Coming home to Sussex, Suede frontman Brett Anderson demonstrated why he is one of the finest rock frontmen the UK has produced in the last 25 years.

Throughout the Bexhill show he was out at the front, swinging his microphone in long arcs from its lead, jumping off the monitors and reaching out to the crowd.

And his voice was still as distinctive as ever, even if he had to ask for help with the high notes.

The response he got from the sold-out audience was arena-worthy - making the ears ring.

Part of this was down to the ingenious structure of the show – starting out aimed squarely at the hardcore fans with a hefty mix of b-sides including rarities Painted People and The Sound Of The Streets, combined with material from latest album Bloodsports.

But the second half was devoted to the band’s first three albums, bringing in the rest of the audience already galvanised by Anderson’s charismatic performance.

The band’s ear for an epic hasn’t left them – as evidenced by new song Tightrope.

The band’s choice of music before they walked onstage summed them up perfectly – going from The Sex Pistols’ edgiest three minutes, Bodies, to the epic sweep of Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto. It’s that musical combination of state of the nation lyrics and sweeping romantic orchestration which keeps fans so devoted.

Five stars