Stereophonics, the best band on the planet, roared into Belfast last week and played the Odyssey Arena.

After seeing the Welsh lads play in Preston earlier this year, I couldn’t wait for their only Northern Irish date because apart from wanting to see them again; it was also quite suitably, on my 21^st birthday. (Coincidently, gifts are very much still welcome by the way!) And there’s no better way to spend such a birthday than watching Kelly Jones and his band rock and indeed, roll. Something Stereophonics have mastered rather quite well.

First of all, we were forced to endure the band’s rather terrible support act; I didn’t catch their name because to be honest, they weren’t particularly that good. What’s more, all they seemed to do was shout a lot of nonsense and mumble, repeating the same word throughout an entire song – in a very Kaiser Chiefs sort of way. Fortunately, that didn’t last long and they were gone.

And before you knew it, some of the lights were out and the stage filled up with smoke from one of those portable contraptions. From behind a curtain, a small leather jacking wearing man with sunglasses and a big fringe, carrying a guitar emerged to much applause. And then Kelly Jones came out … See what I did there.

Opening up the show with ‘Bank Holiday Monday’ sounded amazing; apart from the fact it was a Tuesday. But no one really cared because the excitement of breathing the same air as these rock gods was intensifying. It was brown paper bags at the ready all round.

Moving on to ‘Bartender And The Thief’ from their second album, ‘Performance and Cocktails’, followed by forthcoming new single; ‘My Friends’. The crowd were a-tooing, and a-swaying in a sweltering, unruly manner. Mr. Jones, looking cool as ever, then greeted the Belfast  gathering like they were old friends. “How are you all, you alright?” he asked. Let’s be honest, did he actually care. I know, I wouldn’t.

But it was a nice touch; many bands fail to keep an eye on their punters who quite regularly get trampled on in the process of throwing some shapes to their tunes. Well, that’s if you’re silly enough to buy a standing ticket of course. Why be stood on when you can relax on a comfortably adjusted seat with a burger and chip, and still nod your head to the music.

The remainder of the set was made up of other classics, including; ‘Mr. Writer’, and a 3-song medley which consisted of ‘Hurry Up And Wait’, ‘Have A Nice Day’, and ‘Traffic’. Other roaring treats included; ‘Pass The Buck’, ‘Daisy Lane’ and ‘It Means Nothing’,  from their latest album; ‘Pull the Pin’.

Amusingly, Kelly Jones finished by throwing his hotel key into the crowd, inviting the lucky finder(s) back to their hotel for a couple of drinks, but they’d have to find their room first. “A bit like bloomin’ Cinderella, innit?” He laughed.

Before I could dive into the throng of perspiring fans, the key had been found. Still, I raise my tap water to you whoever you were.