Gig review: The Zutons at Rock City

Before we get to the main event, support act The Covasettes - an indie-rock-four-piece are on stage. These lads are from Manchester - just 35 miles down the M62 from Liverpool, the hometown of the Zutons. They hit the music scene in around 2017 having met at university. They’ve become a very decent band in the intervening years and have released a bunch of good tracks since then, but they are still working on releasing their debut album.

This is their biggest tour to date and they’re clearly excited to be providing support for such a successful and well-loved band as The Zutons. The Covasettes are vocalist Chris Buxton, lead guitarist Matt Hewlett, bassist Jamie McIntyre and drummer Matt Buckley. Buxton is an affable guy and he has some good interaction with the crowd. It’s their first time at Rock City and based on this performance I’m sure that we will see them back here soon, they’ve got a real shot at being successful.

The Zutons arrive and, as is now customary, they open with their anthem Zuton Fever! before playing a couple of their other hits - Tired of Hanging Around and Why Won’t You Give Me Your Love? - before playing Pauline from the latest album The Big Decider.

The Zutons are Dave McCabe, lead vocals and guitar, Abi Harding, backing vocals and saxophone, Jay Lewis, lead guitar, Tim Cunningham, bass guitar, Neil Bradley, keyboards, and Paul Maguire, drums. Notably missing from the lineup tonight is founding member Sean Payne, who left the band to work on a musical project of his own, just two weeks ago before the tour began.

“This is a good turn out for a Monday night. Go ‘head Nottingham!, sing along, don’t be scared!” says McCabe. “It’s helps with our confidence, ya know?” The crowd respond in good fashion by clapping and singing along. McCabe seems suitably impressed.

Mid-set there is an homage to Amy Winehouse - who covered Valerie so successfully that people thought it was her own song - as Harding takes lead vocals on Back to Black. It’s set to a slightly faster tempo and of course Harding adds a beautiful saxophone solo. Amy would have been proud. The crowd go crazy in appreciation of the heartfelt cover.

Harding really gives The Zutons an extra edge - her saxophone stands out on several tracks including Disappear, and Creepin’ on the Dancefloor. She works really well with lead guitarist Jay Lewis, even providing lead saxophone solos! She’s the Queen of the saxophone, and it sounds awesome.

Older tracks such as Havana Gang Brawl and Dirty Dancehall are mixed in with newer tracks also from The Big Decider including In Your Arms and Disappear plus acoustic versions of Best of Me and the latest single Popcorn.

The Big Decider is a high-tempo guitar driven track. It features a beautiful segment of Harding singing and it’s definitely one of the best new tracks from the eponymous album.

Creepin’ on the Dancefloor - a simple pop-rock love song with a Zutons twist - is also already a crowd favourite. All of the new tracks are fitting in well with older tracks and The Zutons really have put together a very worthy album after such a long time away. Pressure Point and Remember Me conclude the main set.

The encore is made up of Valerie - the band’s most commercially successful hit - and it doesn’t disappoint. It’s the song that really stands out as their best loved and with its evocative lyrics about looking out across the Mersey river it feels like a song that only The Zutons could have written.

You Will You Won’t follows before the band finish the show as it began with an extended version of Zuton Fever! (Reprise) which includes introductions to the band.

“Thanks! We’ve been The Zutons, and you’ve been boss!” says Harding, before McCabe says “Thanks to all of you beautiful people.”

The Zutons performed at Rock City on 7th April 2025.

@thezutonsofficial