Demon - The Limelight Crewe 24th April 2001
Setlist: Sign of a Madman / Into the Nightmare / Blackheath / Wonderland / The Plague / Life on the Wire / Don't Break the Circle / Nowhere to Run / No More Hell on Earth / Remembrance Day / One Helluva Night // Night of the Demon
About a year ago, I ventured into a music store and purchased a CD: The Best of Demon Vol 1. That began a chain of events, which has seen one of my dreams come true. After 20 years, I finally got to see Demon live. I had given up any hope of seeing one of my favourite bands perform on a stage.
About a year ago, I ventured into a music store and purchased a CD: The Best of Demon Vol 1. That began a chain of events, which has seen one of my dreams come true. After 20 years, I finally got to see Demon live. I had given up any hope of seeing one of my favourite bands perform on a stage.
A year on, I have seen them eight times. The one constant is that their live performances have always been of such a high standard, irrespective of the venue, or the size of the audience. The members of Demon are consummate professionals who always give of their best and their live shows reflect this. Last Tuesday, at The Limelight, they played a show which, by rights, the band felt that they were not ready for. Nevertheless, they didn't want to let fans down and, in spite of having precious little time to rehearse, because of the pressures of recording their latest album, they acquitted themselves magnificently. No one in the audience would have guessed that they were anything other than one top form, such is the quality of this band.
Indeed, they looked more of a band than I have seen before. This line up of Demon is still relatively young but it is obvious that they have gelled into a powerful group of musicians who are capable of taking the world by storm. They have what it takes and, providing members of the music press actually listen to the latest CD 'Spaced Out Monkey' when it lands on their desks, Demon may finally receive some of the recognition that it has so long deserved.
I have been fortunate (and privileged) enough to hear this new recording at various stages and I guarantee that you will not be disappointed. Spaced Out Monkey is as good, if not better, than anything else that Demon has recorded, and as good as anything else in your local record shop. But what does that have to do with The Limelight gig, I hear you cry?
Indeed, they looked more of a band than I have seen before. This line up of Demon is still relatively young but it is obvious that they have gelled into a powerful group of musicians who are capable of taking the world by storm. They have what it takes and, providing members of the music press actually listen to the latest CD 'Spaced Out Monkey' when it lands on their desks, Demon may finally receive some of the recognition that it has so long deserved.
I have been fortunate (and privileged) enough to hear this new recording at various stages and I guarantee that you will not be disappointed. Spaced Out Monkey is as good, if not better, than anything else that Demon has recorded, and as good as anything else in your local record shop. But what does that have to do with The Limelight gig, I hear you cry?
Well, when I arrived, the band was on stage, warming up and doing a soundcheck. They were playing Spaced Out Monkey, with a view to putting it into the show. It sounded pretty damn fine to me (in fact, it kicked major ass!) but, as it turned out they didn't play any of the new material, since the new album has yet to be released - and only two people in the audience would have known the new songs. Mind you who can argue with what they did play: Sign of a Madman; Into the Nightmare; Blackheath; Wonderland; The Plague; Life on the Wire; Don't Break the Circle; Nowhere to Run; No More Hell on Earth; Remembrance Day; One Helluva Night; Night of the Demon. Every one a gem. The set list speaks for itself. What can I tell you that you don't already know about a selection of songs like that? I've said it all before in my previous rants. A live Demon show is the hottest ticket in town. End of story.
One thing I do know for certain is that once the new CD is out, the live show will get even better. Yeah, you wouldn't a thunk it possible would you? But, it will, I guarandamntee it. If I tell you any more than that Mike Stone will be after my blood (and believe me a rampaging Father of Time is not a pretty sight!) For now, enjoy the photos that I took last Tuesday, and then start nailing everything down which is breakable, or not already nailed down. Start making the necessary arrangements to have nervous pets and relatives looked after in your absence. Why? Because once you take ownership of your copy of Spaced Out Monkey, there is no telling how long it will take for things to return to normal. And you know...things may never be quite the same again!
Run free you spaced out monkeys...
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
25th April 2001
(By the way, the photos from this gig were only my second ever attempt at photography under these conditions. Also, for a fair chunk of the set, dry ice was everywhere and taking photos in dry ice is a bit like driving through fog with your high-beams on - all you see is fog! But, I am quite pleased overall. Some of them didn't come out too badly).
One thing I do know for certain is that once the new CD is out, the live show will get even better. Yeah, you wouldn't a thunk it possible would you? But, it will, I guarandamntee it. If I tell you any more than that Mike Stone will be after my blood (and believe me a rampaging Father of Time is not a pretty sight!) For now, enjoy the photos that I took last Tuesday, and then start nailing everything down which is breakable, or not already nailed down. Start making the necessary arrangements to have nervous pets and relatives looked after in your absence. Why? Because once you take ownership of your copy of Spaced Out Monkey, there is no telling how long it will take for things to return to normal. And you know...things may never be quite the same again!
Run free you spaced out monkeys...
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
25th April 2001
(By the way, the photos from this gig were only my second ever attempt at photography under these conditions. Also, for a fair chunk of the set, dry ice was everywhere and taking photos in dry ice is a bit like driving through fog with your high-beams on - all you see is fog! But, I am quite pleased overall. Some of them didn't come out too badly).
About the photos...
Be gentle with me, it's my first time...said the actress to the Bishop. Well, so it was. I had taken four pictures the previous year at a Qango gig (with a 35mm camera) and one turned out, so that you could see that the subjects were actually human.
This gig, however, was my first time with a digital camera and it didn't help that they used dry ice either! However, that said, this lot contains one of the best picture I've taken to date. Each set of pictures I have taken of Demon since this gig, I always get one 'Andy Pic'.
This gig, however, was my first time with a digital camera and it didn't help that they used dry ice either! However, that said, this lot contains one of the best picture I've taken to date. Each set of pictures I have taken of Demon since this gig, I always get one 'Andy Pic'.