Happy Mondays - Kinky Afro - PennFest - 20 July 2019

The Mondays played PennFest during one of the early Saturday evening slots on the Main Stage and I expect I was not alone in admitting my expectations were not that high. I’ve always loved their music but having seen them self-destruct in the early 1990’s and also witness a shambolic comeback later the same decade, I didn’t want my memories of the band tarnished again.
However, from the moment they hit the stage in the evening sunlight and the opening bars of Kinky Afro sprinkled out to the crowd, you knew you were in for a special show.
They treated us to most of the Pills ‘N’ Thrills and Bellyaches album with the whole band in top form and the musicianship at the best in their history. A special mention for Rowetta, who is such a key figure in holding the show together. God Bless Shaun Ryder too - just a few F’s and one C bomb throughout. And, of course, Bez. What can you say? Two mega stars of Goggle Box before your very eyes.
From memory, their setlist at PennFest went something like this:
• Kinky Afro
• God’s Cop
• Donovan
• Holiday
• Grandbag’s Funeral
• Loose Fit
• Dennis and Lois
• Bob’s Yer Uncle
• Step On
• Hallelujah
• 24 Hour Party People
If you liked the Monday’s in their heyday, I recommend you see them on their greatest hits tour later in 2019.