By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Sun-Times
August 13, 1997
It was a sad day for Anglophiles when John Squire left the Stone Roses. Without their lead guitarist and primary songwriter, the Roses withered away a few months after Squire quit last year.
But he didn’t waste any time crying over what could have been. Instead, he put together the Seahorses, a tight rock ‘n’ roll outfit that made its Chicago debut Tuesday night at Metro.
The four-man band played a gloriously short 50-minute set that included most of the 11 tracks from their album “Do It Yourself.” Though the musicians suffered from some baby band jitters, they bettered the Roses’ legacy in at least one way: They played well live, something Squire’s previous band never seemed to master.
Shy Squire was the one fans called out for and gave presents to (including a framed photo), but it was vocalist Chris Helme who worked the crowd. Chattering away, he casually joked with the audience and had no qualms about restarting a song that seemed to be heading for disaster.
Helme has a beautifully flexible voice that is as well-suited for both the folky acoustic songs and the group’s rock numbers. His vocals basked in the glory of Squire’s nimble guitar playing, which still had some remnants of the swirly, psychedelic licks he effortlessly cranked out with the Roses. The rhythm section of drummer Andy Watts and bassist Stuart Fletcher provided a powerful backbeat to Squire’s songs, which are pretty pop numbers with a wry edge.
The melodies belie the lyrics, which question the sanctity of religion and the validity of revenge. Squire explores the former on the Beatle-esque “Love Me and Leave Me.”
But the highlight of the evening was when Helme performed “Hello,” a song he penned. His achingly pretty delivery soared with every verse and falsetto.
The Seahorses’ youthful English compatriots Mansun opened the show with a 40-minute set that included their MTV hit “Wide Open Space.” Though their mop-top hairdos screamed, “Blur-in-training,” the quartet had a heavy sound that rang of ’70s arena rock. Their songs aren’t distinctive enough to set them apart from the pack of Britpop acts trying to make it on these shores, but their effortless performance showed they’ve got the potential to make it.
