CUD

CUD: Emerging from the same art/design cauldron that produced fellow Leeds legends Soft Cell, Scritti Politti, The Mekons and Kaiser Chiefs, CUD were the pre-Britpop answer to doleful shoegazing bands – fun-loving, light-hearted, romantic and downright catchy.

Alternatively loved or loathed like a yeast extract, CUD are indie rock for the unpretentious pleasure seeker, boasting as they do the rich deep-lunged voice of Carl Puttnam, edgy guitars of Mike Dunphy and tight, funky rhythm section of William Potter on bass and Stephen Goodwin on drums.

CUD were initially lauded for their quirky Peel session cover of ‘You Sexy Thing’ in 1987. They soon built up a huge live following and buffed up their repertoire with a string of unstraight pop beauties, best exemplified by the 1990 album ‘Leggy Mambo’. This led to a major-label deal with A&M in 1991, an NME cover, massive sellout gigs and proper Top 30 hits, ‘Rich and Strange’ and ‘Purple Love Balloon’.

Misunderstood by record companies and press, CUD packed away their guitars and sticks in 1995 but, bolstered by a greatest hits anthology (‘Rich and Strange’) in 2006, they agreed to tread the boards again and found an army of ‘Space CUDets’ still eager to sing along, dance like fruitcakes and invade their stage.

So it is here, with new collections of rare gems and a full-blown tour. There is much to be grateful for.

Doors Open: 7.30pm Admission:£18 on the Door Tickets: £15Adv