Middle age is a difficult, awkward time for anyone, writes Phil Barnett. 

No longer fresh or exciting, but young at heart and still popular with old friends and new.

Yet The Stereophonics are still managing to grow old gracefully and are definitely in the 'cool uncle' rather than 'sad dad' camp.

Billed as the 'Keep The Village Alive Tour' in honour of their current album, their Genting Arena show did exactly what it said on the tin.

The Welsh legends came out of the blocks well, with stand-out current single 'C'est La Vie' kicking things off and quickly followed by the similarly popular 'I Wanna Get Lost With You'.

However, ever the showmen, the 'Phonics did go all out to please their wide range of fans for whom different albums, and eras, represented the 'real' Stereophonics.

Hence there was plenty to keep the old indie kids happy, including Yours Truly, and things really picked up when they soon revisited their first record, Word Gets Around, with the up-tempo 'A Thousand Trees' and 'More Life In A Tramp's Vest'.

'Pick A Part That's New' went down just as well before a joyous rendition of the more mainstream 'Have A Nice Day' got the mid-range crowd going, even if it isn't one for the old-school purists.

Strangely, for such experienced and accomplished performers, there followed something of a dip as Kelly Jones and the boys contrived to lose momentum with a succession of meandering, low-tempo numbers such as 'Indian Summer', 'Graffiti On The Train' and 'Roll The Dice'.

It gradually picked up, though, with a few late-2000s hits, but it took another oldie, 'Local Boy In The Photograph', to reignite atmosphere back up - albeit in their final number.

That certainly left the crowd wanting more, however.

A superb encore comprising 'The Bartender and The Thief', 'I Wouldn't Believe Your Radio', 'Maybe Tomorrow' and 'Dakota' showed just why there's no disgrace in one of the Britain's finest indie exports growing old gracefully and Keeping The Legend Alive.