Taste Sunderland Empire 10 May 1970
Today I am moving in my blogging from gigs I have attended by acts beginning with the letter “F” to gigs by acts with the letter “G”. This one is a bit of a cheat, as the band begins with “T”, but I couldn’t begin to cover the late great Rory Gallagher without reference to the time I saw Taste in concert. This was one of the first gigs I attended, and being over 40 years ago my memories are few, but very strong, because of the power of the event. If I had to use a couple of words to sum up Rory Gallager I would choose “passion” and “authenticity”. Rory was 100% passionate in his performance and in the way he delivered his own brand of the blues. There was also an honesty and authenticity about Rory; no frills, no big act or stage show; with Rory what you saw was what you got. I was 13 years old when I saw Rory and Taste at the Empire theatre in Sunderland. I had a ticket in the front row, right in front of the great man. I’d read about Taste, but didn’t have any of them albums at the time, so I didn’t know their material. I was so impressed that after the gig I went out and bought the first Taste lp, and I later also bought On the Boards. I don’t recall their being any support act that night. The set was drawn from those two lps. I definitely remember them playing Catfish, Sugar Mama, Whats Going on, and Blister on the Moon (that track still amazes me). I can picture Rory singing “I wish I was a Catfish” like it was yesterday. He was wearing a trademark checked shirt and playing his battered old Fender. The other members of the band were, of course, Richard McCracken on bass guitar and John Wilson on drums. I remember McCracken had a habit of biting and holding his hair at both sides of his mouth while playing. Rory’s playing was a revelation to me. I had a guitar at the time, and was glued to his ever move, as his fingers flew across the frets; trying to learn some of the riffs. I seem to recall that they also played a couple of slower tracks from the On the Boards lp; possibly the title track and If the Day Was Any Longer. That night, that 13 year old schoolboy that was me, became a life long Rory fan. I was totally blown away by Taste, and went home and bored my parents about them. Next day at school I told everyone just how great they were (most people hadn’t heard of them and ignored me!). Great memories. I’ll blog on some of the many Rory gigs I attended over the next few days. They were all great, but this performance by Taste holds a special place in my memory. I always felt that Rory solo never quite matched up to the raw power of Taste, and that he lost a little edge somewhere along the way, but maybe that was because this early gig was so great, because I was so close to the man, and because it was one of my first gigs.
14 Dec
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Posted by Mitch on January 16, 2013 at 5:41 pm
This was the first rock concert that I ever attended (age 14). I still have the ticket stub although strangely the name of the act never appears on Sunderland Empire tickets – only date, seat and price – Sunday May 10th, Stalls S20, 10/-.
There was no support and Taste came on stage at 7.45 and played for about 90 minutes. I had arranged for my Dad to pick me up at 10pm so as we had 45 minutes to spare I hung outside the stage door for autographs. My school friend had the On The Boards album cover with him which Rory, Richie and John duly signed. We told them what a great concert it had been and Rory, as humble as ever, thanked us.
The Taste set on that night was – What’s Going On, Railway and Gun,
Morning Sun, Sugar Mama, Gamblin’ Blues, Eat My Words, Same Old Story. Encore: Catfish. Brilliant times.
Posted by Ted on May 10, 2015 at 5:57 pm
Was this the 10 Bob tour I.e. it only cost 10 Bob half a pound in the old money to get in.
I saw them at Bromley College for the first time on that tour and twice more fairly quickly.
Posted by vintagerock on May 10, 2015 at 7:35 pm
10 Bob sounds about right Ted. Happy days. You don’t see many gigs for 10 Bob now Peter
Posted by DaveW on November 8, 2024 at 7:50 pm
I saw Taste on possibly one of their last gigs, at the Isle of Wight 1970, where they absolutely held their own in the same festival as Hendrix, Ten Years After and, of course, many others! David
Posted by vintagerock on November 9, 2024 at 12:03 pm
You make me so jealous Dave. I was just a little too young to go to the Isle of Wight Festival. Unbelievable line – up Peter
Posted by DaveW on November 9, 2024 at 12:09 pm
I was 17. Went with school mates. Still got the memories, Highlights were TYA, Free, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen. Chuffed to have seen Hendrix, but to be honest he didn’t quite seem to be on it.
Posted by vintagerock on November 9, 2024 at 12:16 pm
Much respect my friend. Unfortunately I was 13 at the time! Peter
Posted by DaveW on November 9, 2024 at 12:27 pm
Delighted to have found your blog. Loving finding gigs I also went to, but the respect is due to you. A phenomenal gig history. Can’t beat live music!
Posted by vintagerock on November 9, 2024 at 12:30 pm
Thanks Dave the blog took me many years to complete. I am glad that you like it Peter
Posted by vintagerock on November 9, 2024 at 12:31 pm
And apologies for my earlier reply. I assumed from your name that I used to work with you. I guess that I must have been wrong! 🙂 Peter
Posted by DaveW on November 10, 2024 at 12:46 pm
No problem, Peter! Saw most of my early gigs in the City Hall and around Newcastle till 1978. Have lived in East Anglia since then. Not so many good venues but still get to maybe two or three a year. Highlights? Darren Hayes in Ipswich, Van Morrison, Nils Lofgren, Joan Armatrading come to mind in Norwich. Recent excellent gigs would be First Aid Kit in Cambridge and Northumberland’s own The Unthanks in Bury St Edmunds.
Posted by vintagerock on November 10, 2024 at 1:53 pm
Thanks Dave. I have never seen the Unthanks and must do so at the next opportunity. Best wishes Peter