It’s chastening to think that co-founder Graham Gouldman has been soldiering on with 10cc without any of the other original members for almost 30 years. Lol Creme and Kevin Godley exited in 1976, and Eric Stewart departed rather more acrimoniously (the pair still don’t speak) in 1995. There’s been no new music from the band since then but it’s debatable whether there’s any appetite for it – from within or without – any way.

Indeed, bar a token recent solo tune, the current live show sticks exclusively to the group’s glory years from 1972-1978, effectively constituting a jukebox of quirky art pop singles, from the first (a delightful acapella version of Donna) to the last (1978’s Dreadlock Holiday). The non-PC lyrics of the latter have hardly aged well but no one in a packed Warwick Arts Centre batted an eyelid and tee-shirts stating “I don’t like cricket… I love it!” were among a surprisingly wide range of options on the merchandise stand.

Art For Art’s Sake, complete with anarchy symbol, also provided a clothing slogan but more importantly early highlight of the set, alongside note-perfect renditions of the likes of Wall Street Shuffle, Good Morning Judge, I’m Mandy Fly Me and I’m Not In Love. The latter was the band’s biggest UK hit but the live show also found room for a few lesser-known gems, not least a terrific version of prog-rock epic Feel The Benefit (from 1978’s Deceptive Bends) and Somewhere In Hollywood (from 1974’s Sheet Music), with Godley providing vocals via video screen.

Seeing his familiar face was a treat, but as much as the 2024 version of 10cc undeniably contains hired hands – in the shape of excellent multi-instrumentalists Keith Hayman and Andy Park – the five-piece band still feels like a band, not least because drummer Paul Burgess and guitarist Rick Fenn have been part of the touring outfit since the 1970s.

The inclusion of the cheery old pro’s undoubtedly contributes to the feelgood factor that translates from stage to audience – if they’re having fun then so are we – with Gouldman, now 78 but looking and sounding great on it, a smiling and genial presence throughout. Still enjoying it after more than 60 years and with tour dates running well into next year, it’s clearly not just a silly phase he’s going through.

4 stars

Reviewed by Steve Adams at Warwick Arts Centre on Sunday 3 November.