YEARS before Blur and Pulp mixed tales of British kitchen-sink drama with pure-pop melodies, Squeeze perfected the same trick.

The London new-wave legends brought almost four decades of hits and near misses to St David’s Hall in Cardiff.

Fronted by canny songwriters Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford, the band’s fiery current line-up rocked out and reinvented classics.

The two drummers pounded early single Slap and Tickle into a thundering march. 

Tightly-wound songs like Hourglass, Take Me I’m Yours and Pulling Mussels From the Shell were made to be danced to. 

An all-seated venue would seem to run contrary to this, but the Squeeze faithful were soon on their feet and bopping like it’s 1979. 

Glenn Tilbrook acted as master of ceremonies on the night, taking the lead vocal on all but Cool for Cats. 

This song has always been the party piece of Mr Difford, peppering the laddish tale with trademark Cockney slang.

Squeeze brought the house down with souped-up versions of past glories.

However, with the rockier arrangements, something was lost from introspective ballads like Black Coffee in Bed.

But the outfit’s best and most bittersweet song - Up the Junction - was wisely presented as it always has been. 

You can’t mess with perfection.