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.