THIN LIZZY, Clutch @Wolves Civic Hall 27/01/12

When four normal looking, slightly rotund, beardy blokes stroll out on stage before a gig it is usually the roadies, lets be honest. But when these unassuming men plug in their instruments and the magnificence that is “Slow Hole To China” starts up, then it is a signal that Clutch are in town.

If the total lack of image probably accounts for why they don’t headline these type of venues – and why about half of the crowd isn’t in their seats by the time the set starts - then their brilliance should make them household names anyway.

This is a band of huge, monstrous grooves and a superb rhythm section, topped off by vocalist Neil Fallon’s fine delivery and rather idiosyncratic stage dancing, it is also a band with ”The Devil and Me and “Electric Worry” in their arsenal – which makes them a cut above most bands.

Most bands, but not Thin Lizzy.

Before we get onto the nuts and bolts of the thing, lets deal with the elephant in the room. Phil Lynott isn’t here. But this isn’t a tribute band, the presence of Scott Gorham, Brian Downey and Darren Wharton means that they can justifiably and legitimately use the Lizzy moniker.

And the 2010 decision to recruit former Almighty man Ricky Warwick to perform singing duties was inspired. Warwick is a fine songwriter and a fine frontman, and can admirably sing these songs in his own right, while acknowledging the presence of Lynott.

This is the second time this version of Lizzy has his these parts. Just over 12 months ago they gave a stunning performance of some of the best rock n roll songs ever written and tonight – almost literally as the setlist is basically a replica – is just the same.

Albeit with one key addition. Guitarist Damon Johnson is in the 2012 model, replacing Def Leppard man Viv Campbell, and Johnson is a revelation, Adding a US cool, he is the perfect foil for Gorham, who is content to almost play second fiddle to the younger man.

Maybe the understated Scott is just enjoying the set? It isn’t hard to do so. Packed with classics, kicking off with “Are You Ready?” they toss out “Jailbreak” second song in and follow it up with “Bad Reputation.” This is an evening to celebrate the legacy of one of the greatest bands of all time.

Highlights are many but “Still in Love With You” which sees Warwick and Wharton share vocal duties is right up there, However it is perhaps the last five songs that really bring home the sheer scale of repertoire Lizzy have. “Cowboy Song,” “The Boys are Back In Town,” “Emerald,” “Rosalie” and “Black Rose” are right up their with any band in history.

This version of Lizzy is apparently recording songs for a new album, and it needs that, because while a little nostalgia never hurt anyone, the six men in the band – completed by bassist Marco Mendoza – still have much to offer, and it will be interesting to see what they come up with.

In the meantime we have had the memories of tonight, which just likes last year will be one of the gigs of the year.

A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATH, Awake By Design, Blood Runs Deep @Slade Rooms 26/1/12

Surprise is one of the great joys of gig going. Always has been, always will be.

That feeling when you turn up to watch a concert and see a band you have never heard of and what they do sounds so damn good you just have to buy their CD.

This is what happened the very second that Swiss band Blood Runs Deep took to the stage. Dark, miserable swathes of metal complete with a layer of keyboards all combine to make a racket of the type not heard since the earliest Paradise Lost CD’s.

The bands own website describes their music as “rather slow and depressing”, but that doesn’t do it justice. Singer/Bassman Stefan Vida only chooses to introduce one song – “Suicide is Life” – but the half hour they are on stage is a thrilling one.

The same cannot be said, unfortunately, for local band Awake By Design. They try, and they try hard – singer Adrian Powell spends more time on the floor of the venue than on the stage -  but there’s no real “wow” factor. Musically there is much to commend them, all Maiden-esque twin guitar attack, but too many of the songs tread a path we have heard so many times before – and better.

Brooklyn’s A Pale Horse Named Death released a magnificent record last year called “…And Hell Will Follow Me.” A heavy, doomy masterpiece it was a favourite of RTM’s. Tonight, though, the band – which includes former Type O Negative, current Life Of Agony man Sal Abruscato and another ex Type O man, current Seventh Void drummer Johnny Kelly  - is suitably cheesed off.

The curse of the Slade Rooms sound has struck again and some grumpy looking Americans are tuning their instruments unhappily as all manner of feedback is happening. Eventually they are happy (ish) and things get going.

And they get going in fine fashion with “To Die In Your Arms,” with even Abruscato proclaiming that “maybe tonight wont be so awful after all.”

And he’s right. It’s actually very good.

As you would expect from a band who only has a debut album to plunder they mine …And Hell pretty extensively but the likes of “And Crows Descend Upon Me” and “Heroin Train” are just great songs.

It isn’t an evening for people who like cheerful music, as songs like “Die Alone” and “Pill Head” would tell you, but by the time they have ending with the crushing, almost punk “Bath In My Blood” there are plenty of smiles around on stage and off.

“Maybe I will see you again but maybe I will die soon” says Abruscato by way of a goodbye, which is, I suppose, one way of looking at these things.

Doom and gloom doesn’t get better – or moodier - than this.

An Evening With Danny and Ben @The Glee Club 10/1/12

It is something of a quirk of fate that my last gig of 2011 was the Thunder Christmas show and my first of 2012 involves their singer and rhythm guitarist.

That is, to be fair, where the similarities end though, as this is a long way from the crowded environs of Rock City and the party atmosphere of that December triumph, for this evening sees Danny Bowes, vocalist with the Brit Rock stalwarts, and Ben Matthews, who has been at his side in various bands since they were kids, ditch the amps and play some songs acoustically and tell some stories.

It’s the story telling side, you suspect, that they were most looking forward to, as these naturally convivial men get the chance to relax.

The tour has caught the imagination; a series of initial shows was booked in small venues (this one takes place in a comedy club in a trendy part of town). These sold out so quickly that larger gigs were tagged onto the end – indeed the duo will find themselves in Wolverhampton in a couple of weeks.

All of which proves, as RTM said at Christmas that Thunder – in whatever guise – still have much to offer.

Danny explains the format early on. “We’ll play a bit and tell lots of stories. We will play some songs we like…. and some Thunder ones.”

And he’s as good as his word, the pair share some genuinely funny tales of life on the road, with drummer Harry James coming for some good natured stick as he flies through the air thanks to an alcoholic pulley operator, is made to play the same overdub for an hour and a half and is sick on a Bullet train in Japan amongst others.

There are other tales too, from the sheer terror that befell the band before their now legendary appearance at Donnington, the struggles they faced in the early days and a Hammond Organ that just wouldn’t work.

There are also some fine renditions of songs. The Thunder numbers – Like A Satellite, Better Man and See My Baby Walking – are obviously the most popular, but Bowes is given ample chance to show his formidable talents on, amongst others Bad Company’s “Seagull,” “Squeeze Box” by The Who and Chuck Berry standard “Nadine.”

There is also a frankly bizarre end to the Paul McCartney song “Blackbird” as audience participation is taken to a different place, probably, than ever before, with about 50 people blowing birdcall whistles. It was an idea that probably sounded a good one in rehearsal but it provided the only moment that didn’t quite work here.

With the pair rattling on for over two hours they have broken their 10 o’clock curfew, so there is just time for Bob Dylan’s “Make You Feel My Love” as an encore before a very enjoyable evening ends.

Less of a gig more an informal gathering of friends, you wouldn’t want every concert to be like this – but you are glad this one was.

Best of 2011: Part 3 - The Gigs

So here it is.

Part three.

The main bit.

At RTM I concern myself mostly with gigs. Live music is what I love and that is why I go to so many gigs.

79 last year and I hope more in 2012.

Here are the best 20.

1.Dream Theater	Wolves Civic	23rd July
2.Cinderella	Shepherds Bush Empire	25th June
3.Thin Lizzy	Wolves Civic	14th Jan
4.Dan Baird	The Musician	9th December
5.Iron Maiden	Nottingham Arena	27th July
6.Deep Purple	LG Arena	27th November
7.Iced Earth	Acedmy 2	5th November
8.Wolfsbane	Academy 3	3rd Dec
9.Alice Cooper	NIA	27th October
10.Dimmu Borgir	Academy 2	26th November
11.Ghost	Civic Hall	2nd December
12.Marillion	Institute	13th Dec
13.The Hold Steady	Academy 2	6th Feb
14.Europe	Academy	18th Feb
15.Rival Sons	Slade Rooms	7th November
16.Symphony X	Robin 2	23rd March
17.Gentlemens Pistols	Academy 3	9th May
18.Electric Boys	Rescue Rooms	8th October
19.Holy Grail	Academy 3	16th March
20.Saxon	Wulfrun	18th April