The Engine Room is the perfect setting for the last night of Dean & Britta’s tour, before they head back to America. Dean Wareham was co-founder and guitarist/ vocalist of Galaxie 500, a band that were integral to the shoegaze/dreampop movement. I loved their music. The band split in 1991 and Wareham went on to form Luna, which Britta Phillips joined. After marrying they formed a duo. It’s a packed room, so it’s a relief to have the doors open to allow the North Sea breeze in. They play a career spanning set and having played a show in Durham the previous night, they’re keen to play some different songs for any returning fans. Britta is on bass and Dean on guitar, with both on vocals. Opening with ‘Mystery Guest’ then ‘Dear Betty Baby’ they sound fantastic. Chatting and relaxed, Britta tells us about their lovely day in Whitley Bay, enjoying fish and chips and ice cream

(“two scoops”). Then, ‘Night Nurse’ is dreamy as Britta sings: “Sleep together the milky way, sleep forever and a day.” Then the much-awaited Galaxie 500 songs including ‘Snowstorm’, which is gorgeous, hypnotic shoegaze, followed

by ‘Blue Thunder’ and ‘Don’t Let Our Youth Go Wasted’ with Dean’s raw and fragile vocals very much to the fore. They do a great version of ‘Drive’ by The Cars, Dean admitting he hated that song until Britta did it. She has a beautiful voice. Pre-empting the encore (“We’d normally consider leaving the stage and then maybe come back, but we haven’t got

anywhere to go...”) the crowd cheer and pretend to shout for them to come back on. ‘Ceremony’ by Joy Division makes a beautiful and moving finale. They depart

with, “Thank you, we’ll see you another time, I think.” I do hope so.

Deb Snell