|
Okay let me
set the scene for you guys. The Tyne Theatre is a proper turn of the
century theatre; the interior of the place is amazing with its quaint
little side boxes and three viewing platforms not including the stalls.
It is one of those places that you see a play or a pantomime when you
are a kid and wonder how many ghosts they have lurking in the corridors
and believe me there is a few according to the rumours, but that's
another story.
So tonight we are all waiting in anticipation for the cosmic kings of
Rock Music to come on stage and blow are minds away. So have I set the
scene for you all - here we are sitting in our beautiful viewing box at
the side of the stage when the lights go down and the music starts to
play, loads of synthesized noises to take you off into far away lands
and distant galaxies.
A green searchlight wings its way into the audience and up to the
ceiling and lands on the ceiling rose teasing it into playing mind
bending games with it.
On comes the dry ice like the mists of time floating across the stage
and a cold chill runs through our private box, which is just a touch
aerie. Oodles and oodles of colour fill the theatre hypnotizing your
brain. Then on come the guys, the gods, the fathers of light and magic
and the audience go ballistic!
The stage was lit with tons of coloured psychedelic lights ready to
capture any passing alien in its wake. Dave Brock, Captain of Mission
Control (who hasn't aged at all) on keyboards taking stage right, while
Huw Lloyd Langdon, on guitar took stage left.
Alan Davey on bass in the centre of the landing site, with Richard
Chadwick on drums and last but not least, Simon House on violin. Simon
looked very at home in the Opera House in his green, sparkly, sequined
hot pants and gold larmay jacket. I kid you not!!
The house was totally tripping to the sounds of the rock gods when to
add to the merriment, the now legendary Kris Tate, fire-eater
extraordinaire joins them on stage Kris dressed in a very psychedelic
cat suit and silver Doc Martins ran on stage with her batons flying high
around her head and her face all painted up like a Celtic goddess ready
for a night on the town!
She glared in wonderment at the crowd who chanted out the lyrics to
"Masters of the Universe" and encouraged her to take another
bite of her lethal looking flaming lollipop. With each bite she hurled
the orange and gold flames into the air lighting up the auditorium and
keeping the on looking audience warm and dumbfounded.
The show went on for about an hour and a half, with Dave taking most of
the lead vocals and Hugh taking lead guitar. There was a strange go-go
dancer who kept on appearing through out some of the songs.
She kind of resembled a Barbie doll crossed with a version of Barbarella
and pivoted about on huge platform boots that looked remarkably
difficult to walk in.
The guys did a good mix of old stuff, singing such gems as "Brainbox
Pollution", "Sonic Attack" and "Assassins"
which just brought the house to its feet and the bouncers at the front
to their knees. And Hugh to wear some giant, yellow sunglasses!!!
It was a good feel gig, you know one of those type that you can either
go crazy or just sit and mellow out to the super, sonic, cosmic, vibe.
We had a fantastic time and can't wait to see them again in the coming
years summer festivals.
Special
guest reviewer: Shen Spencer
|