Diamond Head - The Limelight Crewe 11th July 2001
It's Acoustic!
I have to confess that, as a fan since The White Album's original vinyl release, an acoustic Diamond Head gig initially filled me with trepidation. I wanted to go along and see what was what, but it didn't seem quite right and I wasn't sure that it would be the same as I remembered.
I have to confess that, as a fan since The White Album's original vinyl release, an acoustic Diamond Head gig initially filled me with trepidation. I wanted to go along and see what was what, but it didn't seem quite right and I wasn't sure that it would be the same as I remembered.
As a precursor, I excavated my early '80s memorabilia from the box in the basement where my wife allows me to keep those things. Looking at my red, Diamond Head sweatshirt (which is four years older than my eldest daughter!) wondering how the Hell it ever fit me, I remembered the last time I saw them live. Actually, it was twice - one pretty much right after the other, in the summer of 1981: the first in Bradford, at St George's Hall; the second, at Tiffany's, in Leeds. However, if you really want to know about that shit click here and take a major detour along Digression Boulevard. Now, I must take a left, back onto Reality Drive, and get back to the present before you all ossify.
Back in the present: Twenty years later, the year 2001. Crewe - a town known for its railway station and...well, that's pretty much all - The Limelight Club. The band take to their stools behind the video screen, which starts to retract, the lights come up and, three men with acoustic guitars begin to play a song which I do not recognise. I check myself. Diamond Head? Yes, I'm in the right place. These chaps do look like Sean Harris and Brian Tatler, and the other fellow must be Floyd Brennan, this is Diamond Head. And then, I recognise the words...I'm listening to "It's Electric"! Oh, I don't know about this...I'm feeling major weirded out by this point.
Back in the present: Twenty years later, the year 2001. Crewe - a town known for its railway station and...well, that's pretty much all - The Limelight Club. The band take to their stools behind the video screen, which starts to retract, the lights come up and, three men with acoustic guitars begin to play a song which I do not recognise. I check myself. Diamond Head? Yes, I'm in the right place. These chaps do look like Sean Harris and Brian Tatler, and the other fellow must be Floyd Brennan, this is Diamond Head. And then, I recognise the words...I'm listening to "It's Electric"! Oh, I don't know about this...I'm feeling major weirded out by this point.
The song ends, the cognoscenti clap, everyone else follows after a slight time delay. It is very disorienting at first. The next song "Lightning to the Nations" is not quite such a shock. By now you're getting a feel for what is happening. They have not just sat down turned off the amps and performed the songs "unplugged", they have put a great deal of time, effort and care into rearranging and re-inventing their material. And you know what? It bloody well works! Once the weird effect of not being able to recognise anything when they start to play it, you actually start to get into the whole effect and it becomes a voyage of rediscovery and it is absolutely amazing.
As the set progressed, I found myself becoming more and more entranced by this treatment - I knew the songs, yet I didn't. A stunning "Out of Phase" was followed by "In The Heat Of The Night", "To The Devil His Due", a virtually unrecognisable "Sucking My Love", an absolutely awesome "Ishmael", "One More Night" and the highlight of the show, "Makin' Music", before finishing off with "Home" and "Run".
As the set progressed, I found myself becoming more and more entranced by this treatment - I knew the songs, yet I didn't. A stunning "Out of Phase" was followed by "In The Heat Of The Night", "To The Devil His Due", a virtually unrecognisable "Sucking My Love", an absolutely awesome "Ishmael", "One More Night" and the highlight of the show, "Makin' Music", before finishing off with "Home" and "Run".
After some insistent cheering, they returned and treated us to an impressive new song "Forever 16" which, if you are of a similar age to the band members, you understand the words, perfectly. The evening was, suitably, brought to a close with a breathtaking rendition of "Don't You Ever Leave Me."After a short while Sean, Brian and Floyd came out to mingle with the fans, sign albums, posters (and in my case, a serviette) and share their chip butties - like the true gentlemen they are.
There are plans afoot for a CD of the acoustic material, a reformation of the original line-up for a special 25th Anniversary show, and more live, acoustic shows. At the moment, they are doing these shows because they are enjoying it and, to judge by the crowd in Crewe, so are the fans. But, make no mistake, the performance may be acoustic, but "It's Electric", there's no doubt about that.
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
12th July 2001
There are plans afoot for a CD of the acoustic material, a reformation of the original line-up for a special 25th Anniversary show, and more live, acoustic shows. At the moment, they are doing these shows because they are enjoying it and, to judge by the crowd in Crewe, so are the fans. But, make no mistake, the performance may be acoustic, but "It's Electric", there's no doubt about that.
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
12th July 2001