Demon - Leek Arts Festival 21st May 2010
Setlist: Sign of a Madman / Into the Nightmare / Blue Skies in Red Square / Liar / Streetwise Cowboy / Let Me Out of Here / Standing on the Edge of the World / Blackheath / The Spell / Life on the Wire / Night of the Demon / Don’t Break the Circle / Remembrance Day / Wonderland / The Plague / One Helluva Night
It’s that time of year again; The Leek Arts Festival and what has become a bit of a regular gig for Demon. This sleepy market town in North Staffordshire is, somewhat surprisingly, a cultural hotbed for all manner of live music and culture each May, and has been since 1977. Arts, crafts, and comedy events take place at venues all over the town throughout the month, with something of interest for every possible taste. This year, in addition to Demon, also appearing are Fairport Convention, The Family Mahone, and The Climax Blues Band. Not bad for a little Midlands town that most people have never heard of!
My attendance was in doubt due to my vehicular transportation issues and, had it not been for the Mad Manager, I would not have been able to make it to the gig. So, a big thanks to Mike!
My attendance was in doubt due to my vehicular transportation issues and, had it not been for the Mad Manager, I would not have been able to make it to the gig. So, a big thanks to Mike!
For this performance, the setlist had undergone a little revamp. The old favourites were all pretty much still there but the reintroduction of a brace of numbers from Spaced Out Monkey gave the set a jolt and, I have to say, it was nice to see them playing both Streetwise Cowboy and Let Me Out of Here again. SOM is a bit of a lost album in some respects and never got the recognition it rightfully deserved. Blue Skies in Red Square is also firmly back in the set these days, as are Remembrance Day and The Spell. Demon’s main problem live stems from the fact that they have such a rich back catalogue of material that even Friday’s two-hour-plus set still left out somebody’s favourite. Nevertheless, anyone who would complain about this selection of songs would never be happy, no matter what they played. Mind you, I still live in hope that they will make me a happy bunny and revisit Big Chance at some point ;-)
I had a suspicion, having sat through the soundcheck, that they might have been rehearsing recently, as the arrangements are very slick and this particular line up plays so well together. Apparently not, or no more so than normal, at any rate! I think this particular version of Demon sounds so good because all of the band members know each other well and they just know each other’s style. It’s as simple as that.
I had a suspicion, having sat through the soundcheck, that they might have been rehearsing recently, as the arrangements are very slick and this particular line up plays so well together. Apparently not, or no more so than normal, at any rate! I think this particular version of Demon sounds so good because all of the band members know each other well and they just know each other’s style. It’s as simple as that.
As for the gig, proper, they delivered a spirited and energetic performance on the warmest evening of 2010, so far. Dave Hill was in fine voice and it never ceases to amaze me how good his voice still sounds. As per usual, the gig had its minor ups and downs but at least they didn’t blow the power supply this year. A Demon show is almost always an event for the fans who make the effort to turn up and this one was no exception. It was great to see the room packed out with some new faces, and some old, familiar faces too (Jeff, Don, Mick, Borg and Mrs Borg, the Kevins, and Giles) as well as former band members John Cotterill and John Waterhouse, with whom I had most enjoyable conversations. One ancient, ugly face was notable by its absence though and, mentioning no names, Pete Galer, you were sorely missed. It was his turn to get the beers in too (probably why he didn’t turn up). Seriously, we missed you Sane One. Hopefully, one day we will be able to arrange a gig and get all our friends, from all over, together. Something along the lines of the Marillion weekends, or the Wishbone Ash conventions; that would be really cool. One day, Thomas, one day.
Thirty years since Demon released their first album, and many band members and recordings later, they still deliver the goods, and still they wait to be accorded their rightful place in the annals of rock history. Undoubtedly, one of the best bands you’ve never heard, they are, to the ones who know the secret, the veritable canine undercarriage.
Don’t you know it’s the Night of the Demon?
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
22nd May 2010
Don’t you know it’s the Night of the Demon?
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
22nd May 2010