Artist: Reef / Kerbdog

Venue: Shepherds Bush Empire

Town: London

Date: 8.11.25

Reef

The Album Replenish was released in 1995 by the young upstarts Reef (then), thirty tears later here we all were in a packed Shepherds Bush Empire to savour the boogie and sway of that debut. The amount of Reef T-shirts that must of been recovered from the bottom draw were in evidence as the crowd vied for the best view.

Kerbdog

Kerbdog

Kerbdog

Kerbdog

First up was the pleasure of Kilkenny "grungers" Kerbdog, who had a noticeable following. Their songs still had a whiff of the early nineties when Seattle ruled the airwaves of the UK I think this sound has returned as with many of the nineties fashions.

Reef

Reef

Reef

Playing the whole of Replenish in the first part of the show on the last date of this UK Tour must have been an emotional ride for Gary Stringer. This album changed his life - FACT and looking at the joy he was sharing in this illustrious venue you couldn't resist smiling back at him, it clearly meant a lot.

Reef

Reef

Reef

Attitude and the go get 'em of youth was still coursing through Reef as they replayed this time capsule of the nineties, although a couple of the original performers were now replaced by extremely suitable "newbies" (relatively) in Luke Bullen on drums and Amy Newton on guitar duties.

Reef

Reef

Reef

Reef produced a second half with mostly tracks off the second album Glow including "Place Your Hands" maybe their most known song encapsulating the raw, life affirming originality that created these fans for life. Being the ultimate night, it became a joyous evening as much for the band as the devotees packed in on a night to remember. Reef strutted and grooved their nuts off!

Reef

Reef

Band members

Gary Stringer – lead vocals

Jack Bessant – bass guitar

Luke Bullen – drums

Amy Newton – guitars

Website

REEF

Review and Photographs by Dan Reddick for Return To Sound