Supergrass, the band that reminded us that we are not that old
Imagine this: a storm worthy of an apocalyptic movie, a sea of socially anxious thirtysomethings trying to remember how socializing was before dating apps, and the sound of a distorted guitar that is the soundtrack of our pre-pandemic adolescence. Thus, with all the drama and nostalgia, Supergrass landed at the Metropolitan Theater in CDMX to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their debut album “I Should Coco“, because apparently, we all age, even Britpop legends.
The Oxford band, made up of eternal teenagers Gaz Coombes, Mick Quinn and Danny Goffey, did not come to play. They came to carry out a journey through sound time of more than two hours, a marathon that tested both our physical resistance (raising our arms with the cell phone to record is tiring) and our ability to remember letters that we had stored in the same part of the brain where we kept the password for the first email.
The opening acts that almost no one saw (thanks, weather)
For those of us who arrived fashionably late (that is, after the storm), we missed the opening acts “The Ramona Flowers” and “Sport Teams“. According to the rumors among the soaked crowd and the subsequent memes, these groups from the independent music scene gave a show full of energy, proving that the spirit of indie did not die, it just moved to TikTok and learned to go viral. A round of applause for the brave people who arrived early and withstood the downpour like champions.
But let’s be honest, most of us were there for one main reason: to relive that time when our biggest problem was deciding whether to buy the original CD or the pirated one. And boy did Supergrass deliver. The recital was a sonic time capsule. From the first chord of “Caught by the Fuzz“, the atmosphere was transformed. Suddenly, body suits and adult responsibilities evaporated, replaced by band t-shirts, overpriced beers, and the carefree joy of someone who remembers that, deep down, there is still some green juice running through their veins.
The setlist that gave us a nostalgia aneurysm
The repertoire was such a perfect setlist that it hurt. Not only did they play “I Should Coco” in its entirety, an album that is basically the Holy Grail of Britpop, but they also released it with all the extras. When the first notes of “Alright” began, the generational anthem that was played at all the parties and in the movie “Clueless” (yes, the one with Alicia Silverstone), the Metropolitan Theater exploded. It was a collective moment, a rush of pure dopamine. We chant “We are young, we run green” as if our job depended on it, as if saying it with enough conviction would magically return the 20-year-old metabolism.
But it wasn’t all blind nostalgia. The band showed why they are heavyweights on the scene. Gaz Coombes, with enviable energy, connected with the audience as if it were a reunion of old friends. Mick Quinn and Danny Goffey, on bass and drums, were the rhythmic base that kept us dancing (or at least, moving our bodies in an acceptable way for our age). Songs like “Sun Hits the Sky” and “Pumping” closed the night with an explosion of sound that left us smiling from ear to ear and probably with tinnitus the next day.
It was more than just a concert. It was a vindication. Proof that good music has no expiration date and that, although our knees can no longer handle jumping like before, the youthful spirit is still there, waiting for a British band to wake it up with explosive drums and a memorable guitar riff. In an era where everything is experienced through a screen, it was a luxury to disconnect for a few hours and live an authentic moment, without stories, without tweets, just music, sweat and beer.
Did you miss it? Don’t be left wanting. Share this note with that friend who always says “that band really was music” and explore more about the upcoming rock events that are yet to come. Nostalgia is a great business, and we are here to live it… and tell it.
