Demon - The Swan Leek 29th May 2003
Setlist: Have We Been Here Before / One Helluva Night / Spaced Out Monkey / Streetwise Cowboy / Wonderland / Fever in the City / Writings On The Wall / Blackheath / The Plague / Remembrance Day / Night of the Demon / Into The Nightmare / Sign Of A Madman / Father Of Time // Don’t Break The Circle / Life On The Wire
Have We Been Here Before? Oh, for sure. Plenty of times.
I went along to The Swan, my first Demon gig in more than a year, with some trepidation. I knew what was planned and had still to make up my mind as to whether I thought it was a good idea, or not.
So, here I was, thinking about how things had changed in twelve short months, but marvelling at how that is the great thing about life; plus ca change, plus c’est la même chose. There were now two new band members and a refreshed set. I knew that the mask and demon suit of old would be making an appearance. I knew that Fever In The City was going to be in the set, for the first time ever. I also realised that the rest of the set was actually the same material that I have seen many times before.
Have We Been Here Before? Oh, for sure. Plenty of times.
I went along to The Swan, my first Demon gig in more than a year, with some trepidation. I knew what was planned and had still to make up my mind as to whether I thought it was a good idea, or not.
So, here I was, thinking about how things had changed in twelve short months, but marvelling at how that is the great thing about life; plus ca change, plus c’est la même chose. There were now two new band members and a refreshed set. I knew that the mask and demon suit of old would be making an appearance. I knew that Fever In The City was going to be in the set, for the first time ever. I also realised that the rest of the set was actually the same material that I have seen many times before.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Did I enjoy it? Were they good?
Yes, but it’s not that easy to answer. There are many factors to take into consideration.
The opener, Have We Been Here Before?, was a stormer and the band was probably never more in synch during the rest of the show, than they were during this great song. The mini-Plague section saw Dave don the bowler hat and suit and could prove to be really good, but cock-ups and problems with the lighting became quite wearing. A false start to Remembrance Day tainted that song too and I really think that serious consideration should be given to using a sample for the intro, if they intend to keep it in the set. Towards the end of the song, Dave disappeared and the band finished it alone, before launching into Night of the Demon and the emergence of “The Demon” for a series of early-period songs. To be honest, I would personally welcome something a little less predictable, but then I have seen the band many times before, whereas many of the audience members probably haven't seen any of this before.
Yes, but it’s not that easy to answer. There are many factors to take into consideration.
The opener, Have We Been Here Before?, was a stormer and the band was probably never more in synch during the rest of the show, than they were during this great song. The mini-Plague section saw Dave don the bowler hat and suit and could prove to be really good, but cock-ups and problems with the lighting became quite wearing. A false start to Remembrance Day tainted that song too and I really think that serious consideration should be given to using a sample for the intro, if they intend to keep it in the set. Towards the end of the song, Dave disappeared and the band finished it alone, before launching into Night of the Demon and the emergence of “The Demon” for a series of early-period songs. To be honest, I would personally welcome something a little less predictable, but then I have seen the band many times before, whereas many of the audience members probably haven't seen any of this before.
Musically, and I think the band would agree with me, this was not one of their best performances. This is not because they are bad musicians; it is because they are not gig-ready. They are not tight enough and it was evident. No band can hope to give stunning live performances when they only gig once in a blue moon. Mistakes spoiled the performance, true, they were also troubled with technical gremlins, which can happen to any band.
Individually, there were moments of brilliance, which showed how good the band could be, if they put the effort into it. Ray’s guitar work was, at times, as good as I have ever seen it and Dave’s voice sounded great, but then it had been rested, their last gig being quite some time past. Honours for the outstanding performance of the night go to Neil Ogden. His powerhouse drumming was always spot-on and he wouldn’t fit any better in the band if he were roller-spot welded to his drum stool. Well played, that man.
Now, it is no secret that Steve Brookes has left the band and was always going to be difficult to replace. Matt, standing in on rhythm guitar, seems like a nice young chap, but I didn't feel that his contribution was significant enough. Something needs to be done to replace Steve's distinctive sound and I’m afraid Matt simply did not do that. There were times when I wondered if his amp was even turned on. I could see him playing, I just couldn’t tell what he was playing; his sound was getting lost somewhere in the mix. However, I believe that a permanent replacement is being sought and I am sure that this problem will be solved, in due course.
Individually, there were moments of brilliance, which showed how good the band could be, if they put the effort into it. Ray’s guitar work was, at times, as good as I have ever seen it and Dave’s voice sounded great, but then it had been rested, their last gig being quite some time past. Honours for the outstanding performance of the night go to Neil Ogden. His powerhouse drumming was always spot-on and he wouldn’t fit any better in the band if he were roller-spot welded to his drum stool. Well played, that man.
Now, it is no secret that Steve Brookes has left the band and was always going to be difficult to replace. Matt, standing in on rhythm guitar, seems like a nice young chap, but I didn't feel that his contribution was significant enough. Something needs to be done to replace Steve's distinctive sound and I’m afraid Matt simply did not do that. There were times when I wondered if his amp was even turned on. I could see him playing, I just couldn’t tell what he was playing; his sound was getting lost somewhere in the mix. However, I believe that a permanent replacement is being sought and I am sure that this problem will be solved, in due course.
Resurrecting the mask and suit, after all this time, has two options. It will be a triumphant success, or it will be comi-tragic pantomime. Having seen the Leek show, it definitely straddled the line between the two. Now, I say this knowing that what I saw was only a part of the full effect that the punters will get in Sweden, which is, after all, the reason for the exhumation. In that context, I am sure that it will seem altogether different and will be a great visual coup. I sincerely hope it is a huge success for them and that they have the foresight to record, what could be their finest hour, for posterity.
As to the setlist, there will always be the debate about what should be played and quite rightly so. Demon could be playing songs like What Do You Think About Hell, Big Chance, Barons of Darkness, England’s Glory, Living In The Shadows, Million Dollar Ride, Visions Of The Future, Time Has Come, Commercial Dynamite, The Lion’s Share, No More Hell On Earth, The Spell, Decisions, Never Saw It Coming, Dreamtime, I could go on and on... but, and it's a big but, any list of favourite songs is purely subjective. Someone else could select an entirely different list and put forth a good argument as to why they should play those tracks as opposed to my selections; it wouldn't make it any less valid. A setlist has to please an audience and is a tradeoff between this and that. The setlist as played is not going to disappoint anyone, in fact, the majority will be chuffed as chocolate frogs. So, an enjoyable evening, on balance.
Right, it's 'the last word' time. I am not known for my subtlety and I believe in saying what I think. Sometimes this upsets people and gets me into trouble, but I'm still going to do it anyway.
As to the setlist, there will always be the debate about what should be played and quite rightly so. Demon could be playing songs like What Do You Think About Hell, Big Chance, Barons of Darkness, England’s Glory, Living In The Shadows, Million Dollar Ride, Visions Of The Future, Time Has Come, Commercial Dynamite, The Lion’s Share, No More Hell On Earth, The Spell, Decisions, Never Saw It Coming, Dreamtime, I could go on and on... but, and it's a big but, any list of favourite songs is purely subjective. Someone else could select an entirely different list and put forth a good argument as to why they should play those tracks as opposed to my selections; it wouldn't make it any less valid. A setlist has to please an audience and is a tradeoff between this and that. The setlist as played is not going to disappoint anyone, in fact, the majority will be chuffed as chocolate frogs. So, an enjoyable evening, on balance.
Right, it's 'the last word' time. I am not known for my subtlety and I believe in saying what I think. Sometimes this upsets people and gets me into trouble, but I'm still going to do it anyway.
Having not been that closely involved in Demonic affairs over the last twelve months, I came along tonight as a fan with a little bit of inside knowledge, rather than a fully paid-up member of the Demon camp. My year away has given me some perspective and, leaving Leek, I couldn't help but wonder what it is that Demon is trying to achieve. If they are all just doing it for beer money, they will pull down a few gigs a year and people will go away happy, no doubt about that. However, I think that if something is truly worth doing, it is worth doing properly. Put in the effort, play the game and, hopefully, you will get the breaks. Then again, you have to have the right people on the team, each one working towards the same goal. With the fine songwriting and great voice of Dave Hill and a band comprising committed, focused musicians, anything is possible and, even after all these years, Demon may still the get that break that it richly deserves. I sincerely hope that this is what is in Dave's mind, because the biggest tragedy of all, would be to lose such a great talent from the music business.
Well, that’s it. I’m done. I realise that this review is probably not going to win me a popularity award in some quarters, but it is honest, it is objective and it’s the way I see it. Besides, I'm not about to change my style anytime soon.
Rockin' in the Free World,
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
1st June 2003
Well, that’s it. I’m done. I realise that this review is probably not going to win me a popularity award in some quarters, but it is honest, it is objective and it’s the way I see it. Besides, I'm not about to change my style anytime soon.
Rockin' in the Free World,
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
1st June 2003