|
As a youngster I grew up with the whole
80's music scene and now some 25 years later some of those bands that I
held dear to my heart are reforming and celebrating 25 years of rock n'
roll. One of those iconic bands for me were LA’s finest Great White,
who rose to fame with their Once Bitten opus but the band were more than
just a one hit album wonder, they continued to produce fine blues filled
rock albums that still sound fresh today.
So when they announced
they were continuing their 25 year anniversary tour into 2008 with some
European shows I was really looking forward to seeing Jack Russell and the
rest of the original line-up of Mark Kendall (guitars), Audie Desbrow
(drums), Michael Lardie (guitar/keys) and Sean McNabb (bass), taking to
the UK stages after such a long absence.
First up tonight were one of the hottest
unsigned talents in the hard rock world and one of the most hardworking
bands around today, Rotherham’s very own Crimes Of Passion. Anyone
who has read my reviews of these guys before knows that I hold them in
high esteem, simply because these guys believe in what they do and will
play almost any venue to get their music out there to the masses. In
2008 I already know the band have some pretty high profile support slots
lined-up so hopefully all their hard work will pay off.
|
|
But tonight it's
all about the music as the ever larger than life persona of frontman Dale
Radcliffe leaps on stage to join the rest of the band Kris Hudson-Lee,
Andy Lindsay and Kev Tonge as they open up their very impressive set with
‘The Me I Lost’ and instantly the band make their mark on the near
capacity crowd with the energetic Radcliffe taking centre stage.
The band surprised me with the next one , a
cover of Dio’s ‘Holy Diver’, or as I like to call their version ‘Heavy
Diva’, featuring so early in the set but this seemed to be a winner from the crowds
reaction to this heavier version of a classic. It may have only been the
second song of the show but it's clear to
|
|
for all to see Radcliffe was
well up for tonight’s show, as he's done with every show I’ve seen, he always gives 110% for his art. |
The band slowed things down just a touch
with one of my favourite COP songs ‘Dream Of Me’. This more melodic rocker
really gives Dale a chance to show that he has a fine melodic rock voice
behind all that bravado.
Another of my all time favourite COP
songs featured next, the excellent ‘Exit Wound’, before bringing the tempo back up
again with the superb ‘Pretty In Blood’, a more rockier song which again
goes down well with the crowd.
Dale then dedicated the next song to his
long time girlfriend Carol-Ann as he didn’t play this one on last years
support slot for Jeff Scott Soto, but tonight she got her wish as the band
just rocked with ‘Unbreakable’ with guitarist Andy Lindsay just ripping up
a storm. The band kept the rock coming with ‘Fight You On My Own’ before
rounding off another impressive set with ‘God Made Me Your Angel’, again
the boys did good and definitely won over a few more friends and fans
tonight so let's hope they return when they support White Lion tour later in
the year.
Now on to the main event and one of the finest
Blues Rock bands to come out of the US, Great White. A band that have had
more than their fair share of bad headline news in their 25 year career
but that’s all water under the bridge now and tonight was all about giving the
fans what they’ve been waiting for 8 long years for, a live show, and what a show
they gave! After a few technical problems with the bass rig at the
beginning of the show it was full steam ahead for Russell and the rest of
the band.
They got things underway with ‘Desert
Moon’ which due to some technical probs sounded a little muffled in places
but these were soon ironed out when the band settled with the trade mark
Great White gritty blues sound of ‘Old Rose Motel’, which seemed to boost
the crowd who were definitely up for it. As I looked around I could see 95%
of the crowd singing along to every word with Russell.
|
|
They really let their voices be heard
after Russell introduced the band to everyone (who we all knew) as they
joined in on ‘Face The Day’, which also induced a little clap along and it
was plain to see from the look on Jack Russell’s face that he was clearly moved by the crowds
response.
With such a vast back catalogue and some
8 years in the shade it was hardly surprising that the bands latest
release 'Back To The Rhythm' would feature very
|
|
little in tonight’s set, although we did
get the title track ‘Back To The Rhythm’, which was a sort of
consolation but I would have liked to hear a couple more of the album.
Beggars can't be choosers though but it did fit in well with the
classic Great White material, which just shows ... if it's not broke
don’t fix it! |
Speaking of the back catalogue, we spoke
to Audie before the show and he said the band would be trying to put
something in the show for everyone, together with a few surprises along the way and
they certainly did that as the best of set continued with the rocker ‘On
Your Knees’, to which Jack described the song as a "SWEET LITTLE LOVE SONG".
This up tempo
rocker certainly hit the mark with the crowd who were absolutely ecstatic.
The band were pulling out all the stops
tonight as they continued to impress by going back to the double platinum
‘Twice Shy’ for a real old school love song ‘Save Your Love’. Again the
crowd showed their appreciation by giving the band their whole hearted
applause at the end of the song.
The first of the surprise packages of the
set was next with the band playing ‘Paradise’ off Russell’s solo album,
which again went down a storm with the partisan crowd before returning to
the classics with the excellent ‘House Of Broken Love’. It was then time
for Mark Kendal to show his vocal prowess with the southern blues of ‘Kill
That Red Rooster’ from his own 'H20' solo album. This was blues as is was
meant to be, with Kendal showing his real talent for the blues guitar.
We are back to the Great White material
with the rocking ‘Mistabone’ before Sean McNabb got in on the act with
his sterling version of the Robin Trower classic ‘Day Of The Eagle’.
|
 |
Now it was time for something from the 'You Cant Get There
From Here' album to get an airing as the band launched into ‘Rollin Stoned’, which Jack
described as the story of his life.
Next it was time for Michael Lardie to
shine in his own right as Russell left the stage leaving it clear for Lardie to do
the vocals on the gentle ballad ‘Lovin Kind’, after which Jack was back to rock
it up again with ‘Can't Shake It’, which gave Russell the opportunity to
get up close and personal with the front row as they sang along with the
chorus.
|
|
The song of the night for many had to be the
superb ‘Rock Me’ which really raised the bar as far as the crowd were
concerned as they ignited into a frenzy of voices and raised hands.
|
The band left the stage for just a moment
before returning for the encore of ‘Call It Rock N' Roll’ and then
finished off with what else but ‘Once Bitten Twice Shy’, which rounded off
a great night. It was clear from tonight's performance that this
Shark certainly hasn’t lost any of its bite. Let us hope it's not so
long before the guys return to these shore because it's been far too long. |
