Festival: Z Rocks Festival (Day 2)

Artists: John Waite, Ted Poley, Von Groove, Dan Reed, Eden, Steve Newman, H.A.R.D.

Venue: JB's, Dudley 

Date: 31 May 2009  

I walked into JB’s just before Hungarians H.A.R.D hit the stage.  Having never heard anything by them I was not expecting much.  I had decided to stay off the HARD stuff (hehehe!) and it was water for the day.  H.A.R.D.  were an enthusiastic bunch with a very British sound, coming across like Deep Purple, mainly down to Ferenc Beres Hammond organ sound.  In Hungary H.A.R.D is somewhat of a supergroup and have a great vocalist in Jozsef Kalapacs whilst Zsolt Csillik ain’t no slouch with 6 strings.  The rhythmn section of Gabor Mirkovics, bass and Tibor Donaszy, drums proved they could bolt down the sound.  Song titles I caught were 'Living On the Road', 'Run Run Away', 'Stay', 'Two Hearts', my personal song 'Beer & Wine' (hehehe!) and they finished the set with 'Rock Is My Name'. 

Now there was a long interlude between H.A.R.D and Steve Newman due to the fact Mr Alger is an Everton supporter, think most people were on the day.  I did console him after the game, but cut short of buying him a drinkie poos hehehe! 

Anyway, Steve Newman was introduced by Steve Price of ARFM but there was a slight delay before the band hit the stage.  Now even though I’ve Steve Newman before it was like jolt to the system.  First off, the sound overall was well balanced, although the lead guitar sound was very scratchy and was like a dentist drill to my ears.  They exploded into 'Heaven Knows' and followed with 'Feels Like The First Moment'.  The band seemed an anonymous bunch but Steve made up for this with his stage presence and seemed pleased to be onstage.  They played 'Revolution' and 'Primitive Soul' and had the crowd clapping along.  Then it was onto 'Save Me Tonight'. Steve Newman definitely has the songs in his arsenal of a back catalogue and the pipes to go with it.

They even tried out a new song 'Stay With Me' as well as playing 'This Love' and 'Pray'.  Unfortunately I missed the end of the set due to a toilet break. 

I’ve seen Eden on a couple of occasions previously.  The last time only two weeks before, at the Olde Salutation in Nottingham, where I had to leave because they sounded atrocious.  Vince O’Regan is a great guitarist and tonight he throws the shapes and riffs like a mutha but his guitar sound just doesn’t have the dynamics.  The whole sound is very bass driven and it feels like I’m being bludgeoned with bottom end  The set is of a similar pace throughout but songs like 'Higher' and 'Lay Me Down' don’t have the hooks and singer Nick Workman looks like he should be working for Greenpeace.  In fact, 'Lay Me Down' starts off sounding like early 80’s Rainbow and the last song of the set reminded me in parts of Rainbow’s 'Gates of Babylon'.  Overall their set dragged and I was glad when they finished. 

Next up was Dan Reed, armed only with an acoustic guitar and his spiritual take on the world today.  In fact he wouldn’t have seemed out of place in a little folk club.  He kicked off with 'Cruise Together', which had that 60’s vibe.  His vocals seemed a bit flat at first but got better as the set progressed.  He had some good stories to tell between songs and the crowd loved him.  DRN songs included 'Rainbow Child', 'Lover', 'Ritual' and 'Salt of Joy' as well as 'Half Way Around The World', 'Promised Land', 'Losing My Fear', 'Long Way To Go', 'Brave New World' and a snippet of the 'Wombles' after someone gave him a womble! I jest not!!  Just be thankful he’s coming back in February 2010 with the full Dan Reed Network! 

And so onto Von Groove. I’d seen Mike Shotton walking around earlier so at least they hadn’t pulled out, as had happened on at least two previous occasions.  I had noticed that Vince O’Regan’s equipment hadn’t been dismantled between sets.  Imagine my surprise when the band came on and Vince is playing guitar and Simon Cooper from Angelhouse is playing drums!! They launch into 'I Can’t Find My Groove' (should’ve been can’t find my von groove!!)  The band have had one rehearsal so ain’t exactly tight but they were rockin’ and having fun.  The set featured the bands best known numbers, such as 'Chameleon', 'Lily', 'Oxygen', where they ripped up a storm, 'Should’ve Been Me', 'Drivin’ Off The Edge Of The World', 'House Of Dreams', where Mike gets behind the kit to finish off the song and 'Once Is Not Enough' where he jumped into the crowd to get em singing along.  They finished the set with 'Fat Bottomed Girls' with Nick Workman helping at the start.  Mike Shotton proved himself to be an energetic frontman with a fantastic voice. 

Now you’re guaranteed  good value whenever Ted Poley plays.  His current sidekick Vic Rivera and the rest of the band had been in the venue all day, chatting to fans, posing for pics and signing stuff.  I knew what had happened the previous night and got even more details on the day, so was a bit apprehensive about his set.  I expected the set to be heavy on his material with Vic Rivera so was surprised when he dipped into eight D2 songs.  The bands throughout the weekend had been doing quick line checks before starting so the same with Ted except there was a long delay, then a problem with the intro cd, a reworking of the Kiss song Unholy which came out Ted Poleeeey.  Eventually they kicked into 'Beat the Bullet' and it’s obvious from the off there’s problems with the sound.  Vic Rivera’s guitar rig is playing up and the fucking delaaaaaayyyyyy on Ted’s vocals is unbelievable!!  Mr Newdeck and myself were aghast, he to the point where he confronted the sound guy, and he didn’t believe him!!!!  Ted may have been oblivious to this as his larger than life character and D2 songs carried the set along.  

'Horny SOB' was followed by 'Shot o’ Love', then the title track from the new cd 'Only Human' with Ted working the crowd, 'Bang Bang', and of course the massive ballad 'I still Think About You' which generated the biggest sing-a-long of the weekend.  They dipped back into 'Only Human' for 'Did We Just Have A Moment', then back to D2 for 'Afraid Of Love' and 'Monkey Business' before finishing off with 'Crossing This Ocean' and the obligatory 'Naughty Naughty'.  If  the problems that dogged Ted Poley and his band mates had happened to anyone else this weekend they would probably not played a note but Ted is the consummate professional.  I’ve seen him plain front of 50 people as though it were an arena, the guy just loves the stage.  I’ll always go see him whenever I get the chance. 

And so to the last artist of a weekend that started for me on Thursday with Skynyrd at the NIA and ends with John Waite in JB’s. 

It was after midnight when John Waite and band hit the stage with  three rockin' numbers in 'Change', the 'Baby’s Back On My Feet Again' and Bad English's 'Straight To Your Heart'.  The man was class in a tall fucking glass, looking youthful and slender in a suit, in fact, the whole band were looking rather dapper.  The two guitarists Jimmy Leahy and Luis Maldonado fired off some fantastic solos throughout, while Bill Rooks and bass player Tim, nailed the backbeat.  Surprisingly 4^th song in and we get 'When I See You Smile', which saw many grown men in the audience singing to their partners.  He was short on banter between songs but the ccrowd just wanted to hear the songs.  He included a coupla songs from the 'Temple Bar' cd, the Bad English tune 'Best Of What I’ve Got', 'Missing You' (of course!!) a cover of 'All along the Watchtower', 'Act of Love' and a trio of Baby’s numbers 'Isn’t it Time', 'Midnight Rendezvous' and 'Head First' before the 80 minute set finished with Led Zeps 'Rock’n’Roll'.  The man just oozed cool throughout the set, the musicianship, the suits the songs, class in a tall glass!! 

So there you have it possibly the best Z Rock in a long time and immensely enjoyable.  To those people who stayed away because of past history…..well you missed out, yes there were problems but it was all about the bands in the end.  To the people who were there….we had a great time! There apparently will be Z Rock 2010 with Kevin Chalfant and Storm, Steve Augeri and China Blue, will I be there….more than likely.

Review by: Brassy

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