Supergrass, Brixton Academy, London

(TOM WATKINS / REX FEATURES)

The funny thing about Supergrass is that if they had followed the example of fellow Britpoppers such as Blur and Suede, and split up closer to the height of their fame, the time would have been just about right for a comeback tour.

Now they have decided to call it a day, it seems likely they won't receive the credit they deserve as surely one of the best singles bands this country has produced.

The problem is that there is no denying that great Supergrass singles have become less and less frequent, something shown by the structure of this, their last show on British soil. Their decision tonight to work backwards through their discography at first seems like folly – clearly most in the crowd are expecting a greatest-hits set, not the first four songs coming from 2008's Diamond Hoo Ha.

But, as they start plotting a course through their career via a handful of tracks from each of their six studio albums, the songs gets greeted with more and more excitement from the crowd, and by the time we reach their self-titled LP and "Moving", the band are really getting going.

In-between each album, clips are shown of Supergrass at that period, and the videos lend the night a kind of Benjamin Button feel as you see the group getting younger before your eyes – who knows what it must feel like for them having their whole career summed up in a couple of hours. They are not alone on their nostalgia trip however, as "Mansize Rooster" and "Strange Ones" from I Should Coco take the audience back a decade and a half.

Of course, "Alright" and finally "Caught By the Fuzz" are left until last, and as a farewell encore it is not a bad way to go. Supergrass may not be bowing out at the top of their game, but tonight is a reminder of just why they will be missed, even if many don't realise it yet.