every Time A Bell Rings
Big Man Up Front
The Bliss Of The Hereafter
Surging Out Of Convalescence
Birmos In The Cowshed
Vatican Broadside
The Trumpton Riots
National Shite Day
Jack’s Been To The National
All I Want For Christmas Is A Dukla Prague Away Kit
The Light At The End Of A Tunnel Is The Light Of An Oncoming Train
Possible Side Effects
Joy Division Oven Gloves
And in the encore:
Everything’s AOR
Part Time Punks
Oblong Of Dreams
The last song was dedicated to Joe and Sarah. Thanks to Karl for the set list. There were a couple of amendments. Terminus was listed following National Shite Day but was not played. And Vatican Broadside made an appearance despite not being written down.
A few more Hellos at the end of the gig. Nigel and Claire Exford. Graham Le Taxi. Mike. Paul. Mo. Howie. Michael and Peter from Indignation Meeting. And we were back out into the night, to breathe some air and to make plans to meet in Oxford in a few weeks.
15 August 2026
Chris The Siteowner
Thanks Roger! The definitive record, as ever. According to the pre-2010 gig list page (I knew it’d come in useful), the band also played The Coliseum in Leeds in 1990. This cutting is all the evidence we have, until a ticket or poster turns up in someone’s drawer.
16 August 2026
RATBAG
Just to be a pernickety bastard, I have to point out that The Coliseum was what The O2 Academy was called before it was called The Town & Country, so it’s kind of already made the list. Don’t know if it was called anything else before that, the first time I went to the Coliseum was to see The Dickies in 1990.
Hell of a gig on Friday, never thought they’d play over the canal from where I work…
16 August 2026
Sloppy
Thanks as always Roger!
Did any one get the comments about the cat chasing the mouse. They were both walking (or something like that)
Totally lost on me!
16 August 2026
Alex
Just great to see the band back in action. Must concur about the great gesture with the water being handed out: most places would’ve made a tenner from the water we got through. Lucky for those of us at the front (deserved, perhaps, for those of us who know all/most of the words: John #18 – bizarre rant which was beyond the capabilities of google translate).
As Roger noted, not too much jokey stuff from Nigel but he did respond to a query about his electric guitar by saying ‘It’s in the wash’
16 August 2026
dic aberdaron
@ sloppy
it’s that hot they were walking
16 August 2026
Cream Cheese and Chives
While listening to Steve Hill’s Mix Tape, I have received a message saying that my copy of Friday Night Fever has been dispatched. I am now debating whether to choose it for my book club choice as revenge for being asked to read a 700 page fantasy novel set in a carpet.
16 August 2026
Retro Ringo
The only thing I’d like to add (after what was my first gig – thanks again Rory!) was Nigels in depth knowledge about Leeds – The only thing he seemed able to come up with was it was the only place Derek Pringle could get the ball to swing!
16 August 2026
EXXO
Yes, fantastic to see the band back on stage where they belong, fit and enjoying themselves (yes Nigel we know you were really).
One or two other details that haven’t been mentioned yet. Nigel’s clearly getting sick of all the “leave a donation in your will” ads on ITV, as he said one song early in the set was either dedicated to (or about?) “horses with cleft palates.” I’m sure he has nothing against these wonderful charities, but some ad breaks seem to be nothing but, and that’s the point of the swipe.
And in ‘NSD,’ the advert in the music press said:
“Doors, Floyd, etc. Send us your lyrics” Perhaps John didn’t notice that those last four words were delivered with the venom usually reserved for “Full Sky Replica Kit,” when he decided to submit his own unique effort in this thread (comment 18).
Great to see those of you I/we saw, and sorry to miss those of you I missed – had intended to be at the Kirkstall Brewery mid-afternoon, and then pizza, but by Friday I had work that I hadn’t expected, plus I had some physical issues after a Thursday night cricket match, plus I hadn’t slept much that night. Plus just had too much heat generally this summer. And though it was about 9 or 10 degrees celsius cooler than the previous day in Leeds, there was no way I’d be able to bounce around in that warehouse more than two hours, and there’s no way I can listen to ska without skanking, so had to swerve the support. There would have been serious casualties if the gig had been 24 hours earlier, by the way.
[Incidentally, I’m claiming some credit for the gig going ahead at all – a few evenings earlier, when I was passing anyway (when I went to check, before posting on here about meet-ups, whether that Wellington Street Premier Inn had a bar), I noticed an open fire door at Project House, above the Galleria bar, completely visible and open to passers-by, although there was nobody around and the bar and venue were not open that evening. Anyone could have gone in, and that Armley area has plenty of rough sleepers, some of them evidently on the nasty cheap drugs and so prone to psychosis, and could have done an arson attack or something, that seems to happen to loads of places round these parts. I went up the fire escape and shouted through the wide open fire door. Nobody there. It was a store-room, half full of nondescript catering-type stuff. I shut the fire door firmly and left. I emailed the bar’s management about it that evening, but no reply.]
Anyway, good to see the local info I put up last week was useful to some of you, and it was a real pleasure to have an hour and a half in the Fox and Newt afterwards – thanks for the beers Tony and Paul, and we owe you a couple of pints each (because when it came to my round you had called it a night). One pub not too far across Kirkstall Road that I didn’t mention, because it seems a bit off the beaten track, and because it has recently re-opened as an “oyster bar,” was the Highland Laddie, which when it was just a backstreet boozer was the base for my Sunday league team from about ’95 to 2000, till we outgrew it, but ironically Neil Crossley mentioned after the gig that he had met up with some people there in the late afternoon and really liked it, ‘cos it reminded him of an old pub in Birkenhead – can’t remember the name.
Same walk-on tune two gigs running – when did that last happen? I assumed it must be a challenge to see if Leeds could match Manchester’s hearty sing-along to ‘Rhinestone Cowboy’ – which I assume from Roger’s comments it didn’t. We certainly gave it equal welly where I was. The sing-alongs, the bounce-alongs, the shouts and maybe even the gestures – these are what helps get the performers in the zone – we give it some welly, they give it some welly back. Interesting to hear a different perspective from John at the back though, not waving but frowning (comment 18 above).
John’s interesting comment about people “waving” like prats has made me think about all the different gestures some may feel compelled to do during HMHB gigs, and which of them could be construed as “waving.” I do in some ways envy folks who can bear to stand still at a decent gig, if they have choice in the matter, but for me movement is instinctive and essential. A lot of HMHB songs do have the old rhythmic pointing of the football chant type, for many of us at the front – and surely even those at the back join in with the pointing and clapping during a song like ‘Running Order Squabblefest’ when it’s on the setlist? That’s what the song was written for (and why you usually get either than one and/or ‘Fred Titmus’ early in the setlist, though not this time. ‘Oblong of Dreams’ has the ecstatic waving potential, I suppose, and the “clouds part” and “showtime” gestures if you’re that way inclined. In JDOGs there’s “talk to the hands,” “dance, dance, dance, dance” and “hallelujah,” all very distinctive gestures. I suppose the latter is like a wave. Once in a blue moon I can’t help throwing in a “Nero fiddles” gesture too (which could be dangerous in a full on mosh). I know of at least two regulars at the front who fake a punch-up at the appropriate moment during ‘Persian Rug Sale.’ In ‘Trumpton Riots,’ there’s always an energetic “elevate” gesture at the start. I can’t help it, though there are of course plenty of songs without any gestures. But if someone (who happens to look a bit like me) does also throw in the odd “come on let’s be having you” gesture to his fellow fans, to maybe think about joining in the action at the front, and if that makes him look like a c*ntish would-be “super fan” to some, I am sure that he will wear it proudly, because every gig needs all the moshers it can get, if it can get any, and the band will tell you they feed off that vibe. We know most of you don’t want to join in, even if you were able to do so, and that’s fine John, it really is. But some do, and it’s good for the game.
Sometimes there’s just one or two fellas who mean there’s a critical mass of energy at the front, from about half-way through and it can get livelier from there as more join in. ‘Surging out of Convalescence’ can cause the surge in spirits for a few, that’s when you’ll find me muttering to Mrs Exxo that “it could go either way” and suddenly there at the start of ‘Trumpton,’ there’s a few more … You know who you were on Friday, and well played. And yes, the water carriers did a great job too – it would be nice though if say every third or fourth cup was a random beer for those in the engine room.
[sings]“But year after year, their numbers get fewer, someday no-one will mosh there at all.”
[an excerpt there of course from the poignant trad arr. memorial ballad ‘Moshing Matilda’]
Roger has recorded things reliably as ever, but there are inevitably a couple of addenda to his comments:
*Nigel was doing a variation on his contrarian ‘marmite – I can take it or leave it’ opinions when he was asked about the eclipse. He said some people really loved it, others thought it was a let-down, but he just though “it was an eclipse.” What else did you expect?
*‘Look dad, no hands’ is quite a common trope that people riff on in comedy quips – both The HMHB and Eurovision thing derive from that and so no, it’s not a coincidence.
And the final quibble is for Mr. B himself:
*Jimmy Rimmer hasn’t been buried (yet).
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
(Will love last forever? We know that it must.)
Amen.
16 August 2026
Cornish Biscuit
Brilliant gig, wonderful mosh. Great to catch up with Preston, who despite being nigh on 40 years younger than us, seems to have a lot of common interests and sentiments. Good too to meet Cliffy, Jo and (sorry, never asked your name) another long-time fan in the light blue HMHB t-shirt.
I agree with Exxo’s comments on the gesturing, etc. – perhaps some people are exercised at football matches by fans in front of them pointing rhythmically along to a terrace chant, and, as an amateur psychologist (3rd class), I might suggest that this aversion could result from a traumatic experience while being taught Incy Wincy Spider as an infant. Either way, while I wouldn’t count myself a “superfan” (missed most of the 90s gigs, thought they were still split up), i am a bit of a c-nt, and I say carry on everybody doing what you’re doing. The only people I’d criticise at gigs are those talking all through the set or, obviously, active arsonists. I love this band. We all do. Let us move forward together, to Oxford!
16 August 2026
RetRo Ringo
Another small point…
Nigel asked Karl before We built this village if he wanted to do the intro in the style of Status Quo.
I found this interesting as Karl plays a basic copy of Francis Rossi green Fender Telecaster -complete with 1 inch hole drilled near the bridge…
16 August 2026
ROGER AS IS ROGER AS WAS
Thanks for the notes, Ratbag and Chris. You are right, the venue was known as The Coloseum back then, before it changed to The Town And Country.
16 August 2026
EXXO
Karl is possibly as obsessed with Quo as we are with HMHB.
16 August 2026
Karl
For the sake of accuracy my green guitar is a 2003 Fender Telecaster Francis Rossi signature model from Fender’s Japanese factory. While it’s certainly true that Quo were the heroes of my youth and I did attend more shows than is probably sensible, their post-Frantic Four discography is extremely patchy (and that’s being generous) and I haven’t bought a ticket for the later line-ups for a couple of decades. Old loves die hard though, and I’ll always retain a great affection for the original band.
16 August 2026
Jogger out moshing
Probably my favourite hmhb night in my nine or ten so far. My first one attending solo (good to meet you Ali if you’re here cheers for taking my spare ticket) and met some lovely people, probably as a direct result. Best bit in an evening of highlights (what an encore btw) was the chap who, without a word beforehand, turned to me after a blistering ‘surging out of convalescence’ with a massive grin and a “well that was fucking great”. Got a bit warm as others have rightly pointed out but some excellent teamwork to spread the shot glasses of water round down the front. Hey Cornish biscuit if I was the light blue hmhb t-shirt you mentioned, great to meet you, hope I didn’t offend you showing my anti man utd colours two seconds before you mentioned you were a fan. On to Nottingham!
16 August 2026
Phyllis Triggs
“Over the Fender and under the bridge…”
16 August 2026
Gordon burns
I’ve always wanted to get a clean video of Neil doing this:
https://youtube.com/shorts/D9HZHeVAj4g
Another epic gig.
16 August 2026
Phyllis Triggs
Walking into the venue it did feel good to be back amongst a gathering of DPAKs and HMHB T-shirts. Spotted author Steve sitting outside and went over to say hello. He had with him an envelope of golden bubblewrap marked ‘FAO Nigel’. Presumably a first edition hot off the press number one copy of the highly anticipated ‘Friday Night Fever: Inside the Cult of Half Man Half Biscuit’… Hopefully the rest of us will receive our copies soon too – can’t wait to read this!
An absolute joy to see HMHB back on stage. Fresh from Rebellion Festival last weekend I’d enjoyed a surfeit of great bands but nothing leaves me feeling as uplifted as an HMHB gig. Hope the band enjoyed it as much as we did. Karl certainly seemed to be happy enough – saw him looking out at the audience with a grin that seemed to say “Yeah, we’re back. It’s ok!”
As the gig played out I found myself marvelling at the sheer quality of the songs being served up. Big, big hitters one after another. Reading through the set list now I see its fairly evenly split between newer songs – say from the last 3 albums – and older favourites – the hardy annuals – with a couple of wildcards thrown in. For a band that’s been going over 40 years to be playing that many new songs – and to have them so well received – is pretty bloody amazing! No way is this a heritage act. Yes, we love them for their whole back catalogue and what they’ve meant to us in the past but we also love them for what they’re doing now and (fingers crossed!) for where they’re gonna take us in the future.
16 August 2026
parsfan
And as my train pulled into platform 11
I looked across at from one from Devon
As it embarked on its journey north
To a mile away from my home on The Forth
Bit of a disaster getting home. Trainline said my train left at 9:52 when it was 9:28. There was one a couple of minutes later which, if it hadn’t sat outside the station for 10 minutes waiting to arrive on time, would have given me ample time to walk the 10 or so yards from platform 11 to 10.
After hearing my pitiful story LNER gave me a freebie which got me back to Edinburgh only half an hour late and in time for the football. By which time, of course, the wheel of fortune had swung back round to where it started.
Great gig and good to see so many of you again after so long and some for the first time. As I approached the entrance a woman from the beer garden bit complemented me on my Scared To Dance top. Chuffed to bits that someone finally got it, Niall came closest with Big Country, I headed straight to the loo where, shortly after, I found myself shoulder to shoulder with the beer garden woman. At the sinks, I hasten to add, not the trough.
That was my best experience of a Leeds gig, not that I’ve been to many, regardless of the heat I thought it was brilliant. They should have just turned a hose on us but I imagine they’re banned at the moment.
16 August 2026
johnny kwango
Re @TM post #19
I’m not sure I would describe it as a “recent phenomena” as it’s bugged me for longer than I can remember. There were two couples near me who talked loudly between themselves throughout the entire support act, fairly shouting over the louder pieces of music. Alcohol consumption definitely plays a part in it, but quite why anyone feels a need to talk so loudly over live music will forever be a puzzle to me.
Regardless, it was a superb night out yet again, with a couple of really unexpected rarities thrown in as added bonus – thanks lads – and will get some videos uploaded when not quite so overwhelmed with the EIFF (four days, sixteen films).
BTW I can definitely recommend the Hyatt House Aparthotel. Kitchen, living room, massive big comfy bed, great shower room, really well equipped, 360 degree swivel large screen telly (unwatched on this occasion) with two cooked buffet-style “eat as much as you can” breakfasts included for only £82, plus they looked after our baggage for four hours on Saturday for nowt, even though we had checked out.
17 August 2026
dic aberdaron
must say tho… best t-shirt of the night has to go to reservoir bod, even tho i still recon it shoulda been bods {haha}
17 August 2026
dr DEsperate
A tremendous night, and wonderful to be back among one’s tribe, including more than a few new members, one of whom I’ve been banging on to about HMHB at Crossword Championships for years but only decided to come to his first gig now.
Great pre-gig meet-up at the Kirkstall Brewery Tap, with fine pizzas and Andy Kershaw’s favourite “weak beer” (you can do the accent) Three Swords on tap. Met both Mo and Neil on the way to the gig, then Exxo in full bike-riding kit.
I couldn’t possibly comment about behaviour at the front, but suffice to say I do my fair share of arm-waving and finger-pointing – why wouldn’t you? It does no harm, unless the finger-pointing gets out of hand. I got separated from my fake punch-up partner so couldn’t harm him, but did manage the traditional Ian Curtis tribute dance dance dance dance during JDOGs, and the swivel chair swivel for AOR.
Kudos to the bloke in the excellent ‘Got any Gauhaus?’ tee shirt made by his daughter, to newly-bespectacled Wizard Tony for his eclipse shout-out, and to Exxo for his “Neil Crossley is a clucking genius” chant.
Lovely to meet Loop after the show, also Steve Hill suffering with a bad back after spending several hours during the day signing 850 advance copies of his book. I asked if he’d followed my request to sign mine “From your show-biz pal” and he replied, “Wait and see”. I shall see him in Pontefract on Thursday (global heating permitting), book in hand just in case; then on to Oxford!
17 August 2026
The Banter with so-called preston
Nice one Cornish Biscuit, absolute pleasure to see you both again. Hope you had a good night out in Leeds after.
Really great gig, the heat added to the delirious sense of joy I had to be seeing them again. Hearing Even Men With Steel Hearts was such a treat and I thought despite a few months off it they all sounded as good as usual. Thought the pacing towards the end of the set was breakneck and really finished strong. Second time hearing the new songs and they fit in incredibly well.
Perhaps not as much movement down the front as previous gigs but again, in that heat it’s understandable, but fully agree with sentiment re; gig talkers. A bit of in between song shouting is fine by me, and especially with HMHB as they so often respond to it, but people who talk through songs are a no-no. (Luckily there weren’t any of these down the front)
17 August 2026
dic aberdaron
hands? talking??
small beans
ppl who relish in drop their frey bentosfied guts in the middle of a crowd, dirty sh!tty a$$’d barstewards… no need
17 August 2026
Retro ringo
Thanks Karl – any Japanese Tele is a great guitar.
My Quo story is broadly similar. Although we do go up to the North of Holland every May to jump around to the worlds greatest Quo tribute band (Status Quotes) who do all the frantic four stuff brilliantly!
I’ll shut up now as it’s all getting a bit off topic!
17 August 2026
Alan
After a successful comeback was there any talk of new gigs being lined up?
17 August 2026
Jeff
I travel down loads to Half man Half biscuit gigs with my wife who is also now a fan, loved this gig. Support band deserve a mention as they were brilliant. Great collection of songs and banter as always is fab. Can’t wait till our next gig.
17 August 2026
BiscuitGigs
HMHB Data Retrieval System updated with Leeds videos. Half a dozen found so far, including Even Men With Steel Hearts, more to follow I’m sure.
17 August 2026
Andrew Killington
Did anybody ever find out why McIntyre, Treadmore and Davitt is no longer available on Apple Music or iTunes Store ?
18 August 2026
Chris The Siteowner
I sent a message to Proper (who I believe are in charge of this sort of thing) but received no reply. I also asked why the latest album never went on YouTube. Disappointing when this happens.
18 August 2026
Andrew Killington
Thanks Chris
18 August 2026
Trelford Mills
Belated thoughts on Friday’s shenanigans.
Seemed a bit of a tentative / nervy start, understandably given the extended lay-off and a few issues with the sound early on. All seemed to ramp up a level once We Built This Village kicked in and both band and crowd rose to the occasion admirably thereafter.
Accidentally found myself moshpit-adjacent, which, given the ungodly temperature and an uncooperative left knee, was potentially a cause for concern. Also, the last time I participated in anything resembling a full-on ‘mosh’, not that it went by such a grimly unexotic descriptor at the time, was the Bunnymen at Manchester International in 1985, so I opted to remain on the periphery though still able to appreciate and envy the heroic enthusiasm of the moshees.
Loved that we got both Big Man and Jack, thematic siblings to these ears. Though it seemed that the titular Jeep boy’s path was obstructed on this occasion by a cat rather than a dog, unless I misheard which is entirely within the reasons of possibility.
It struck me that any setlist which excludes the likes of Bad Wools, Terminus, Problem Chimp, Tommy Walsh, A Country Practice, Thy Damnation, Vagaries, Dean Friedman, etc. yet doesn’t leave you feeling miffed that you’ve missed out on anything is testament to the quality and breadth of songs in the catalogue, and is something to be treasured.
Also, a quick mention for the support. I’m not generally someone who relishes support acts too much, and often choose to swerve them when practical. However, I enjoyed this lot – Madame Claude – and their commitment to putting on a decent performance, very much indeed.
Enough from me. Next up, the wilds of Pontefract for the book talk. Very much looking forward to it.
18 August 2026
wobs
Condolences to Sarah of course.
After a fraught Friday daytime at work frantically sorting out an issue of my own making (one ticket short!), there was relief to make it to Leeds with the correct number of people. (Credit to Dice for getting me a resale ticket at a reasonable price, and their app actually working for me).
Government warning came through enroute. (Two days later it rained, so looks like my next cosplay won’t have to be a Fremen costume).
Getting to Project House, I spotted a friend from the NMA crowd before we even go in, which set the tone of the evening. So many friends and friendly faces in one place, there was hardly time to speak to all.
Even waiting in the queue (sic) for the bar, I got chatting to two who were… shall we say born at a less comfortable distance from the apocalypse, who had played for Barnstonworth United.
Support in the form of Madam Claude were excellent, and like Exxo, I can’t stay still when I’m even vaguely enjoying a band. MC were most entertaining. Hope to see them again.
Rhinestone Cowboy eventually came on, and we (many of us anyway) joined in.
First half generally reflected the subdued audience, but when things livened up, so did we. Again, I couldn’t keep still the whole time.
The 5th Biscuit came on! Flawless as ever. A welcome return.
I’ve had Steel Hearts in my head since. It may have been elevated in my head of HMHB songs.
More moshing, and even saw a chap from work.
By the time of Oblong of Dreams I was probably spent. Think this may have replaced Wonderful World for my funeral tune.
Usual hello to Mike, but also saw Loop! A few more random people, and then home.
No Fred Titmus, but I guess with such a back catalogue, even this can get dropped at times.
Got out of car and found myself limping. Wondering how many mosh pits I have in me. Better make them count at HMHB gigs!
18 August 2026
Floreat ultonia
Thanks all as ever
19 August 2026
Steve G
Had a great night. Particularly for a city gig.
Don’t usually them as much, seem to attract a different breed, a certain amount who are there as a reluctant plus one or just to see what it’s like. Hence the loud chatter or the smelly, lardy, drunks, wobbling about uninterested in the stage.
Despite meeting a few undesirables we had a wonderful night, Madame Claude got it all off to a cracking start, they’ve got a real something & the songs to back it up. Not enjoyed a support band as much as that since I saw Immaculate Fools supporting TRB way back when. What happened to them?
A great set followed from HMHB, thought the lads sounded a little nervous at the start? Great selection of songs, you think you know what you’re going to get but always come away chuffed & surprised. Great cover, fantastic finish, glad to be back.
Looking forward to Nottingham, yeah another city gig, also looking forward to seeing Madam Claude again, if you’re reading this lads get out there. Just got tickets for Holmfirth, that’s a Xmas prezzie sorted.
19 August 2026
Irish Niall
A week on since a splendid evening already.
Travel up from Manchester Airport for myself, my good lady Marcella and our 14 year old Uladh (rhymes with mullah or …Hull-a -who was popping his HMHB cherry and I’m sure I’m correct in saying actually can’t attend this classification of concert here in Ireland) got a bit hairy as trains started vanishing off screens. But we made it with minimal stress …okay a bit of stress. But we’d been up early so we’re allowed.
Great to meet those we did and sorry not to see those we didn’t in the Kirkstall Brewery Tap beforehand and at the gig itself. With the young blood in tow and the Irish blood beyond boiling point we weren’t going to be up at the barrier for this one and for the most part embraced the margins.
I did venture up close to the front for a while myself and actually found it got a bit cooler the closer to the stage I got. Missed the support unfortunately but heard very good things.
We were straight back to the handy hotel afterwards as we were as knackered as predicted.
Next day we availed of the Premier Inns all you can eat breakfast which I normally swerve but it put us in good stead for the travel home which started with a pleasant and unpressurized stroll back to the Train station. I swore blind it was Willy Gnonto who jogged past us on the Kirkstall end of Wellington Street only to later read he’d picked up a knock in the “friendly with the filth” (Sorry Tone’) earlier in the week which almost certainly meant it wasn’t him.
Then it all kicked off on the Manchester bound train -or more pointedly it didn’t. Train sat there for an age with mercury and isobars rising as was the volume from the Hen who’d taken up seats across from us. I don’t even think they’d started drinking yet and they certainly didn’t onboard (which, at well after 10am, would have their Irish counterparts speculating it must be a Free Presbyterian Hen party). They were just bloody loud and featured one participant with an absolute Banshee shriek of a laugh released at the most mildly amusing observation or anecdote. Like ferrying drumkits home after gigs -this is where you earn the right to all the fun you had the night before. “Offer it up” my late mam would’ve said.
71 minutes later than due (according to my Trainline app) we arrived in Victoria, gave up on the train connection and got an uber to the airport.
The rest of the spin home was mundane and unworthy of further comment other than to point out I now had a ringing in my ears after Banshee Barbara I didn’t have after Half Man Half Biscuit the night before. And I’d a three-hour drumming gig to do that night when I got home (otherwise I might’ve stuck around for Leeds pre-season friendly with Augsburg that Nigel appears to have nodded to).
Talking of gigs and I’ll mention this on the “difference Between…” thread, looks like I’m travelling to Oxford a day early and looking to score a gig in the Oxford area (or indeed London-ish as I’m flying via Gatwick) on the Thursday and/or Saturday night if anyone has any ideas, links, contacts etc. One man and his guitar. Anything considered from Wembley arena to house gigs and all in between.
Til then!
21 August 2026
Floreat ultonia
@Irish Niall- hope your son enjoyed the gig. Good to have another Ultonian here 😀
21 August 2026
johnny kwango
A few videos from the gig.
I wasn’t in the best of positions for the first one but it’ll have to do (sound is fine though).
Third Track Main Camera Four Minutes
https://youtu.be/_H4-KHI_9rs?is=UEHGSZkxtY7L3rFP
Even Men With Steel Hearts
https://youtu.be/rAHrBeqc7Nk?is=PhdTZZqCwSktCFyI
Part Time Punks (Television Personalities)
https://youtu.be/oLcFG83lGEY?is=oXCIxNwhX2762ghi
25 August 2026
Irish Niall
@ Floreat Ultonia re 57
Technically it’s his mam who’s the Ultonian. Born and reared Mighty Mon.
Uladhs older brother got a solid (west) Munster name Senan at a time when half of County Clare including churches, graveyards, schools, GAA clubs, wells and townlands were named after Saint Senan -but seemingly none of its actual inhabitants.
So we went trad and called him Senan (rather than Archie or Fred with its…) and now 20 years later half the schoolyard’s called Senan.
Anyway when Uladh came along we decided he should have a solid Ulster name to honour his mothers origins. Then she couldn’t find a name she liked so I suggested Uladh itself. I genuinely thought they’d refuse it at the births registration office and tell me they need a name not an address. But it slipped through. :-)
2 September 2026
Floreat ultonia
Thanks Irish Niall. I have a popular if not locally specific handle is William
3 September 2026
EXXO
As we’re talking Irish names, and as you said you knew Andy White at school (therefore you must mean Methody), I wonder if you remember my college mate (Patricia) Joyce Nicholl, who as a classist would have loved ‘Ode to Joyce’? I think she was in the same year as Andy at Methody (then I knew them at college, but he only a little). Lost touch with her when she was doing something corporate in the City of London a few years after college.
3 September 2026
EXXO
Classicist! she definitely wasn’t a classist! (though I proudly was and still am).
3 September 2026
Floreat ultonia
@Exxo #61 yes I was in same year as Andy, Joyce and her twin Jenny
4 September 2026
EXXO
That’s brilliant Flo (may I call you Flo’?), it’s a small world (but I wouldn’t want to paint it). In front of me here I have a signed poster from Andy (just cos he played a gig a mile away on my birthday), and a display case containing one of Mrs. Exxo’s grandad’s NI caps, and love thinking that there’s not that many degrees of separation between any of us really. But if somehow they could organise a college reunion where only the people who’d stayed interesting and free were there, I’d love to have a glass of wine again with old Joycie.
5 September 2026
dr DEsperate
You could possibly organise one at Tebay.
5 September 2026
Floreat ultonia
@Exxo #64
1 How about Florrie? There was a Florence in our school year but she preferred Denise
2 Who was your capped relative? My extended cousin Joe Bambrick scored 6 v Wales in 1930
3 From MCB Lyrics Project
Floreat Ultonia Floreat Hiberni
Floreat Collegium nominis aeterni
Corrections welcome
5 September 2026
EXXO
Not my relative – my Mrs’ grandad was Len Graham, 14 caps 1951-58, mate of Harry Gregg and one of Peter Doherty’s proteges, very unlucky to miss the World Cup finals in Sweden (Mr. Doherty told him he would have been the next one on the plane if the NIFA could have afforded to take one more player).
They gave a cap for each season, and at least two of them are in the museums of clubs that he played for, including Ards and Donny Rovers (for whom he remains the most capped international). But one is right here and I put it on when I’m cajoling Connor Bradley.
5 September 2026