Event: Z Records Festival 2001 - Part 2 Venue: Maximes,
Wigan, England, UK Date: 26
August 2001
Vaughn
By the time Vaughn took the stage it was late and my feet were hurting
like hell. Sadly I had to sit down to enjoy this last band.
As it was the rest of the room were crowded at the front heaving against
the stage so I wouldn't have seen much anyway from up there.
I probably saw a lot more from the rear of the room as I could still see
over their heads. It looked very much from where I was sitting as if the
whole room had descended on mass to the front of the stage and were going
mental as the band came on.
Vaughn are truly great performers, there's no other way to describe them.
I have never seen them do a bad show yet. Tonight saw the end to what's
been an extremely successful UK tour for the band.
Danny himself admitted onstage that this had been the best selling tour
they had ever done. He thanked the fans for making it so and thanked Z for
not pulling today's show even though things had not looked good at all for
it.
It was indeed very touch and go as to whether today would go ahead or not,
but I'm sure everyone who turned up would agree with me when I saw that we
are so pleased it wasn't because the majority of the bands that came and
performed for us today did a magnificent job and a great time was had by
all.
Danny promised the band would be back in February to gig us another
fabulous tour and from the crowd's response to this news, it will be an
even bigger seller yet again.
Rumours that Jamie was leaving the band after tonight's gig were going
around but I can't remember the band mentioning it during their set. Maybe
it was touch and go and he might have changed his mind after tonight? Who
knows? It would be a great shame if he were to leave, as he is a
much-loved character and a brilliant musician.
In fact did anyone notice that he was looking a good 5-10 years younger on
this tour? Was it only me who thought that or has he found the fountain of
youth?
Opening with the atmospheric and moody 'Black Water' the band saw the
crowd cheer in delight. What a difference between the response to this
band and the one on before them.
It was like the sun had come out and brought back everyone's smiles again.
That's what this band does; they make you feel really good about yourself.
You take them to your heart and cherish their performances as something
special.
They are like long lost friends that come over to visit you once a year
and you have so much fun when they are around.
The whole band looked so relaxed and seemed to be totally enjoying
themselves so much that it was hard to see what they do as work. How many
people can say they are lucky enough to not only do a job they enjoy so
much, but also get paid for it as well?
The band wasn't the only one's that were having a whale of a time. The
fans were really jumping about and getting totally into each and every
song the band did.
If Danny had told them to jump they would have shouted back ... how high?
At one point during 'Forever Young' we noticed the lighting rig was
swaying dangerously as the crowd danced back and forth. It got up quite a
rhythm and one light actually detached itself and hung precariously by one
wire for the rest of the set.
Strangely enough it hadn't moved the rest of the day so why was it moving
so much now? I'll tell you why, because the fans and the band were having
one big party and everyone here today was invited!
There were even people standing on the tabletops at the opposite side of
the room and dancing!
Just before the band launched into 'Standing Alone' Danny opened up his
heart to us and told us this song meant a lot to him for so many different
reasons. Not only is it a beautiful and moving song that the fans have
taken under their wings, but also it was one that he wrote while feeling
at an all time low.
He thought nobody cared about him and was feeling really down and sorry
for himself.
Just how wrong could one person be? You could feel the warmth and
brotherly love in the room during their set.
They really are not only respected as great musicians, but also loved for
being themselves and not selling out.
The set was bursting at the seams with the fans favourites both old and
new. The songs from the new album sounded great and I have no doubt in my
mind that it large numbers will be cleared off the shelves of Z records
after this tour.
One song that really took my fancy was 'Fly Away' which reminded me a lot
of Roachford for some strange reason.
The guitars gently strumming at the beginning while Danny takes a slow
relaxed approach to the start of the first few lines.
I could almost imagine this being on 'A Permanent Shade Of Blue'. This has
got to be my favourite track out of all the new ones. It's gorgeous. It
fills your head full of images and dreams and paints a vivid picture in
your head. It's quite a moving song if you take the time to listen to the
story behind the words.
Die-hard Vaughn fans will confirm that the new songs are as good as
anything the band have ever done before if not better.
Vaughn have always given us their best and in return we have stayed
faithful to them at each and every one of their shows.
It is any the wonder that the crowd really did not want tonight to end?
Role on February and thanks for coming over to visit us lads.
Setlist:
Black Water
Rescue Me
A million miles of Road
Is that all there Is?
Fly Away
Shadowlands
Burning down Inside
Just like That
Soldiers & Sailors
Haunted
Standing Alone
Was there a Moment
Forever Young
Wings
Fish Food (?)
Last Sunset
Sail Away
Blow Up coined it perfectly when they said that we were lucky to have
this festival here today because there 'ain't no rock n' roll in the
states on a Sunday'.
We were lucky and not just because today's festival was on a Sunday. A lot
of hard work had gone in making sure everything was just right for all the
fans who had turned up.
I very much doubt whether many people would fully appreciate the colossal
efforts made by everyone behind the scenes.
We just had to turn up and enjoy it, but appreciation must be shown to the
many hours spent by all the bands, the technicians, the merchandise girls
(who raided the local supermarket for the carrier bags for us to put our
CD's in!), and last but not least not forgetting Z records themselves, who
made sure today not only went ahead but that we all thoroughly enjoyed it.
I think you have to show the utmost respect to all these people because at
the end of the day everything went according to plan and everyone who went
seemed to enjoy it as much as we did. It was tremendous fun; the bands put
on some blinding performances and were good sports in between the sets.
Surely that's what it's all about? Great rock, good company, plenty of
drink and a day that will stay etched in our heads for a long time.
Happy memories are now added of this mighty Festival. I for one can't wait
until the next one.
By the time Vaughn took the stage it was late and my feet were hurting
like hell. Sadly I had to sit down to enjoy this last band.
One song that really took my fancy was 'Fly Away' which reminded me a lot
of Roachford for some strange reason.
