WHEN IT comes to albums by long-running British indie legends The Wedding Present, 1987's George Best and 1991's Seamonsters are the first to come to mind, while 2016's Going, Going... was a surprise, Indian summer, artistic triumph.
Spare a thought then for Tommy, which has been somewhat overshadowed, not only by more famnous Wedding Present albums, but also by the massive 1969 rock opera by The Who, also called Tommy.
Yet, for a certain kind of Wedding Present fan, Tommy is significant. Released in 1988, it charts the band's 1985 to 1987 period, and features their first four singles, accompanying B-sides, and selected tracks from John Peel and Andy Kershaw radio sessions. As such, it outlines their beginnings and the artistic evolution of band leader, songwriter, and vocalist David Gedge, up to George Best. Indeed, as John Peel said: "The boy Gedge has written some of the best loved songs of the rock‘n’roll era. You may dispute this, but I’m right and you’re wrong!"
To mark the 30th anniversary of Tommy's release, The Wedding Present are playing the entire album, as well songs from across their long career, on their current tour, which includes a show at Monroe's on Wednesday July 25 at 8pm, as part of the 2018 Galway International Arts Festival. Tickets are available from www.giaf.ie and www.monroes.ie
