Budgie - Central Station Wrexham 13th February 2002
Setlist: Crime Against The World / Used Me Up / Gunslinger / Panzer Division Destroyed / Turn To Stone / Black Velvet Stallion / In For The Kill / Breaking The House Rules / Zoom Club / Napoleon Bonaparte I & Part II / Wildfire // Breadfan
I last saw Budgie live back in ‘81, supporting Gillan. Hell, I was little older then than my daughter is now, they were great, but that was then. Could Burke Shelley still sing? What was the new guy like on guitar, following JT’s sudden, unexplained departure? Would I be bitterly disappointed? It was with these questions burning away in my deranged mind that I, firstborn and my adopted Grandfather set forth for deepest, darkest Wales.
After an excellent support slot from Diamond Head (playing one of their last acoustic performances before returning to the stage with an electric set) Budgie took to the stage. From the word go, no one in the Central Station had any doubt that this was going to be a memorable set. Budgie evidently had a point to prove and not only was it proven beyond any shadow of a doubt, it was double underlined, all the “i”s were dotted and all the “t”s were, most emphatically crossed. Initial sound problems out front were sorted by the middle of the first number. After that, it just got better, louder and hotter. Burke Shelley (bass player, vocalist and founder member) told me after the show that he had had sound problems on stage all night but - and this is a mark of the quality of the band and the performance - you would never have known. They played a superbly balanced set, which just got stronger as the evening went on. Really, you know you’re on to a winner when a song like Gunslinger appears third in the set and it isn’t the best bit!
I last saw Budgie live back in ‘81, supporting Gillan. Hell, I was little older then than my daughter is now, they were great, but that was then. Could Burke Shelley still sing? What was the new guy like on guitar, following JT’s sudden, unexplained departure? Would I be bitterly disappointed? It was with these questions burning away in my deranged mind that I, firstborn and my adopted Grandfather set forth for deepest, darkest Wales.
After an excellent support slot from Diamond Head (playing one of their last acoustic performances before returning to the stage with an electric set) Budgie took to the stage. From the word go, no one in the Central Station had any doubt that this was going to be a memorable set. Budgie evidently had a point to prove and not only was it proven beyond any shadow of a doubt, it was double underlined, all the “i”s were dotted and all the “t”s were, most emphatically crossed. Initial sound problems out front were sorted by the middle of the first number. After that, it just got better, louder and hotter. Burke Shelley (bass player, vocalist and founder member) told me after the show that he had had sound problems on stage all night but - and this is a mark of the quality of the band and the performance - you would never have known. They played a superbly balanced set, which just got stronger as the evening went on. Really, you know you’re on to a winner when a song like Gunslinger appears third in the set and it isn’t the best bit!
Budgie has a back catalogue that I would sell my haemoglobin for and they could play for days and still not include all of their classic tracks - the set was just packed with great barnstormers. There was no low-point to the set, it was simply one peak after another. If anything, I enjoyed them more this time around, than I did as a teenager.
But what about this new guitar player? This Andy Hart chappie? He’s no John Thomas is he? No. Andy Hart may not look like your stereotypical guitar hero, but sacre bleu, can he play? Does the Pope…no, never mind that…Yes, Andy Hart can play, he was astonishing. I cannot believe how good he was, considering the short time he had to fit in to the band. Both Burke Shelley and drummer Steve Williams were as rock solid as they ever were, maybe more so because this time around they have a vast amount of stagecraft and experience to draw on as was evinced by this memorable performance.
Interestingly, my daughter, the old fella and I each chose different songs as our favourites. Whilst Panzer Division Destroyed did it for me, Napoleon Bonaparte was firstborn’s pick and the old timer went for Breadfan. I can’t really disagree with either of them though. We did all agree that we were glad we had been there.
But what about this new guitar player? This Andy Hart chappie? He’s no John Thomas is he? No. Andy Hart may not look like your stereotypical guitar hero, but sacre bleu, can he play? Does the Pope…no, never mind that…Yes, Andy Hart can play, he was astonishing. I cannot believe how good he was, considering the short time he had to fit in to the band. Both Burke Shelley and drummer Steve Williams were as rock solid as they ever were, maybe more so because this time around they have a vast amount of stagecraft and experience to draw on as was evinced by this memorable performance.
Interestingly, my daughter, the old fella and I each chose different songs as our favourites. Whilst Panzer Division Destroyed did it for me, Napoleon Bonaparte was firstborn’s pick and the old timer went for Breadfan. I can’t really disagree with either of them though. We did all agree that we were glad we had been there.
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. I doubt that the constitution of your average gig-going, Homo Sapien could endure such excellence on a regular basis. It would just get all messy, people losing control of bodily functions right, left and centre and generally reverting to Cro-Magnon behaviour. Wait a minute, I’ve just described practically every gig I’ve ever been to…
On the way home there was much evidence of road works on the fringes of Wrexham. I’m sure that I detected the smouldering remains of German tanks by the side of the road…
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
17th February 2002
On the way home there was much evidence of road works on the fringes of Wrexham. I’m sure that I detected the smouldering remains of German tanks by the side of the road…
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
17th February 2002
About the photos...
Now, I have to say that these are some of my favourite photos out of all the ones I have taken, partly because I had a totally unrestricted view of the band and partly because it was such a good night.
First, Diamond Head did a short acoustic set and I got some nice pics from that. Then Budgie came on and I got some real crackers... my personal favourite being this one of Burke Shelley.
The other really good thing about this gig was that I managed to get a version of the above review and a photo published in PowerPlay magazine. I was chuffed about that particularly because it was my second review published in a print magazine, as opposed to a website.
First, Diamond Head did a short acoustic set and I got some nice pics from that. Then Budgie came on and I got some real crackers... my personal favourite being this one of Burke Shelley.
The other really good thing about this gig was that I managed to get a version of the above review and a photo published in PowerPlay magazine. I was chuffed about that particularly because it was my second review published in a print magazine, as opposed to a website.