Demon - Leek Town FC 24th October 2001
Setlist: The Plague / Writing's on the Wall / Wonderland / Spaced Out Monkey / Sign of a Madman / Into the Nightmare / Dreamtime / Streetwise Cowboy / Remembrance Day / Don't Make Crop Circles / One Helluva Night // Night of the Demon /// Blackheath
The last time I was sat here writing about a gig in Leek was just after the June 7th 2000 show. "A Hometown Gig" I called it and it was. Well, we have all passed so much water since then.
In June 2000, seeing Demon live was still a relative novelty to me and I was still a little in awe of finally having seen one of my favourite bands play live. Since then, I have got to know everyone in the band a lot better, passed many a happy afternoon talking to Mike and spent hour upon hour listening to Dave's stories of a life in the rock business. I have heard the new album at various stages of its evolution and learned many things about the band members that I really can't share with you, not until after the court cases, anyway.
For instance, I now know that whilst John is nowhere near as scary as he seems, Steve is just as cheeky as he seems. I also know that Ray may well be the strong, sensitive type, but Duncan is definitely the scary, psychotic type. I have discovered also, that it is impossible to take a bad photograph of Andy and, whilst Dave, by his own admission, may not have much colour, he has definitely got more than a little bit of soul.
The last time I was sat here writing about a gig in Leek was just after the June 7th 2000 show. "A Hometown Gig" I called it and it was. Well, we have all passed so much water since then.
In June 2000, seeing Demon live was still a relative novelty to me and I was still a little in awe of finally having seen one of my favourite bands play live. Since then, I have got to know everyone in the band a lot better, passed many a happy afternoon talking to Mike and spent hour upon hour listening to Dave's stories of a life in the rock business. I have heard the new album at various stages of its evolution and learned many things about the band members that I really can't share with you, not until after the court cases, anyway.
For instance, I now know that whilst John is nowhere near as scary as he seems, Steve is just as cheeky as he seems. I also know that Ray may well be the strong, sensitive type, but Duncan is definitely the scary, psychotic type. I have discovered also, that it is impossible to take a bad photograph of Andy and, whilst Dave, by his own admission, may not have much colour, he has definitely got more than a little bit of soul.
In the last eighteen months, I have seen Demon on good nights and bad nights and I think I know, as well as anyone else, whether they put on a good show or not and, really, this Leek show was a pretty good one, by anyone's standards.
No, Sparky, I didn't say it was perfect. There were some technical glitches, a couple of interesting, impromptu guitar ululations, Dave's shorts, the odd song-ending that sort of just drifted off rather than finished, and one or two ill-advised vocal harmonies, but on the whole, it was a good show. What it lacked in technical perfection, it more than made up for with spirit, feeling and the best version of "Spaced Out Monkey" I've heard so far.
How can I be so sure? Because I plugged my MiniDisc into the sound desk and recorded it, that's how I can be so sure. I've listened to it a few times and it isn't at all bad. It is a Hell of a lot better than the last one I recorded (and we all know which one that was!) Anyway, I know what you all want to know, what was the set list? Go on tell 'em, Sparky!
No, Sparky, I didn't say it was perfect. There were some technical glitches, a couple of interesting, impromptu guitar ululations, Dave's shorts, the odd song-ending that sort of just drifted off rather than finished, and one or two ill-advised vocal harmonies, but on the whole, it was a good show. What it lacked in technical perfection, it more than made up for with spirit, feeling and the best version of "Spaced Out Monkey" I've heard so far.
How can I be so sure? Because I plugged my MiniDisc into the sound desk and recorded it, that's how I can be so sure. I've listened to it a few times and it isn't at all bad. It is a Hell of a lot better than the last one I recorded (and we all know which one that was!) Anyway, I know what you all want to know, what was the set list? Go on tell 'em, Sparky!
OK Right, Your Sumo-ness. They started off with The Plague; then did Writing's on the Wall and Wonderland; then Monkey, Madman and Nightmare; Dreamtime, Cowboy and Remembrance Day; then they finished off with Don't Make Crop Circles and One Helluva Night. After a brief comfort break, they returned to give us, firstly, a rousing rendition of Night of the Demon, complete with audience participation segment and then Blackheath. And if I may say so, Your Vastness, it was a most excellent set.
Well, Sparky, my little poison sac, firstly, I do agree with your statement, but, no, you may not say so.
So, another Demon gig notched into my belt, another review and another set of photos later, what's next? Well, it's the Bar Cuba gig, next week. My mission: to take a decent picture of Steve Brookes. I know many of you think that impossible but, I am The God of Thunder damn it! I live on the edge and I shall succeed, even if it kills Steve in the process.
Oh, and I do believe Sparky will be at that gig...See you there!
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder and Sparky
25th October 2001
Well, Sparky, my little poison sac, firstly, I do agree with your statement, but, no, you may not say so.
So, another Demon gig notched into my belt, another review and another set of photos later, what's next? Well, it's the Bar Cuba gig, next week. My mission: to take a decent picture of Steve Brookes. I know many of you think that impossible but, I am The God of Thunder damn it! I live on the edge and I shall succeed, even if it kills Steve in the process.
Oh, and I do believe Sparky will be at that gig...See you there!
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder and Sparky
25th October 2001
About the photos...
Largely, I thought some of these came out really well. But, the ones of Ray are some of my favourites.
I took most of them during Spaced Out Monkey and, apart from darkening them a bit, they are pretty much as they came from the camera. I remember thinking, as I took them that I really liked the lighting at the time. Sometimes they come out OK, sometimes they just come out AFU.
What's more, it was red light, which usually means that they come out crap...
I took most of them during Spaced Out Monkey and, apart from darkening them a bit, they are pretty much as they came from the camera. I remember thinking, as I took them that I really liked the lighting at the time. Sometimes they come out OK, sometimes they just come out AFU.
What's more, it was red light, which usually means that they come out crap...
Kids!
Largely, I thought some of these came out really well. But, the four of Ray, below, are some of my all-time favourites.
I took all of these during Spaced Out Monkey and, apart from darkening them a bit, they are pretty much as they came from the camera. I remember thinking, as I took them that I really liked the lighting at the time. Sometimes they come out OK, sometimes they just come out AFU.
And not forgetting the "Andy Pic"...Now it may not be the best quality one I've got but it shows someone giving it some!
I took all of these during Spaced Out Monkey and, apart from darkening them a bit, they are pretty much as they came from the camera. I remember thinking, as I took them that I really liked the lighting at the time. Sometimes they come out OK, sometimes they just come out AFU.
And not forgetting the "Andy Pic"...Now it may not be the best quality one I've got but it shows someone giving it some!