ThunderWeb V1.0
Demon - Pride of the Moorlands Leek 4th September 2001
Set List: One Helluva Night / Wonderland / Into The Nightmare / Blackheath / Sign Of A Madman / The Plague / The Writing's On The Wall / Streetwise Cowboy / Spaced Out Monkey / Remembrance Day / Let Me Out Of Here / Don't Break The Circle // Night of The Demon
Tuesday's gig at Leek's Pride of the Moorlands hostelry was the first of two warm up gigs, in preparation for the big gig in Germany on Saturday.
Tuesday's gig at Leek's Pride of the Moorlands hostelry was the first of two warm up gigs, in preparation for the big gig in Germany on Saturday.
- It was a chance to run through the set for real, in front of people, rather than a rehearsal room.
- It was the first chance to play any material from the new album.
- It was the first chance to play a couple of old songs that this line up has never played before.
- It was a chance to test a set list that is in transition.
So, basically, Oh God of Thunder, you're saying that, they were shite, right. You're laying out all the excuses before so that everyone will understand the reasons why they were bad, yeah?
Oh, Sparky, you're so gullible and such a moron. No, I was just yanking your chain. I'm such a tease, but what you gonna do? Since last year's gigs, Demon have achieved a great deal. They have released a superb new album that deserves recognition, even by the apathetic, oleaginous, sycophantic UK music press. Whether it will get it is another matter. But, that is an issue for my review of the CD and such vituperative ululation's have no place here!
I already knew, beforehand, roughly what the set list was going to be, so it held no surprises for me. Actually, that is not true, it did hold one surprise: How hot Demon were on Tuesday. I have seen them quite a few times now and their best performance to date was definitely last year at The Half-Time Orange in Leicester. At times, they very nearly reached that level on Tuesday night, and when they didn't, you could see that they were headed in that direction. I suspect that if you are a painter and decorator by trade, get to Mannheim on Sunday morning because your services will be needed. Judging from Tuesday's performance, I expect that Demon will be so good on Saturday night that they will strip the paint off the walls.
Oh, Sparky, you're so gullible and such a moron. No, I was just yanking your chain. I'm such a tease, but what you gonna do? Since last year's gigs, Demon have achieved a great deal. They have released a superb new album that deserves recognition, even by the apathetic, oleaginous, sycophantic UK music press. Whether it will get it is another matter. But, that is an issue for my review of the CD and such vituperative ululation's have no place here!
I already knew, beforehand, roughly what the set list was going to be, so it held no surprises for me. Actually, that is not true, it did hold one surprise: How hot Demon were on Tuesday. I have seen them quite a few times now and their best performance to date was definitely last year at The Half-Time Orange in Leicester. At times, they very nearly reached that level on Tuesday night, and when they didn't, you could see that they were headed in that direction. I suspect that if you are a painter and decorator by trade, get to Mannheim on Sunday morning because your services will be needed. Judging from Tuesday's performance, I expect that Demon will be so good on Saturday night that they will strip the paint off the walls.
Andy was hot on Tuesday. I had the camera trained on him practically all evening because I was convinced he would spontaneously combust! That new 5 string bass really gives the sound some bottom, for sure, and I would recommend carrying a couple of fire extinguishers around just in case. Whack a couple of Flammable stickers on his ass, while you're at it. Little Stevie Brookes, only just out of diapers, was on fine form as well, and deserves special mention for his fine contribution to the overall Demon sound. When you have someone flash like Mrs Walmsley's little boy, it is easy to forget ol' whatsisname's contribution, but Little Stevie's chainsaw guitar fills out the sound and he provides some nice fills too. I especially like his work on "Streetwise Cowboy" and "Let Me Out Of Here", and especially his vocal contribution to "The Writing's On The Wall".
What can you say about Big Bad John, Demon's esteemed drummer? Well, that depends whether he is listening or not. I always say nice things to him because I've seen how hard he hits those drums. I was looking forward to the inclusion of "Writing's On the Wall" in the Demon set list, as it has always been one of my favourite Demon tunes since I first heard it. I knew that with John's drumming on it, it would be a bit good too - and it was! I think that if they ever play this in L.A., Fredie and KC will need to supply hard hats all round because the thunderous intro could easily get that old San Andreas fault a rumblin'. Duncan, on the other hand, counterbalances everything nicely with his cool, urbane, debonair, sophistication. Calmly and quietly, he occupies his space, delicately and precisely introducing colour and shade into the Demon soundscapes. He is the band's karmic equaliser.
What can you say about Big Bad John, Demon's esteemed drummer? Well, that depends whether he is listening or not. I always say nice things to him because I've seen how hard he hits those drums. I was looking forward to the inclusion of "Writing's On the Wall" in the Demon set list, as it has always been one of my favourite Demon tunes since I first heard it. I knew that with John's drumming on it, it would be a bit good too - and it was! I think that if they ever play this in L.A., Fredie and KC will need to supply hard hats all round because the thunderous intro could easily get that old San Andreas fault a rumblin'. Duncan, on the other hand, counterbalances everything nicely with his cool, urbane, debonair, sophistication. Calmly and quietly, he occupies his space, delicately and precisely introducing colour and shade into the Demon soundscapes. He is the band's karmic equaliser.
You are talking about Duncan, the keyboard player in Demon, aren't you?
Yes Sparky, I am. Do not believe the rumours, they are all lies, I tell you.
Mrs Walmsley's little boy had obviously been raiding his mother's wardrobe on Tuesday, if his hat was anything to go by - he looked like the hundred and second Dalmatian, But, that is another matter entirely. As for his guitar playing, you can't knock old Flash Harry. He is the proverbial canine undercarriage when it comes to plank spanking and he even gives it some throat on a couple of songs too... I have the photographs to prove it! Special mentions here to his solos in "Writing's On The Wall" and "Spaced Out Monkey". Ooh Sir, Suit You!
So, that only leaves one person, that I have not maligned, denigrated or abused, the Larynx on Legs himself, David Waylon Hill. What can I say about Dave that I haven't said before or you don't already know? Well, I could make shit up, and probably will, but the only thing you need to know is that he is already playing with new ideas for the next album and that his voice is still as fine as ever.
Yes Sparky, I am. Do not believe the rumours, they are all lies, I tell you.
Mrs Walmsley's little boy had obviously been raiding his mother's wardrobe on Tuesday, if his hat was anything to go by - he looked like the hundred and second Dalmatian, But, that is another matter entirely. As for his guitar playing, you can't knock old Flash Harry. He is the proverbial canine undercarriage when it comes to plank spanking and he even gives it some throat on a couple of songs too... I have the photographs to prove it! Special mentions here to his solos in "Writing's On The Wall" and "Spaced Out Monkey". Ooh Sir, Suit You!
So, that only leaves one person, that I have not maligned, denigrated or abused, the Larynx on Legs himself, David Waylon Hill. What can I say about Dave that I haven't said before or you don't already know? Well, I could make shit up, and probably will, but the only thing you need to know is that he is already playing with new ideas for the next album and that his voice is still as fine as ever.
Actually, GoT, that is two things...
So it is Sparky. There are two things you need to know about Dave: he is already playing with new ideas for the next album, his voice is still as fine as ever, and he is as mad as a hatter! (Shut up Sparky!) Dave's voice was in particularly fine form on Tuesday, particularly in the higher registers, which I assume was thanks to the special throat relaxant he was knocking back before the gig. But, I have never heard Dave Hill not be in fine form though, we are, after all, talking about one of the finest vocalists in all of rock here, he could sing the telephone directory and make it sound good, for my money. Mind you, I would still like to hear him wrap his tonsils around "Big Chance", though.
So, there you have it, Demon: The Pride of the Moorlands. On Thursday, they take their monkey-spanking antics a few miles down the road to Newcastle. Be sure to come back and find out what other execrable bollocks I can make up when I continue this saga.
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder and Sparky
5th September 2001
So it is Sparky. There are two things you need to know about Dave: he is already playing with new ideas for the next album, his voice is still as fine as ever, and he is as mad as a hatter! (Shut up Sparky!) Dave's voice was in particularly fine form on Tuesday, particularly in the higher registers, which I assume was thanks to the special throat relaxant he was knocking back before the gig. But, I have never heard Dave Hill not be in fine form though, we are, after all, talking about one of the finest vocalists in all of rock here, he could sing the telephone directory and make it sound good, for my money. Mind you, I would still like to hear him wrap his tonsils around "Big Chance", though.
So, there you have it, Demon: The Pride of the Moorlands. On Thursday, they take their monkey-spanking antics a few miles down the road to Newcastle. Be sure to come back and find out what other execrable bollocks I can make up when I continue this saga.
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder and Sparky
5th September 2001
