The Happy Mondays were never at the top of my listening pile, even back when they were big. They were always in the way when I was flicking through the record shop racks searching for Hanoi Rocks records, but you can't deny their impact and influence on a generation of music lovers.

Love him or hate him, Shaun Ryder is a bit of a rock 'n' roll legend, his drug and alcohol intake back in the day was on a par with Motley Crue at their best/worst, depending on how you look at it. The Mondays made more money from selling drugs than albums and, in his own words, "they didn't give a fuck." That is enough to make me go see the legend when he played recently in my town. A few Mondays and Black Grape tunes in Fibbers...yeah I'm up for that.

The band come on to a decent sized crowd straight into 'Kinky Afro' a good choice of opening song that gets the place bouncing. I should've worn my shades tonight as one over-bright stage light is shining straight at me and I only see the silhouette of Shaun and his band for the first song. When the song ends a bit of shouting in the right direction and the lighting problem is remedied and we continue. Ryder, dressed casually in jeans, zipped up leather jacket and flat cap, looks cooler than he used to, and he's looking healthier these days with his new teeth and it suits him.

The set relies heavily on solo material that sounds for the most part like Mondays b-sides; it's decent enough and flows well but its not until the sampled intro to 'Reverend Black Grape' that the place really starts cooking. I listened to the 'It's Great When You're Straight...Yeah' album a lot when it came out and this is the track I've been waiting for, it's a shame they have to rely on samples for Kermit's vocals though. The sound is pretty poor tonight and the samples get lost in the live mix. It's hard to make out the between song banter as well.

The band are tight: guitar, bass and drums plus another guys on keys and extra guitar - they are a rock 'n' roll unit. It's plain to see that Ryder is not a comfortable frontman though, spending most of the time with his hand in his pocket, or clasping a Kronenberg. He stares out at the audience, his piercing blue eyes at times looking bewildered. It's like he's waiting for someone to react, someone to say something at him.

Squinting at the set list he says "here's one from the '80s" on several occasions, introducing Mondays songs. 'Wrote For Luck' and 'Loose Fit' are played and go down well. The set is short at just over 70 minutes; you don't get much for £20 these days, do you? Encore of 'Step On' is a highlight and the only point there is a mad crush to the front of the stage, as the Bez-a-likes reach for a last glimpse of their hero. As the song comes to a close he reaches out to shake hands with the audience, yet it's somewhat unnerving for the crowd having his bouncer looming behind him with a baton in his hand! Jesus,what sort of response does he normally get? Makes you wonder, eh?

Overall it was more rock 'n' roll than I expected, the more than competent band were good. Although Ryder at times looked a bit out of his depth, he does have a certain charm and an aura about him. I would have liked some more Black Grape tunes but hey, you can't please everyone, right?

Tonight Shaun Ryder didn't so much twist our melons but more like gave them a slight tickle.

[Photo kudos to Matt Seddon]