Tom Hingley and the Kar-Pets – May Contain Nuts review

How different the world might be if, when original singer Stephen Holt left to form The Rainkings in 1989, roadie Noel Gallagher had landed the job of Inspiral Carpets’ frontman. Instead they picked Tom Hingley, who, having quit, is now reduced to celebrating his tenure in a tribute band. (He was replaced by Holt. Presumably Gallagher found other work.)

This rugged recording of a 2016 homecoming show – which comes with a DVD – finds The Kar-Pets recapturing the manic energy of the band’s early years, with Hingley frantically trying to keep up with Directing Traffic’s verse. Acquiescing to Gallagher’s subsequent advice, too, a climactic This Is How It Feels finds Hingley and his audience hollering along together, refusing to look back in anger.