Review: Cambridge crowd delighted to welcome back Reef

The Junction's J1 was packed to witness the return of the West Country rock band.

Following enthusiastically received support from Birmingham four-piece Broken Witt Rebels, Reef kicked off their crowd-pleasing set with Naked, the song that launched them into the public consciousness back in 1995.

Looking lean and ready, singer Gary Stringer was in fine form – he recently told the Cambridge Independent that he felt his voice was better now than it was in the band’s 1990s heyday – although the sound was a bit too quiet at first.

Following hand-signalled requests from Gary to turn it up and a voice from the audience suggesting the same, the sound improved and the group trawled through many of their best-known tracks.

I’d forgotten how many Reef songs I actually knew, and it was a real treat to hear some of their classic material for the first time in what must have been 20 years or more – Consideration, I Would Have Left You, Summer’s in Bloom and Yer Old were particularly outstanding.

The band didn’t speak too much – comments were pretty much limited to thanking the crowd for turning out on a Thursday and asking them how they felt – and the audience keenly yelled out requests.

“It’s Your Letters!” shouted one member of the crowd, a reference to the group’s signature song, Place Your Hands, being used so memorably on TFI Friday. This comment illicited much laughter from fans of a certain age.

The anthemic Place Your Hands was played shortly afterwards, as was Revelation, the brilliant title track off Reef’s 2018 album.

The rest of the band seemed to enjoy themselves too, especially long-haired and bearded bass player, Jack Bessant, who, along with Stringer, is the only original member left. Ronnie Wood’s son, Jesse, provided solid guitar support.

My favourite Reef song ‘back in the day’ was Come Back Brighter, and I loved hearing it during the encore.

A great gig which successfully combined a joyful trip down memory lane with an enjoyable insight into where Reef are today. Long may they continue.