Sensational Alex Harvey Band gigs in the early to mid 70s
I first saw the Sensational Alex Harvey Band (or SAHB as they became to be known) at a gig at Sunderland Locarno. It must have been in 1972 or 1973, as it was at the time of the Framed album, and the band were unknown at the time. I was totally blown away by them; their name was correct; they were truly sensational. Their stage show was innovative, powerful and totally crazy; Alex was the ultimate frontman, having honed his craft with his soul band in the sweaty clubs of Glasgow and Hamburg. The guy had no fear, and took total command of the audience. And the rest of the band were also pretty sensational: Zal Cleminson playing the mad, evil guitarist in his white-faced pierrot make-up and suit; Chris Glen leering at us, wearing a codpiece on top of his jeams, and Hugh and Ted McKenna on electric piano and drums respectively. Framed is a very strong debut album, and the songs were great live: The Hammer Song; Midnight Moses; the epic tale of the Scottish witch Isobel Goudie; and St. Anthony. These are all great rock songs and the band performed them with a craziness, syncopation, and faultless choreography that no other band could match at the time. Framed was one of the last songs; it seemed like Alex was speaking the words directly to you. He would put a stocking over his head and fill his mouth with a bar towel. It was truly awesome to see them close up in a small ballroom, with a reasonably size, but by no means packed, crowd. There went down so well they were booked again and came back a few weeks later.
I then saw SAHB at Newcastle Mayfair, at Newcastle City Hall, and at several festivals: Reading 1973 (low down on the bill), Reading 1974 (headlining the Friday night), Buxton 1973, Knebworth 1974, supporting Yes at Stoke Football ground in 1975, supporting the Who at Charlton in 1976, and back at Reading in 1977. The Buxton and Stoke gigs stick in my mind for similar reasons. On both occasions Alex took control of a difficult crowd situation. At Buxton the festival was over-run by Hells Angels who were driving their bikes through the crowd, harrassing us all, and fighting amongst each other. When Alex took to the stage he negotiated with the Angels to behave themselves, talking directly to theie leader and telling him to get his guys to behave themselves. At the Yes Stoke gig, a fight broke out down near the front, and Alex jumped straight into the crowd and pulled the guys apart. As I said earlier, this guy had no fear, and was so impressive and captivating. Other memories are of them playing The Faith Healer at Reading and thinking how different it was, with the opening rhythms throbbing across the field, and of those great and off the wall covers. I can think of Del Shannon’s Runaway, the Osmonds’ Crazy Horses, Jethro Tull’s Love Story and Alice Cooper’s Schools Out. These songs all got the crazy SABH treatment. And then of course there was Delilah. There was truly no-one like the Sensational Alex Harvey band on a good night, and indeed every time I saw them in those early days were great nights! I’ll blog a little more on SAHB, and a few specific gigs over the next few days.
Posts Tagged ‘music’
26 Apr
Sensational Alex Harvey Band: reflections of amazing gigs in the early to mid 70s
25 Apr
The Hull Story Newcastle City Hall 2005
Ten years after the sad passing of Alan Hull, this gig was held at Newcastle City Hall to celebrate Alan’s life. Several special guests took part in the gig and played many of Alan’s songs to capacity crowd. Ray Jackson came out of retirement specially for the show. The concert also featured members of Lindisfarne; Prelude; The Motorettes; Kathryn Tickell and Jimmy Nail. A monologue was provided by Terry Morgan, whilst playwright Tom Pickard gave a reading of a piece of Alan’s poetry. This was a great celebration of the great man’s music and quite an emotional gig. A DVD of the concert was made and is pretty fine too. 
Full cast list: Featuring Phil Armstrong, Michael Bailey, Alan Clark, Simon Cowe, Andrew Craggs, Marty Craggs, Steve Cunninghan, Steve Daggett, Brian Duffy, Tommy Duffy, Mike Elliott, Frankie Gibbon, Charlie Harcourt, Graham Hardy, Brendan Healy, Tim Healy, John Hedley, Robin Howe, Brian Hume, Irene Hume, Ray Jackson, Jack Laidlaw, Jed Laidlaw, Ray Laidlaw, Ian McCallum, Finn McCardle, John Miles Jnr, Billy Mitchell, Scott Mitchell, Terry Morgan, Jimmy Nail, Paul Nichols, Tom Pickard, Greg Pullen, Rachael Rhodes, Chris Ringer, Stephen Robson, Bob Smeaton, Paul Smith, Julian Sutton, Kathryn Tickell and Peter Tickell. Setlist: Track Listing: Do What I Want; The Hully Variations; United States Of Mind; Dingly Dell; You’re The One; Malvinas Melody; All Fall Down; Court In The Act; Scarecrow Song; The Morgan Monologue; Peter Brophy Don’t Care; Make Me Want To Stay; Evergreen; A Reading From The Mocking Horse; Mystery Play; I Hate To See You Cry; Long Way From Home; 100 Miles To Liverpool; Money; This Heart Of Mine; Winter Song; River; Taking Care of Business; Numbers (Travelling Band); Walk In The Sea; Lady Eleanor; January Song; Fog On The Tyne; Clear White Light; Run For Home
24 Apr
Alan Hull Newcastle City Hall 1977: “Jimmy Carter for the Whitehouse; Alan Hull for the City Hall”
Alan Hull Newcastle City Hall 1977
This gig took place while Lindisfarne were taking a break as a band, and had officially split, although a reunion Christmas concert took place in 1976. The gig was promoted by Lindisfarne promoter Barry McKay and was heavily promoted around the town with a set of posters proclaiming: “Jimmy Carter for the Whitehouse; Alan Hull for the City Hall”. The bill comprised Alan with his new band the Radiators, Harcourt’s Heroes featuring Ray Jackson and Charlie Harcourt, and Hutch who worked with David Bowie in the 60s as one of his closest sidemen, and part of his early bands the Buzz, and the Hype. He was also a member of the Spiders from Mars at one point. 
The City Hall was packed and there was a great buzz about this concert. Alan had released two solo albums: Pipe Dream and Squire, and the set was drawn largely from them. Hutch was first up, performing solo with an acoustic guitar playing a mix of folk and country tinged songs. Then Harcourt’s Heroes with Jacka took to the stage. I don’t recall much about their set to be honest. Alan was great. The first half of the set was acoustic before he introduced the band which featured Kenny Craddock-Keyboards; Peter Kirtley-Guitars; John Ashcroft-Keyboards; Colin Gibson-Bass; Ray Laidlaw-Drums; and Terry Popple-Drums. The setlist was: Breakfast; United States Of Mind; Money Game; January Song; Lady Eleanor; One More Bottle Of Wine; A Walk In The Sea; Winter Song; Corporation Rock; Madmen And Loonies; Love Is The Alibi; Love Is The Answer; Band Introduction; I Wish You Well; Make Me Want To Stay; Somewhere Out There; Dancing On The Judgement Day; Anywhere Is Everywhere; Fog On The Tyne. Winter Song is one of my favourite songs of all time; just beautiful. A great gig.
23 Apr
Richie Havens RIP and memories of Newcastle City Hall 1972
Richie Havens Newcastle City Hall 1972
From the programme: “Richie Havens has a way of singing songs that makes people listen to them as if they’ve never heard them before. Taking as his material his own songs and the compositions of today’s greatest popular songwriters: Lennon and McCartney, Bob Dylan, Gordon Lightfoot…. – Richie gets right inside the meanings of them in a way that corresponds exactly to the way he and his audiences feel about the songs, the stories in them and the world around them. Whereas many musicians re-interpret songs by surrounding them with symphony orchestras, swamping them with the thousand strong choirs, Richie’s method is exactly the opposite. 
Using a minimum of sideman, accompanying himself with his rhythmic and forceful guitar technique (for which he uses an unorthodox open E-tuning). Richie relies above all on the strength of his own personality to get the music across. And it works.” The Woodstock film brought world wide fame for a number of artists such as Richie Havens. His passionate performance in that film introduced me to his music, and drew me to see him in concert at the City Hall in 1972. I remember this gig well for his deep and personal treatment of some of his own songs and a selection of classics. The set included versions of Maggie’s Farm; Fire and Rain; War; Here Comes the Sun; Eleanor Rigby and Freedom. Richie was trashing away at his guitar, using his thumb across the frets. He would wander around the stage, and was dripping with sweat by the end of the show. Support came from the excellent Linda Lewis. I have just read that the great man passed away yesterday, aged 72. He will be greatly missed.
22 Apr
Patti Smith Scarborough Spa 21st April 2013
Patti Smith Scarborough Spa 21st April 2013
Laura and I went to sunny (although cold) Scarborough last night to spend an evening in the company of Patti Smith, accompanied by Tony Shanahan. This was an intimate concert in the Spa Theatre; one of three dates that have come about as part of a visit to Yorkshire and the Bronte country, that Patti has been making with her sister (it was her sister’s 65th birthday treat). So there was lots of talk of the Bronte sisters, and some music, poetry and chat. Patti was in good spirits and on great form. This was the first time that Laura has seen her in concert, and she was very impressed. 
Patti Smith seems so natural in concert these days; going to see her is like going to see an old friend who chats to you about what has been going on in her life. So last night she told how she had been to visit Ann Bronte’s grave in Scarborough, how she loves watching UK TV detective shows (Frost, Lewis, Morse, Cracker are all favourites), and how she enjoyed great kippers for breakfast for the first time (in her Scarborough hotel). Many of the songs were dedicated to the Bronte sisters and their brother, and Banga was even dedicated to their dog Keeper (with much barking from Patti and the audience: you had to be their 🙂 ). She also read a poem by Ann Bronte (A Reminiscence), and introduced Because the Night by reading an extract from her recent book “Kids”. All pretty powerful stuff, and an awesome and capitaviting performance by a true artist who is as relevant today as she ever was (and her voice is just as strong. Awesome. Setlist: Dancing Barefoot; April Fool; It’s a Dream; Beneath the Southern Cross; Ghost Dance; Peaceable Kingdom; My Blakean Year; This Is the Girl; Pissing in a River; Because the Night. Encore: Banga; People Have the Power.
A Reminiscence by: Anne Bronte (1820-1849)
ES, thou art gone! and never more
Thy sunny smile shall gladden me;
But I may pass the old church door,
And pace the floor that covers thee,
May stand upon the cold, damp stone,
And think that, frozen, lies below
The lightest heart that I have known,
The kindest I shall ever know.
Yet, though I cannot see thee more,
‘Tis still a comfort to have seen;
And though thy transient life is o’er,
‘Tis sweet to think that thou hast been;
To think a soul so near divine,
Within a form so angel fair,
United to a heart like thine,
Has gladdened once our humble sphere.
20 Apr
Steve Harley Sunderland Empire 2001
Steve Harley Sunderland Empire 2001
This is my last day of blogging on Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel. The last time I saw Steve Harley was at a concert at Sunderland Empire. It was billed as the “Resistance is Useless” tour, and “Back with the Band” (to make it clear that this was not an unplugged show). The front cover of the programme promised a show that was “Definitely Plugged In”, with “No Support” and thus “Maximum Steve”; and indeed thus it was. Marie came along with me to the gig, having been impressed with Steve when we saw him play unplugged at Billingham a couple of years earlier, and he didn’t let her down. 
This was another great gig, with Steve on fine form, and all the classics played. I haven’t seen Steve Harley in concert since that concert; it does seem like 12 years ago. He has toured quite a lot during that period, so I don’t have any excuse. In fact I did have tickets to see him at the Sage a few years ago, but couldn’t make it for some reason and gave the tickets to a friends. So its definitely about time to put this right and see Steve again. It seems to me that I have a couple of opportunities to do so; a tour is planned for November 2013, and he is also planning a concert, backed by orchestra and choir, at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester in April 2014. The latter gig will feature the first two Cockney Rebel albums in full, repeating a similar gig that Steve performed in Birmingham last year. Now that’s a gig I should definitely attend.
19 Apr
Steve Harley Billingham Forum Theatre 1999
Steve Harley Billingham Forum Theatre 1999
Ten years after I had last seen Steve Harley at Sunderland Empire, I noticed that he was playing an unplugged show at Billingham Forum Theatre. Marie rang up and booked a couple of tickets on the day of the concert, and we went along and picked them up on the night. Steve had recorded a live alum “Stripped to the bare bones” at the Jazz Cafe the year before, and this show was in a similar format, with Steve telling stories about his life and performing great acoustic versions of his songs. He was accompanied by another guitarist, I think it may have been Nick Pynn. We both enjoyed seeing Steve, and listening to him tell us about his life and sing those great songs with just his voice and a couple of guitars. Marie particularly enjoyed the concert, and still talks about it. The track listing from the “Stripped to the bare bones” album is shown below. The show we saw was similar. Tracklisting: My Only Vice (Is the Fantastic Prices I Charge for Being Eaten Alive); Star for a Week (Dino); Best Years of Our Lives, The; Judy Teen; Last Time I Saw You, The; Mr. Soft; (Love) Compared to You; Tumbling Down; Only You; Bed in the Corner; Sling It!; Riding the Waves (For Virginia Woolf); Sebastian; Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me).
18 Apr
Steve Harley Redcar Bowl 1980 and Sunderland Empire 1989
Steve Harley Redcar 1980
Although it was only four years since I had last seen Steve Harley, this gig had the feel of a comeback. Steve had played few concerts during that four year period between 1976 and 1980, and this was his first tour with a band, using the Cockney Rebel name since 1977. He had also released a few solo albums during that period, but they had not been particularly successful. Redcar Coatham Bowl was a great, intimate venue, and it was good to see Steve in a close-up situation. The crowd gave Steve a great reception, and he played all the favourite. Steve was back!! I saw Steve again some 9 years later at Sunderland Empire. 
To be honest I remember less about this gig; in fact I don’t recall being there at all, but I have a ticket stub, so I must have been! I found a setlist from the London show of the 1989 tour: The Best Years of Our Lives; Mr. Soft; Irresistible; Mr. Raffles; Freedom’s Prisoner; Judy Teen; Riding the Waves (For Virginia Woolf); Dino (Star For A Week); Why Does My Light Always Shine; Sebastian; Sophistication; Tumbling Down; Sweet Dreams / Psychomodo; Sling It; Here Comes the Sun. Encore: Dancing On The Telephone; Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me); (I Believe) Love’s a Prima Donna. As you can see, Steve was playing all the hits and live favourites, but that setlist also includes quite a few songs which I don’t recognise, which must be album tracks from Cockney Rebel and Steve’s solo albums. It was to be another 10 years until I saw Steve in concert again.
17 Apr
Johnny Winter Sage Gateshead 16 April 2013
Johnny Winter Sage Gateshead 16 April 2013
This was the first time that I have seen Johnny Winter in concert for almost 40 years. I have only seen him once before, at the New Victoria Theatre in London, with my friend John, when Johnny was in his mid-70s heyday. A lot of water has passed under the bridge since those days, and Johnny and I are both a lot older. I arrived at around 8.40pm at Sage 2, which was set up as a standing venue for this gig, and Johnny was already on stage playing Got My Mojo Working. He was sitting on a stool centre stage, accompanied by a second guitarist, bass and drums. The next song was Ray Charles’ Blackjack, followed by Howlin’ Wolf’s Killing Floor. The majority of the set was classic blues and rock, delivered Johnny Winter style with growling vocals, and some excellent guitar from the man himself. I had wondered if seeing Johnny these days would be a disappointment, but it certainly wasn’t. He may have lost some of the energy and fire in his performance, spending the majority of the set seated, but his playing is as good as ever. He has become an older, respected bluesman, just like the old guys whose songs he covers. Next up was a good rocking version of Bony Moronie. 
The band is really tight and the sound was pretty loud, though the mix was a little murky at times. Johnny is clearly a fan of the Stones and the next song he played was Jumpin’ Jack Flash, which he always used to cover in the 70s. The two songs which followed were unfamiliar to me: Lone Wolf and Don’t Take Advantage of Me; which ended with a snippet of Gimme Shelter. Staying with the Stones Johnny took to his feet for It’s All Over Now, which closed the set. There were loud shouts for an encore and Johnny and band were soon back. At this point he strapped on his familiar Firebird guitar and slide and played Dust My Broom, followed by Dylan’s Highway 61 Revisited. A great set of classics played by a true master.
16 Apr
Steve Harley Newcastle City Hall Dec 1976 Love’s a Prima Donna
Steve Harley Newcastle City Hall Dec 1976 Love’s a Prima Donna tour
No Support act.
Steve Harley was back at Newcastle City Hall in December 1976, less than a year after appearing at the same venue for two nights in February. In the 10 months that had passed since his last appearance at the City Hall, and during that time Steve had released a new album, Loves a Prima Donna, and had been back in the Top 10 with his version of the Beatles’ Here Comes the Sun, which reached No 10 in the UK Charts. A second single, the title track from the album (I Believe) Love’s a Prima Donna also reached the lower regions of the charts. They are both great singles; Steve Harley at his best. 
This was the last time I saw Steve and Cockney Rebel at the City Hall. I remember he started the set with Here Comes the Sun, which was a great opener, and the start of another great gig. For this tour the band was augmented by backing vocalists including the great Tony Rivres (of Tony Rivers and the Castaways and Harmony Grass). Steve was to disband Cockney Rebel soon after this tour, to follow a solo career. However a few years later he would be using the Rebel name again. Setlist (from London gig around the same time): Here Comes the Sun; The Mad, Mad Moonlight; Mr. Soft; Red Is a Mean, Mean Colour; Sweet Dreams; Finally a Card Came; Innocence and Guilt; Is It True What They Say?; The Best Years of Our Lives; (Love) Compared With You; (I Believe) Love’s a Prima Donna; Psychomodo; (If This Is Love) Give Me More; Sebastian. Encore: Seeking A Love (Part 1); Tumbling Down. Encore 2: Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)
Vintagerock's Weblog. 