Small Fakers/The Fazed

SMALL FAKERS/THE FAZED

IMV 4th October 2025

Back to the The International Music Venue with Paul Collins & Wake up promotions for one of the Autumn Highlights... the return of the Small Fakers.... and it proved a wonderful night from the off...

It was cold outside, but once in the room there was already a developing party atmosphere and the feel of a celebration in the big crowd.

Sometimes with a much loved headliner it is easy to overlook the support act... not so with THE FAZED... a terrific local band who had the audience's attention from the very start... I first saw them only about five years ago and i loved them then... and each time i've seen them since they seem to have moved up another step... last nights set was absolutely outstanding... indie guitar rock at its very best from start to finish... Up front Dave Sherratt is a great vocalist and guitar player leading from the front... flanked by FOXY playing great pounding bass and Adam excelling on lead guitar while at the back Ritchie Whitehead's drumming is always creative and powerful

The band together clearly love what they are doing, and so did the audience... rare to see a support band gain so much attention and love from an audience... absolutely superb set... loved every moment...

After this... the headliners... Small Fakers - Small Faces Tribute... The band divide their show into two halves... the first set being the more poppy early days... before returning in 1967 with the Hippy Artful Dodger phase of the career...

They open with a bang...kicking off with the classic "What'cha Gonna Do About it" followed by the glorious "Sha la la la lee" which had the audience moving and singing along... this party was well underway!!

Up front Matt is the embodiment of Steve Marriot.. squint a bit and you could be watching and hearing the original!... he is part of a group of superb musicians who together deliver an incredibly authentic Small Faces sound and show... the first set was packed with "early days" classics and rocked along beautifully... ending with some serious powerhouse rock'n'roll...

After a short break the band were back, changed into 1967 onwards outfits and crashed into "Baker" before a couple of pieces from the wonderful "Ogdens"...

After this, a surprise... as Neil put down his bass and Matt introduced a friend to play on a number... and up stepped a 16-year old bass player (see the band retsecroW) who delivered a wonderfully assured and accomplished performance.

After this Neil returned to the stage and and the band joyfully and powerfully rocked on.. at the first chords of "Itchycoo Park" the temperature rose higher and the audience were in full voice... from here on it was pure Small Faces rock'n'roll through to the closer, "Tin Soldier"... after this an encore was inevitable... and no surprises what it was... We were invited to sing the song and the words of cockney anthem "Lazy Sunday" were belted out as always by the audience... always a crowd pleaser and went down a storm... they followed this with a mighty performance of "All or Nothing" which again had the audience in full voice...

The Small Fakers are a superb band, one of the very best tribute acts anywhere... and as always delivered a fabulous upbeat inspiring superb performance which thrilled the audience...

One of the things I love about the band (and indeed the Fazed) is that they remember that rock'n'roll is fun and there is always banter between the guys... a warm feeling of fun and love of playing and deep respect for the original band...

There aren't many tribute bands I go to see... but wouldn't miss the Small Fakers... they are magnificent!!

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