SWG3 with Special Guests Glass Cheques, 17 April 2025
SWG3 witnessed the final get together of Kerr Okan, Jamie Keenan and Darren McCaughey, collectively known as The LaFontaines.
Seventeen years since their first gig at King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 4 albums released – Class 2015, Common People 2017, Junior 2019 and last year’s Business as Usual, the final curtain came down on a band who have given so much pleasure over the years to the many fans who crowded in to the venue to hear their favourite songs one more time.
The set covered all bases and a little more besides.
While tracks from Class and Junior dominated the 20 songs played, there were a couple of surprises in the form of Pont De Fonts and the first song they ever wrote, Superstar, which hadn’t been played in recent times.
Add in crowd favourite, the cover Shark In The Water, and no one could feel shortchanged before the band bade one last farewell with a glass of whisky, a bow and a farewell wave from Kerr.
It was an emotional night for all three, but especially from Kerr who, on more than one occasion, reminded himself and those he faced that this would be the last time he was about to sing a favoured track.
Kicking off with three tracks from Class, Slow Elvis, Under The Storm and title track Class itself, the tempo for the rest of the evening was set. Kerr was in imperious form throughout, ensuring maximum audience interaction cajoling hands in the air waving from side to side all in time to the rhythms being generated by Jamie and Darren.
Often, the choruses were being echoed back from the whole hall to the stage allowing Kerr to become more a conductor than the lead singer and frontman.
Vocal duties were shared with Jamie who was able to maintain the energetic drumbeats while adding the more indie rock focused lyrics allowing Kerr to infuse the hip-hop style that set them apart from some of their peers.
As the set progressed, everyone was willing all their own personal favourites to be played, and the band never disappointed.
It seems ironic their last album Business As Usual hinted at the progression that might just provide the big break all their previous work had set the foundation for.
With a closing trio of King, Release The Hounds and Asleep, the band retired for a minute to return for Paper Chase and the aforementioned Shark In The Water.
However, as this was their own personal swansong, they returned for a final farewell encore of Alpha, Business As Usual and All In.
Unfortunately, it will no longer be Business As Usual for The LaFontaines, however they can reflect on being a Class act.
As a band, they enjoyed their time on stage. There were moments of laughter amongst the internal emotion that may have been tugging at the heart strings. The crowd, disappointed that this chapter had closed, left buoyed in the knowledge that they had seen a band at the height of their powers.
Special Guests – Glass Cheques
All is not lost though for fans of the band, with Jamie and Darren forming Glass Cheques and, given the opportunity as Special Guests, they showcased some of the songs that they have put together as part of this new venture.
Jamie effortlessly switched from drum stool to guitar and lead vocals with a style that suggests indie rock will remain a foundation for the near future.
Across the who gig Darren, lets his guitar do the talking and its his fine musicianship which is the driving force behind the tracks.
While the self-penned songs were all well received, their interpretation of Yazoo’s Only You was stunning, as dark a version of this pop classic as you’re likely to hear.
Definitely a band we’re looking forward to seeing in the near future.
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