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Budgie - The Limelight Crewe 25th November 2003
Setlist: Panzer Division Destroyed / Melt the Ice Away / Gunslinger / Crime Against the World / I Turned to Stone / Black Velvet Stallion / In For the Kill Medley / Nude Disintegrating Parachutist Woman / Zoom Club / Napoleon Bonaparte / Wildfire // Parents / Breadfan - Whisky River - Breadfan (reprise)
It’s almost a year to the day since I last ventured out to a Budgie gig. Since then, the band has taken on a new guitarist, Simon Lees. I’m not sure what happened with Andy Hart; one minute he was there, the next he had gone. I, for one, was sad to hear of his departure, I thought he was a good player and fit in well. Nevertheless, Simon is the man now, like it or not.
It’s almost a year to the day since I last ventured out to a Budgie gig. Since then, the band has taken on a new guitarist, Simon Lees. I’m not sure what happened with Andy Hart; one minute he was there, the next he had gone. I, for one, was sad to hear of his departure, I thought he was a good player and fit in well. Nevertheless, Simon is the man now, like it or not.
Whenever, a new person joins an established band, there are always a plethora of opinions about the replacement, not all of them positive. So it is in the world of Budgie fandom. Simon didn’t get off on the right foot with some of the Budgie faithful and much has been said on both sides - a great deal of it not complimentary. I have lurked on the sidelines, listening to the back and forth banter, but not getting involved. Or, so I thought. However, as I waited for the band to go on stage, I realised that all of the ill-will had actually coloured my view of the new band member and part of me wanted Simon to be really, really crap, to be a complete arse and to fall flat on his face. I know what you want to know. Did he?
Let’s get to that in a minute. I knew, from what has been said on the Bandolier mailing list, that the set would be virtually unchanged from a year ago. I looked back at what I wrote in my review last November:
‘There is no such thing as a bad Budgie gig. Let's get that out of the way immediately. Some gigs are naturally better than others though, but I'm not sure that this Monday's gig in Crewe was one of them.’
Prior to that, I had seen them in Wrexham, the previous February. In that review I said:
‘Only a few times in your life do you attend a live performance as downright stunning as that of Budgie’s Wrexham gig on Wednesday. Perhaps it is only right that it should be so.’
Let’s get to that in a minute. I knew, from what has been said on the Bandolier mailing list, that the set would be virtually unchanged from a year ago. I looked back at what I wrote in my review last November:
‘There is no such thing as a bad Budgie gig. Let's get that out of the way immediately. Some gigs are naturally better than others though, but I'm not sure that this Monday's gig in Crewe was one of them.’
Prior to that, I had seen them in Wrexham, the previous February. In that review I said:
‘Only a few times in your life do you attend a live performance as downright stunning as that of Budgie’s Wrexham gig on Wednesday. Perhaps it is only right that it should be so.’
So, would we be in for a competent, yet uninspired and uninspiring performance, or would they blow the roof off The Limelight, leaving Crewe a smouldering pile of rubble in the middle of Cheshire? I know what you want to know. Did they? Let’s get to that in a minute.
I’d had a pretty bad day. I was not in the best of moods. I’d even considered not going because of the ticket price. My daughter dragged me along, she wanted to go and she hasn’t passed her driving test yet. I could have stayed at home watching some undemanding telly, cup of tea in one hand, remote control in the other, feet up, slobbing out on the sofa. Instead, there I was in Crewe, on a wet Tuesday in November, preparing to watch a band that could be superb, but there was also a 50/50 chance of them being mediocre. There was this new guy on guitar, who was real flash and a big-head, whose only aim was to torture all of those classic Budgie songs to death and take great pleasure in doing so. What am I? A fanatic follower of the Marquis de Sade? Why didn’t I just stay home? How good could they possibly be? I know what you want to know. How good?
OK, I’ll put you out of my misery, before I am bombarded with all manner of unpleasant threats to body and soul. Yes, the set was virtually unchanged from last year but, by eleven o’ clock, I’d heard ninety minutes of all my old faves played with such considerable flair, power and passion, that I cared not one iota that I’d heard the entire lot one year ago. Actually, the difference between this performance and the one twelve months earlier, was as marked as the variation between the November ‘02 and February ‘02 shows. To all intense porpoises this was a different set.
I’d had a pretty bad day. I was not in the best of moods. I’d even considered not going because of the ticket price. My daughter dragged me along, she wanted to go and she hasn’t passed her driving test yet. I could have stayed at home watching some undemanding telly, cup of tea in one hand, remote control in the other, feet up, slobbing out on the sofa. Instead, there I was in Crewe, on a wet Tuesday in November, preparing to watch a band that could be superb, but there was also a 50/50 chance of them being mediocre. There was this new guy on guitar, who was real flash and a big-head, whose only aim was to torture all of those classic Budgie songs to death and take great pleasure in doing so. What am I? A fanatic follower of the Marquis de Sade? Why didn’t I just stay home? How good could they possibly be? I know what you want to know. How good?
OK, I’ll put you out of my misery, before I am bombarded with all manner of unpleasant threats to body and soul. Yes, the set was virtually unchanged from last year but, by eleven o’ clock, I’d heard ninety minutes of all my old faves played with such considerable flair, power and passion, that I cared not one iota that I’d heard the entire lot one year ago. Actually, the difference between this performance and the one twelve months earlier, was as marked as the variation between the November ‘02 and February ‘02 shows. To all intense porpoises this was a different set.
I had wanted to come away from Crewe and be able to write a review that slammed Budgie. Why? Heaven knows. I’m English, that’s what we do. It was clear from about half way through Panzer Division Destroyed that this would not be happening. Maybe I would still be able to give them a savaging, though. After all, Panzer is one of my favourites, so they had a head start with that one. Yeah, Gunslinger would be the real test; that was JT’s signature tune. If Lees messed that one up, well, he’d have to pay, big time.
Now, if this next sentence isn’t what you want to hear, I’m very sorry, but Simon Lees performed Gunslinger with considerable aplomb and boatloads of class, and it was as good a version as I’ve ever heard. In fact, he came across as not only being a very proficient musician, but as an extremely integral part of the band. His style may be flash, but were that a crime against the world (pun intended) we’d have to lock up every plank spanker that I’ve ever seen treading the boards, except perhaps, BB King.
Throughout the set, Simon’s playing was faultless and his interpretations of the songs, whilst they may not appeal to the purists out there, certainly rocked like bastards, as far as I was concerned. The whole set is considerably heavier now and carries much more force than before. They played with what the Finnish nation would call maximum attack. Now, I don’t see that as a bad thing. Do you?
As always Steve’s drumming was spot on, whilst Burke’s voice was cutting through better than I’ve heard it in a while. What’s more, they all looked like they were having fun. I liked Simon’s intensity and obvious enthusiasm for what he was doing; moreover, his mobility and attitude makes the band look younger and more vital. I don’t see that as a bad thing, either. Do you?
Now, if this next sentence isn’t what you want to hear, I’m very sorry, but Simon Lees performed Gunslinger with considerable aplomb and boatloads of class, and it was as good a version as I’ve ever heard. In fact, he came across as not only being a very proficient musician, but as an extremely integral part of the band. His style may be flash, but were that a crime against the world (pun intended) we’d have to lock up every plank spanker that I’ve ever seen treading the boards, except perhaps, BB King.
Throughout the set, Simon’s playing was faultless and his interpretations of the songs, whilst they may not appeal to the purists out there, certainly rocked like bastards, as far as I was concerned. The whole set is considerably heavier now and carries much more force than before. They played with what the Finnish nation would call maximum attack. Now, I don’t see that as a bad thing. Do you?
As always Steve’s drumming was spot on, whilst Burke’s voice was cutting through better than I’ve heard it in a while. What’s more, they all looked like they were having fun. I liked Simon’s intensity and obvious enthusiasm for what he was doing; moreover, his mobility and attitude makes the band look younger and more vital. I don’t see that as a bad thing, either. Do you?
I had wanted to come away from Crewe and be able to write a review that slammed Budgie. Why? Heaven knows. I’m English, that’s what we do. It was clear from about half way through Panzer Division Destroyed that this would not be happening. Maybe I would still be able to give them a savaging, though. After all, Panzer is one of my favourites, so they had a head start with that one. Yeah, Gunslinger would be the real test; that was JT’s signature tune. If Lees messed that one up, well, he’d have to pay, big time.
Now, if this next sentence isn’t what you want to hear, I’m very sorry, but Simon Lees performed Gunslinger with considerable aplomb and boatloads of class, and it was as good a version as I’ve ever heard. In fact, he came across as not only being a very proficient musician, but as an extremely integral part of the band. His style may be flash, but were that a crime against the world (pun intended) we’d have to lock up every plank spanker that I’ve ever seen treading the boards, except perhaps, BB King.
Throughout the set, Simon’s playing was faultless and his interpretations of the songs, whilst they may not appeal to the purists out there, certainly rocked like bastards, as far as I was concerned. The whole set is considerably heavier now and carries much more force than before. They played with what the Finnish nation would call maximum attack. Now, I don’t see that as a bad thing. Do you?
As always Steve’s drumming was spot on, whilst Burke’s voice was cutting through better than I’ve heard it in a while. What’s more, they all looked like they were having fun. I liked Simon’s intensity and obvious enthusiasm for what he was doing; moreover, his mobility and attitude makes the band look younger and more vital. I don’t see that as a bad thing, either. Do you?
Now, if this next sentence isn’t what you want to hear, I’m very sorry, but Simon Lees performed Gunslinger with considerable aplomb and boatloads of class, and it was as good a version as I’ve ever heard. In fact, he came across as not only being a very proficient musician, but as an extremely integral part of the band. His style may be flash, but were that a crime against the world (pun intended) we’d have to lock up every plank spanker that I’ve ever seen treading the boards, except perhaps, BB King.
Throughout the set, Simon’s playing was faultless and his interpretations of the songs, whilst they may not appeal to the purists out there, certainly rocked like bastards, as far as I was concerned. The whole set is considerably heavier now and carries much more force than before. They played with what the Finnish nation would call maximum attack. Now, I don’t see that as a bad thing. Do you?
As always Steve’s drumming was spot on, whilst Burke’s voice was cutting through better than I’ve heard it in a while. What’s more, they all looked like they were having fun. I liked Simon’s intensity and obvious enthusiasm for what he was doing; moreover, his mobility and attitude makes the band look younger and more vital. I don’t see that as a bad thing, either. Do you?
All in all, the wet Tuesday in Crewe turned out to be a bloody good night out and every bit on a par with eighteen months ago, in Wrexham. This Budgie has evolved and it has grown some teeth; some big, long, sharp, pointy ones, with the blood of doubters and naysayers dripping from the tips. If you miss out on seeing this band because you are sticking to your principles, that is all very commendable, but you are missing out on a fine evening’s entertainment from a damn good band. You pays your money and takes your choice.
Crewe a smouldering pile of rubble in the middle of Cheshire? How would one tell the difference? In the grip of a nude, disintegrating parachutist woman tyrefitter’s hand,
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
26th November 2003
Crewe a smouldering pile of rubble in the middle of Cheshire? How would one tell the difference? In the grip of a nude, disintegrating parachutist woman tyrefitter’s hand,
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
26th November 2003
About the photos...
For once, I wasn't in a bad mood going to a Budgie gig. I know, what is the world coming to? Mind you, I figured that I probably had enough photos of Budgie as it is, but I took the camera, just in case... And then, there is always the temptation to turn the flash off and see what happens. Sometimes, blurred images do give the picture a certain je ne sais quois...
For a small club, the lighting at The Limelight is pretty good and every so often you can catch the moment. Then again, sometimes I couldn't catch the moment, even if I had a net!
For a small club, the lighting at The Limelight is pretty good and every so often you can catch the moment. Then again, sometimes I couldn't catch the moment, even if I had a net!
Photograph by Lauren Potts
I don't normally use other people's pictures, but this time, I've made an exception. Upstaged by mine own offspring this time.
Yep, my daughter, Lauren, had a go at taking some pics and, bear in mind, this is her first attempt, this is what she comes up with... Kids!
Yep, my daughter, Lauren, had a go at taking some pics and, bear in mind, this is her first attempt, this is what she comes up with... Kids!
