IF there was one thing I could have wished for at last night’s Madness gig at the Oasis, it would have been to be handed a pair of stilts on the way in.

But even the lack of a clear view could not ruin what was a truly fantastic performance for me and my fellow shorties at the back of the venue.

Almost 3,000 fans packed the sweaty sports hall as the immortal words: “Hey you, don’t watch that watch this! This is the heavy heavy monster sound, the nuttiest sound around,” announced the start of the set.

The pop/ska gods – Graham “Suggs” McPherson, Daniel Woodgate, Mike Barson, Lee Thompson, Chris Foreman, Mark Bedford and Carl Smyth gave an energetic performance, akin to those older fans would remember from when Madness burst onto the scene in Camden Town in 1976.

As they moved from Embarrassment to My Girl and House of Fun, Suggs punctuated the show with brief comments to the audience, on fine form as he stopped to charm Swindon’s younger fans at the front of the throng before launching into their new single Forever Young.

As the gig continued the temperature began to rise and the smell of sweat grew more prevalent, even Suggs could help but mention the venue was a sports hall.

Madness fan Danny Kemp said the Oasis’ ability to attract bigger and better names every year was more of a reason for Swindon to push ahead with plans for a dedicated music venue.

“Here we are with the biggest British ska band here in Swindon and frankly it is embarrassing we can’t put them up at a proper music venue,” said the 25-year-old from Nythe.

“Don’t get me wrong, if it wasn’t for the Oasis we wouldn’t have such big names coming here in the first place but I just think it is high time we had something more like Bristol’s Beer Keller of Carling Academy. Swindon deserves it.”

Friends Dave Kemp and Kelly Holmes agreed.

“The gig was spectacular but it was just too hot in there for me,” said Kelly, 30, from Eldene.

“Madness are amazing but it would have been nice to see them in Swindon’s purpose built music venue.”

Dave, 40, from Covingham added: “I think Swindon has the potential to attract even more top names, but we’ll need our own music venue to get them.”

As Madness launched into chart hits House of Fun and Baggy Trousers the fez’s went flying and beer glasses were held high proving the band truly were, One Step Beyond.