The Welsh rock band Stereophonics took their thirteenth studio album Make ‘Em Laugh, Make ‘Em Cry, Make ‘Em Wait to the United States, performing on Sept. 27 at Humphrey’s Concerts By The Bay. While Wales may not have themselves a Eurovision team, this post-Britpop alternative rock ensemble could certainly qualify, with a chart-safe yet assured, emphatic sound that has received respectable acclaim throughout their approximately 29 year legacy.

Stereophonics performing to their San Diego audience. (Image / Jacob Chan)

Following sold-out summer performances across Europe and the UK, Stereophonics has been taking their fans on a journey through their discography, bringing back such hits as a heartfelt ukulele rendition of “A Thousand Trees”, and debuting songs from Make ‘Em Laugh, Make ‘Em Cry, Make ‘Em Wait such as the sardonically relevant, “There’s Always Gonna Be Something” and “Seems Like You Don’t Know Me.”

Lead vocalist and founding member Kelly Jones held the crowd enraptured with impeccable audience engagement, and surprise instrument changes such as a bari-sax solo on “Geronimo” from the 2017 album Scream Above The Sounds and the aforementioned ukulele on “A Thousand Trees”, demonstrated clearly that Stereophonics has the potential to maintain their staying power as a bastion of European alternative pop-rock indefinitely.

Kelly Jones playing guitar as stage lights glisten into the crowd. (Image / Jacob Chan)