On May 14 2025 I headed to Sacramento, California to the newly opened Channel 24. The event of the evening was the illustrious Madness and crowd was stoked for it.
The band came out to the energetic Looney Tunes theme, instantly provoking a frenzy among the crowd that lasted for about an hour and a half. They kicked off with “One Step Beyond”, which sent the audience’s excitement soaring. After that, they transitioned into “Embarrassment”, allowing the crowd to settle in for a delightful experience—the night had just begun. This song had the power to lift anyone’s spirits, not that it was necessary, given the atmosphere.
Next up was “The Prince”, which captivated the entire audience with its spectacular performance. The crowd swayed and danced to “NW5”, which was a fantastic display of energy. Following this was “My Girl”, a remarkable performance featuring an excellent piano solo and captivating lyrics. They then performed “Taller Than You Are”, a slick cover of a Lord Tanamo song from the early 1960s, executed perfectly with an emphasis on the horns that pleased the horn players.
As they moved into “Lovestruck”, the mellow vibe of the song had everyone in the crowd unwinding. This was followed by “The Harder They Come”, a cover of a Jimmy Cliff classic that drew big cheers from the audience. “Shut Up” continued the momentum as the crowd enthusiastically sang along with them.
After that, they played “Grey Day”, a song they hadn’t performed in a while, and it was fantastic as they jammed it out. They rocked hard with “The Sun and the Rain”, a song about the famously discussed topic of weather in England. Suggs momentarily forgot the lyrics halfway through, but the crowd didn’t mind. They quickly redeemed themselves with “Chase the Devil”, an impressive Max Romeo cover that featured a terrific saxophone solo.
When they launched into the 12″ version of “Wings of a Dove”, they showcased their stellar performance once again, clearly having a great time on stage. Next was “Mr. Apples”, where the band’s high energy was palpable as they delivered it with unmatched style. Following that was “Bed and Breakfast Man”, a mellower tune that they executed brilliantly, especially the awesome keyboard solo.
Chris had a moment when he was scheduled to sing next, but the crowd didn’t cooperate, which turned out to be a good decision. The band then moved on to “House of Fun”, which excited everyone, and they played it flawlessly. It was one of their biggest hits, delivered with class. “Baggy Trousers” followed and was a stunning performance where they really shredded the track.
Next up was “Our House”, another fun song that had everyone enjoying themselves. The next number was expected to be the finale: “It Must Be Love”, which was dedicated to all of us in the crowd, perfectly capturing the mood with a lively rendition. After finishing that song, they exited the stage.
A couple of minutes later, they returned for an encore, starting with the hit “Madness”. They poured their emotions into that song, and the audience loved every moment. They concluded with “Night Boat to Cairo”, delivering a stellar performance from the beginning to the end, just as everyone hoped for.
Overall, it was a fantastic show, and the crowd was fully engaged throughout. I will definitely see them again whenever they play in the area; they are that good!
Follow Madness band members on social media
Chris Foreman – guitar
Mike Barson – keyboards
Lee Thompson – saxophone / percussion
Graham “Suggs” McPherson – vocals / percussion
Dan Woodgate – drums / percussion
Mark Bedford – bass
SetList
1). One Step Beyond (Prince Buster cover)
2). Embarrassment
3). The Prince
4). NW5
5). My Girl
6). Taller Than You Are (Lord Tanamo cover)
7). Lovestruck
8). The Harder They Come (Jimmy Cliff cover)
9). Shut Up
10). Grey Day
11). The Sun and the Rain
12). Chase the Devil (Max Romero cover)
13). Wings of a Dove
14). Mr. Apples
15). Bed and Breakfast Man
16). House of Fun
17). Baggy Trousers
18). Our House
19). It Must Be Love (Labi Siffre cover)
Encore
20). Madness (Prince Buster cover)
21). Night Boat to Cairo
Follow Madness on social media
