Artist: Great White & Crimes Of Passion

Venue: Carling Academy, Newcastle  

Date:  28 January 2008 

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.

Crimes Of Passion: The Me I Lost, Holy Diver, Dream Of Me, Exit Wound, Pretty In Blood, Unbreakable, Fight You On My Own, God Made Me You Angel

Great White: Desert Moon, Old Rose Motel, Face The Day, Back To The Rhythm, On Your Knees, Save Your Love, Paradise, House Of Broken Love, Kill That Red Rooster, Mistabone, Day Of Eagle, Rollin Stoned, Lovin’ Kind, Can’t Shake It, Rock Me, Call It Rock N Roll, Once Bitten Twice Shy

 

All content copyright of The Mayfair Mall Zine unless otherwise stated.