I had the good fortune to pick up some tickets for Madness’ secret gig down in Kingston at the Prizm club and went down after work with my mate Rob and my son. We had a cracking night – going to the early show. The Camden boys played twice last night.

There was a time when Madness said they were bored with playing their hits, presumably because they thought they progressed and indeed they have done a lot of progressive stuff since the early singles and the eponymous first album. The Prince, Madness, Nightboat, It must be love, My girl, House of Fun, Embarrassment and One Step Beyond formed the core of last night’ set and – simple as the songs are – they are what we come to see.

It was good to hear new material and even better hearing them delving into the ska archive to play more Prince Buster covers and a couple of ska tunes I hadn’t heard before.

It was also good to be in a live arena where no-one was more than forty yards from the stage, where you could get a beer without queuing ten minutes and where the people at the door seemed pleased to see you.

Here’s as close as I can get you to what this stripped down Madness sounded like. Rob and I first listened to this stuff in 1980, my son had never seen the band. Across 40 years, the band are still doing their stuff, and twice a night too.

If this is Madness, I’m filled with gladness.

Just like when it all started! #madness #houseoffun pic.twitter.com/WYEydPWQ9P

— Henry Tapper (@henryhtapper) May 15, 2024