News and Reviews: 1st August 2004

31 July 2004 Glen Matlock ,The Plough Inn ,Wood Street ,Walthamstow ,London E17.Sex Pistol legend did a really good solo acoustic show in this packed East London pub.Fantastic mix of Sex Pistols ,Rich Kids ,some covers and solo material in the 65 mins set .His new solo album comes out on EMI on 4th Oct called " On Something" and he played a few great tunes from it. Mega versions of " God Save The Queen " and "Pretty Vacant" .The crowd sung along to most tracks esp encores of " All Or Nothing " and "Steppin Stone " .Excellent evening. 30 July 2004 Brian Wilson ,Royal Festival Hall , London.Back yet again to see this great legend . Brian Wilson has played 18 shows at The Royal Festival Hall since his amazing comeback gigs in Jan 2002 and have been to 13 (yes 13) of them. 28 July 2004 Brian Wilson ,Royal Festival Hall , London.Back again to see this show for a second time in this 6 night stint .The Beach Boys are touring later in the year but that is like going to see the current Thin Lizzy live without Phil Lynott .Its nowhere as good. Everyone should see Brian Wilson at least once. 27 July 2004 Brian Wilson ,Royal Festival Hall , London.Brian Wilson and band back again for their 4th set of shows at this vennue in the last 3 years .He was here only 6 months ago but now has a new album " Gettin In Over My Head " to promote which has had some mixed reviews. Brian looks more frail than last time and his voice is not 100% but his amazing band just make every song sound fantastic .Two sets of 70 mins each. First set was 20 mins acoustic then a couple of pretty good new album tracks and then some hits like "California Girls " "God Only Knows " "Sloop John B" etc .Second set was all of the lost album " Smile " followed by hits galore like "Good Vibrations" "Help Me Rhonda " "Fun Fun Fun" "Barbara Ann " " Surfin Usa "etc and a superb finale of the ballad " Love And Mercy ". A stunning show just like all the other BW gigs. 21 July 2004 Cheap Trick ,Shepherds Bush Empire , London.Last date in a 5 month world tour for this band who were massive in USA and Japan in late 70s/early 80s. Like last years Royal Albert Hall show lots of balcony seats remained unsold . The first half of the set was pretty average then it upped a gear with oldies like " I Want You To Want Me "and "California Man" .Rick Neilson got his famous 5 necked guitar out for a superb " Surrender " and showered the crowd with dozens of guitar picks .Great encore of "Dream Police " ,a good show but nothing special. 19 July 2004 Alarm ,Camden Underworld ,London. Deemed so uncool by the music industry The Alarm released a single "45rpm" under a different name and a younger image a few months ago and it made the Top 40 chart.This was a superb 90 mins set in a hot n sweaty little club venue . Lashings of Les Paul guitar by James Stevenson and truly amazing vocal passion by Mike Peters to songs hes sung so many times. Loads of catchy rockers like " Where Were You Hiding " "68 Guns " "Rain in The Summertime " etc uncool they may be but a great live rock band is a great live rock band and thats what The Alarm are. 18 July 2004 8pm The Stray Cats ,Shepherds Bush Empire ,London.Great to these cats reformed again for their first UK dates in 12 years . All 3 original members all looking super cool in 1950s rock n roll gear and a lot of the crowd are dressed up as well .Slim Jim plays his drum kit standing up which looks great fun and Lee Rocker plays a mean stand up double bass .Loads of great tunes like " Rumble In Brighton " "Stray Cat Strut " "Runaway Boys " " Rock This Town " and some encores of rock n roll classics like "Thats Alright Mama " and " Oh Boy " .Great stuff.Also see the aftershow page . 18 July 2004 1pm to 6pm Midge Ure + Space Ritual+ Eddie And The Hot Rods ,Guildford Festival . Barry Masters looks little rough these days but i always like seeing EATHR .A good little set inc "Quit This Town " " Life On The Line " and a spine tingling " Do Anything You Wanna Do " . Space Ritual feature Nik Turner Hawkwind and are surprisinging entertaining with their jamming mix of cosmic rock and pair of wild semi naked dancers.Midge Ure spends most of his set tuning up or talking about losing his hair but does a decent set of acoustic songs ,mainly solo material but he plays " Vienna " " Dancing With Tears In My Eyes" from Ultravox days .I left before headliners UB40 and Ocean Colour Scene came on so i could get back for The Stray Cats big gig at The Shepherds Bush Empire . 17 July 2004 Simple Minds + Katie Melua + Tim Booth + Rolf Harris + The Alarm + Mohair , Guildford Festival.Odd line up for sure today. Openers Mohair look the part and mix a bit of The Darkness and The Faces.The Alarm did an excellent set of their rousing anthems and a couple of new tracks .The legend that is Rolf Harris is very entertaining and goes down a storm thanks to his on stage banter and novelty tunes. Tim Booth plays a set of mainly solo material along with a couple of James hits.Its good stuff but its hard to follow Rolf Harris for any band. Katie Melua is another youngster with a fantastic voice but it does not do anything for me .Mike Batt who is in charge of her career is on keys and plays a few bars of " Wombles Of Wimbledon". Simple Minds big songs are perfect as headline act and we get a great bouncy 80 mins of it . Superb encore of " Waterfront " "Alive And Kicking " and " Sanctify Yourself" . 16 July 2004 Blondie + Stranglers + Damned , Guildford Festival .The Damned are a letdown as they do not play the right material for a festival but its great to hear "New Rose " and " Neat Neat Neat" .Stranglers have loads of fans here and go down well with tracks like "Peaches" "Golden Brown " "Duchess" "Grip " and "No More Heroes" .Blondie do a really good greatest hits set that everyone can sing along to. Not often you see these 3 bands on the same bill ,if ever. Guildford Festival is a cosy smallish festival that caters for mainly "older types and families" and is sponsored by Radio 2 .General rule of thumb is anything "Whispering " Bob Harris one of the djs here tells you about a must see act or highlight of the day i avoid them at all cost.

Posted 1st August 2004