Duane Eddy Sage Gateshead May 27 2012
A great gig last night by a true legend of a man, Duane Eddy in Hall 2 of the Sage. An appreciative crowd of a certain age saw Duane and his band run through a night of classic tracks and songs from Duane’s latest album. Duane was backed by Richard Hawley’s band and a tremendous sax player. Many guys from the past have slipped into playing cabaret versions of their songs, or can only manage pale versions of the originals. Not Duane Eddy. He looked and played great last night. The set included rock n roll classics like ‘Forty Miles Of Bad Road’, ‘Shazam’, ‘Yep!’, ‘Cannonball’ and ‘Ramrod’. Duane Eddy has been having a resurgence of his career lately. Its twenty five years between the release of his last record, and his most recent “Road Trip”. Produced by Richard Hawley and Colin Elliot, ‘Road Trip’ “showcases everything that is unique about his guitar playing. When it rocks, it rocks hard but above all it is an album that is defined by the man’s elegant playing and the space within its sound.” (Sage website). “Richard (Hawley) really wanted me to make a record that covered all the different moments from my career so that’s what we did. So there are things that are rocking with a wailing sax, and there are some pretty things too. There are echoes of the past, but it sounds new.” says Duane. “Duane’s sound as a guitar player is unbelievably unique. If you hear one note played by him you know that that’s Duane. His sound is so low and deep. And there’s an elegance and sophistication to what he does that is really very special.” (Richard Hawley).
Posts Tagged ‘folk’
28 May
Duane Eddy Sage Gateshead May 27 2012
26 May
Chris De Burgh Newcastle City Hall 1979
Chris De Burgh Newcastle City Hall 1979
I first saw Chris de Burgh supporting Supertramp on their Crime of the Century tour. I seem to remember seeing him as support act for a few other people, one of which was definitely Gallagher and Lyle. This tour was to promote his 1979 album Crusader, and the set featured tracks from this and his earlier lps. Highlights at the time for me were Spanish Train and Spaceman came Travelling. Chris found early success in South America and mainland Europe, before he made it big in the UK. This gig was, of course, well before his massive success with Lady in Red. Chris’ early albums feature some great song; he is a wonderful story teller, and quite under rated as a songwriter. Although it feels a sort of guilty pleasure to admit that I liked Chris de Burgh, and he was really good in concert in those days. I guess it doesn’t quite fit the “vintagerock” them, but this was a pleasant evening spent with a guy who has a bunch of good songs to sing. Those early lps are certainly worth checking out. I haven’t seen Chris de Burgh since the late 70s, although I did have a ticket for a recent concert at the Sage, but couldn’t make it in the end and sold my ticket.
17 May
Brand X and Peter Hammill
Brand X and Peter Hammill Newcastle City Hall 1978
This was a somewhat strange pairing, in fact the tour is known as “The Odd Couple Tour” on the Van Der Graaf Generator website. Brand X were a jazz rock fusion band, and were highly respected in the 70s. Phil Collins played with them at one point, although he wasn’t in the drum stool at this gig. I also saw them play at the Reading festival a year or so earlier. I recall the set as being largely (solely?) instrumental, with impressive musicianship. Setlist was apparently (I found this on a website): Access To Data; Black Moon; Smacks Of Euphoric Hysteria; The Ghost Of Mayfield Lodge; The Poke. 
I went along with some mates for a couple or reasons. Firstly because of the Phil Collins and Genesis connection, and secondly to see Peter Hammill, who had recently left Van Der Graaf Generator to go solo. Peter wass in a pretty crazy phase, and had shaved half his beard (see programme). He was accompanied by violin and sax, and delivered a strange set to a pretty empty hall. 
Peter’s set was straneg, dark, quirky and everything you would expect of him. A review of the time proclaimed him the “Springsteen of Weird”. This was a memorable gig, although it was a shame that the City Hall was pretty empty. The tour was pretty ambitious in booking this pairing into largish concert halls.
15 May
Blondie Reunion Newcastle Arena 1999
Blondie Reunion Newcastle Arena 1999
So, some 19 years after I last saw Blondie at the City Hall, Ashleigh and I went to see the reformed band play at the Newcastle Arena. Ashleigh had, in the interim, been to see Debbie Harry when she performed at Sunderland Empire. The band had hit the charts with the single Maria and had released a new album No Exit. 
The concert was pretty good, as I recall, and the magic was still there. However, the sound was lost in the cavernous arena, and the venue was cold. Support came from Squeeze. Blondie have played a few times in the region since then, including a gig at Newcastle Academy which Laura attended. For me they are the perfect pop band, and bring back memories of nights out in the late 70s and early 80s.
14 May
Blondie Newcastle City Hall 1977, 1978, 1980
Blondie Newcastle City Hall 1977, 1978, 1980
I first saw Blondie when they appeared as support on the 1977 Television UK tour. They were the highlight of the evening; having just released their first album and the single X Offender. Debbie and the band were simply stunning, and quite a contrast to Television, who were also good, but much more serious. By the time they returned in 1978 they had hit the charts with Denis and Touched by your Presence Dear. That year saw the release of Plastic Letters and Parallel Lines, both excellent pop albums, and the hit singles just seemed to come again and again. 
Blondie were just untouchable as a live band and as a chart act in the late 70s and early 80s. The band were tight as anything, Debbie always looked stunning and sang great, and the set was crammed with catchy pop tunes. Their shows at the City Hall in 1978 and 1980 were both sell outs and great gigs. 
I also had tickets for a 1982 gig by Blondie at the City Hall. However the tour was cancelled as a result of Chris Stein’s ill health, and the band split shortly afterwards. 
Bootlegs exist of some of those early shows; one from 1978 shows the setlist as being the following: X Offender; Detroit 442; A Shark in Jet’s Clothing; In The Sun; Little girls lies; Denis; (I’m Always Touched By Your) Presence Dear; Fan Mail; Look Good in Blue; Rifle Rangle; In the flesh; Cautious Lip; Contact In Red Square; My Possession; I didn’t have the nerve to say no; Bermuda Triangle Blues (Flight 45); Kidnapper – Rip Her To Shreds; Kung Fu girls; Funtime ( Iggy pop cover)
13 May
Shift-Static The Cluny 2 Newcastle May 12th 2012
Shift-Static The Cluny 2 Newcastle May 12th 2012
So Shift-Static returned after a gig hiatus, the members regrouping from various corners of the UK to play a show in The Cluny 2, along with Houses, Baskin’s Wish, and Euan Lynn. A healthy crowd gathered to see this home gig, some having travelled especially for the show. Laura ventured from her normal situation behind keyboards, taking front of stage to deliver her haunting vocals. The set consisted of five songs, and lasted around 30 minutes, featuring some new tunes and one old favourite. Crowd members were shouting for recent online release Sky Burial, which proved to be a big hit. The songs are a sublime mix of electronica, dance, and guitar jangles, Gordon concentrating on the beats and the electrickery, Will on the jangle guitar, Charlie master of the samples and further beats, Joe pounding away on the rhythm bass, and Laura overlaying her textured, haunting vocals. The band received a well deserved positive reception from the assembled Cluny crowd, the new set hitting the right spot with everyone. Shift-Static next perform at Newcastle Miners Institute on Friday 25 May. Setlist: Intro; New Song; Father’s Footsteps; Five Bar Gate; Sky Burial.
12 May
Blue Oyster Cult Newcastle Tyne Theatre 2002
Blue Oyster Cult Newcastle Tyne Theatre 2002
I lost touch with Blue Oyster Cult for some time, after seeing them several times in the 70s and 80s. There was a 17 year period between my BOC experiences, between seeing them in 1985 at Newcastle City Hall and a gig at Newcastle Tyne Theatre in 2002. I went along with my mate Norm who is a big Blue Oyster Cult fan. The Tyne Theatre is a Grade 1 listed building, which opened in 1867 as the Tyne Theatre and Opera House. Its a lovely venue, and I have fond memories of going there in the 60s with my dad to see King Kong, which seemed a marvel to me at the time. The Tyne Theatre wasn’t full that night, but a respectable crowd had gathered to see BOC. The line up at that time featured old timers Eric Bloom, Buck Dharma, and Allen Lanier and the set contained a healthy mix of old favourites. It was great to see the band again, and the performance was as good as the old days, bringing back memories of those nights in the City Hall. BOC have been back once or twice since then, although I missed those gigs. Its about time I caught up with them again. Setlist: Burnin’ For You; OD’d On Life Itself; ETI; Pocket; Harvester Of Eyes; Teen Archer; Quicklime Girl; Perfect Water; Cities On Flame; Golden Age of Leather; See You in Black; Last Days Of May; Godzilla; (Don’t Fear) The Reaper; Dominance & Submission. It was great to hear Last Days of May again; it remains one of my favourites songs.
11 May
The Bureau Information Tour 1981
The Bureau Information Tour 1981
I’ve been reflecting on Dexy’s this week and renewed by acquaintance with the band on Monday when I saw them play in Whitley Bay. That also made me think to this gig, by the Bureau, which I attended in 1981. The Bureau were a Dexy’s spin off band, and consisted of most of the members, apart from Kevin Rowland. “We split from Dexy’s Midnight Runners because the musical ideas we always stood for just turned into posturing”. They also featured Archie Brown on vocals (from the Upset who had supported Dexy’s on an early tour) and Mick Talbot (who is now in Dexy’s; this is confusing) or organ. I recall little of this gig; in fact I can’t even recall where it was. I suspect it was at Newcastle Mayfair (although it could have been at the Poly or University?). I do remember them as a brass driven soul band. I’ve just checked and see that they have recently reformed and that Mick Talbot is with them again (as well as being a member of Dexy’s; this is just getting confusing for me).
10 May
Dexy’s Midnight Runners Newcastle Exhibition Park 1982: Radio 1 in Concert from the Big Top
Dexy’s Midnight Runners Newcastle Newcastle Exhibition Park 1982
Radio 1 in Concert from the Radio One Big Top
I went to see Dexy’s on Monday, and this has encouraged me to reflect on my previous experiences of the band. This gig was the second time I saw Kevin Rowland and the band, and the last time until I saw them again this week, and it was just amazing. I’d seen Dexy’s once before at the time of Geno, in Newcastle Mayfair. They were good that night, but nothing could have prepared me for this gig. The concert was one of (I think) two which were held in a large marquee on Exhibition Park as part of a Radio One in Concert weekend. The other gig was The Boomtown Rats, and I decided to go along to one of the gigs. I’m so glad I chose this show, because it was a revelation. Part of the reason that it was so good was the surprise element. Neither Come on Eileen or the album Too-Rye-Ay had been released at this point, and the image of Dexy’s that I had in my head was of the soul rebels in their donkey jackets and wooly hats. This was the first performance of the new gyspy folk Dexy’s, and the entire crowd was just stunned when the band came on stage, Kevin dressed in a pair of dungarees and with his new curly hair cut. You could see that everyone was just speechless and totally shocked by the complete transformation that the band had undergone. They were straight into a set which drew heavily from the forthcoming Too-Rye-Ay lp with its hybrid of soul and Celtic folk. They also included Geno, and Jackie Wilson said. The rest of the band were dressed in dungarees, scarves, leather waistcoats, and what was described at the time as “a generally scruffy right-off-the-farm look”. Kevin Rowland said at the time of the new image: “These are my best clothes. Again it just feels right for the music. Everybody else is dressing up sort of straight-laced and we come in wearing these and it’s like, y’know here we are, a bit of hoedowning is even possible”. And hoedown they did.
Once I got over the shock of the new image and the new line-up, I just sat back and enjoyed the music. How could you not enjoy those infectious folk tunes. This was the first time the new lp, including Come on Eileen was played live and the only time that the line-up featured the Searching for the Young Soul Rebels-era horn section alongside the Too-Rye-Ay-era strings. I knew that night that the new lp and those songs were going to be massive. Come on Eileen hit the charts and soared to number one a few weeks later and the band were back to play to a sold-out City Hall, a gig which I missed in order to see The Jam’s final North East gig at Whitley Bay (which was the right choice, but I still regret missing Dexy’s that night!). I remember going home buzzing about the gig, still not being quite able to take in or believe what I had seen. I tried to explain to my friends how good it had been, but they didn’t get it until they saw them performing Come On Eileen on Top of the Pops a few weeks later. This was one of those gigs which I wish I could return to and relive. The show was released on CD 13 years later in 1995 and features the following tracks: TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia); Burn It Down; Let’s Make This Precious; Jackie Wilson Said (I’m in Heaven When You Smile); Come on Eileen; Respect; Soon; Plan B; Geno; Old; The Celtic Soul Brothers; There, There, My Dear; Show Me.
Note. I’ve just found (30 Jan 2014) a programme for the Radio 1 Weekend, which this concert must have been part of. The weekend featured all the DJs (Tony Blackburn, Peter Powell, Keith Chegwin etc) plus personal appearances by Dexys, Haircut 100 and others. There was also a local band stage which featured among others The Toy Dolls. The programme includes a free flexi single by Lindisfarne (although they were not appearing as they were on tour at the time). Fascinating stuff. I’d forgotten all about this.
8 May
Dexy’s Whitley Bay Playhouse May 7th 2012
Dexy’s Whitley Bay Playhouse May 7th 2012
With the name streamlined from Dexys Midnight Runners to Dexys, last night’s gig was prior to the release of their fourth album, ‘One Day I’m Going To Soar’; the first Dexy’s album in 26 years. For this project Kevin Rowland’s Dexy’s features previous members Mick Talbot on keyboards, Pete Williams on vocals and Jim Paterson on trombone. It also features Neil Hubbard and Tim Cansfield on guitars, Madeleine Hyland on vocals, and Lucy Morgan on violin. This tour sees their first gigs for almost 10 years, taking in small theatres across the UK. Its 30 years since I last saw this band, and I have been really looking forward to it. I knew that this gig was sure to be something special, one way or the other. There was no support and no interval, with Dexy’s coming on stage at 8.30pm. Whitley Bay PLayhouse was packed and you could feel the anticipation. The band came on to a darkened stage, slick and smartly dressed in suits which looked like they had come from New York in the 20s. The show was very theatrical and is based on the story of a relationship between our hero Kevin and Madeleine Hyland, who first appeared on screen and later on stage in person. Kevin was as intense and passionate as ever, and at times I thought this was one of the best things I have ever seen. At other times, I felt the show crossed the line and became just a little too bizarre and absurd. The crowd clearly really enjoyed it, giving each and every song a tremendous reception. Laura, David and I were sitting in the second row and had a great view of the action. 
It was tremendous to be so close to such a great showman. The set consisted of the new album played through in its entirity, followed by an old Dexy’s song, which I must admit I didn’t know, with a rousing and joyful Come On Eileen as the closer. The crowd wouldn’t let the band leave without one more song, and they returned to play This Is What She’s Like. An astounding show, which at time hit great heights and depth. A night that none of the audience will forget for a long long time. Setlist: Now; Lost; Me; She Got A Wiggle; You; Thinking Of You; I’m Always Going To Love You; Incapable Of Love; Nowhere Is Home; Free; It’s OK John Joe, ?, Come On Eileen. Encore: This Is What She’s Like
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