IT must be love, love, love… and indeed it was for Madness at the BIC. An odd choice of support act came in the form of Scouting for Girls, who were great and launched into a superb rendition of Live And Let Die, amongst their mainstream hits She’s So Lovely and Elvis Ain’t Dead.

The band’s pop driven tunes did well to prepare the audience, after all, there isn’t really a sound like Madness and so perhaps it’s better to stick to something different to begin the show.

Suggs comes out to raucous applause in the packed out BIC. Hits from the bands 1979 album, One Step Beyond are entwined with new numbers including the heartfelt and sincere The Last Rag and Bone Man with the audience begging for more between songs.

Suggs wit and charm binds the show together seamlessly, yet he does not dominate the band with the screaming sax tones of Lee Thompson and the jagged riffing of guitarist Chris Foreman, or ‘Chrissy Boy’, as he is known. The Madness back catalogue is one of great breadth and pace, with hits like Night Boat to Cairo (for which audience members had dutifully donned fez hats), and of course House of Fun.

Two Tone and second wave ska fans littered the audience, with outbreaks of dance occurring throughout both standing and seated fans. The theatrical production values of the stage show were second to none, with a stellar light show further adding to the experience.

Big screens gave the audience the chance to see up close what was going on at stage level, which also increased the sensation of an immersive gig. It was great that the band had opted to steam through their set, rather than slow things down, keeping pace and yet still interacting with the audience.

All in all, I think I’ll always remember the time I saw madness at the BIC. The music, the performance and the thriving buzz of all who attended made for an electrifying gig. Few gigs have had me hunting around frantically at 11.30pm for old madness CD’s. Old… but classic.