Ian Hunter & The Rant Band - Hangar 34 Liverpool - 20th June 2017
Playlist: That's When the Trouble Starts / Flawed / When I'm President / Saint / The Truth, The Whole Truth, Nuthin' But The Truth / Morpheus / Just Another Night / Fingers Crossed / All American Alien Boy / Dandy / Bow Street Runners / Roll Away the Stone / I Wish I Was Your Mother / Guiding Light / Ghosts / 23A, Swan Hill / Bastard / Sweet Jane // Irene Wilde / All the Way From Memphis / Long Time / Life / All the Young Dudes / Goodnight, Irene
I had been looking forward to this gig for ages. Well, that's not strictly true. Until about two weeks before the gig, I had no idea I was even going. Allow me to elucidate...
Back in March, I'd posted on my Face de bouc page about the Ian Hunter 2017 UK tour. I had mentioned how much I'd love to go to the Liverpool gig, but I couldn't afford it. Unbeknownst to me, a couple of friends and both of my own girlchildren, plotted and schemed behind my back to buy me a ticket, and sort out transport. Shocking, eh? Such duplicity and underhanded behaviour, lying to my face, even. What did I ever do to deserve such treatment? I'm truly touched. Thank you, all. (And still, they didn't tell me that my surprise also included a ticket to see Cheap Trick, in Manchester, on June 28th but that is another tale, yet to be experienced.)
I had been looking forward to this gig for ages. Well, that's not strictly true. Until about two weeks before the gig, I had no idea I was even going. Allow me to elucidate...
Back in March, I'd posted on my Face de bouc page about the Ian Hunter 2017 UK tour. I had mentioned how much I'd love to go to the Liverpool gig, but I couldn't afford it. Unbeknownst to me, a couple of friends and both of my own girlchildren, plotted and schemed behind my back to buy me a ticket, and sort out transport. Shocking, eh? Such duplicity and underhanded behaviour, lying to my face, even. What did I ever do to deserve such treatment? I'm truly touched. Thank you, all. (And still, they didn't tell me that my surprise also included a ticket to see Cheap Trick, in Manchester, on June 28th but that is another tale, yet to be experienced.)
Now, I should point out that the setlist I've included above is, as far as I can remember, about right. It is NOT NECESSARILY the actual Liverpool setlist but one I cribbed from setlist.fm, from a recent gig. I had a look at a few and picked the one that most closely resembled my memory of the night, and made the odd tweak... It's close enough for rock 'n' roll.
On my Nusakan Radio show, Morning Coffee with The God of Thunder (www.nusakan.media Mon – Fri 10am UK - Noon), I play a disproportionate amount of certain artists, I don't deny it. I play what I like and I like a lot of Mott, and Ian Hunter. And, why not? It's no secret that I have been a fan of Ian's since I first saw Mott on Top of The Pops, all those centuries ago. However, the first time I ever saw Ian live was back on The Artful Dodger tour, back in the old century (pre digital camera) then, again, on the Rant tour in 2002 http://www.godofthunder.co.uk/ian-hunter---crewe.html
I eventually got to see Mott the Hoople in 2009 when they did the first lot of reunion concerts, at Hammersmith Odeon. http://www.godofthunder.co.uk/mott-the-hoople---hammersmith.html
On my Nusakan Radio show, Morning Coffee with The God of Thunder (www.nusakan.media Mon – Fri 10am UK - Noon), I play a disproportionate amount of certain artists, I don't deny it. I play what I like and I like a lot of Mott, and Ian Hunter. And, why not? It's no secret that I have been a fan of Ian's since I first saw Mott on Top of The Pops, all those centuries ago. However, the first time I ever saw Ian live was back on The Artful Dodger tour, back in the old century (pre digital camera) then, again, on the Rant tour in 2002 http://www.godofthunder.co.uk/ian-hunter---crewe.html
I eventually got to see Mott the Hoople in 2009 when they did the first lot of reunion concerts, at Hammersmith Odeon. http://www.godofthunder.co.uk/mott-the-hoople---hammersmith.html
I was well up for this one, partly because I hadn't been to a gig in a while but, mostly, because it was a smallish venue. As I have aged, my distaste of the arena circuit has grown from mere loathing, to outright refusal to go to certain venues, no matter who is playing. Let's just say that there is nothing about these steroidal gymnasia that has anything to do with the reproduction of quality music for people of discernment. The sound is horrible and you can't see shit. That has nothing to do with live music but everything to do with money. I get that they can play to as many people in one show at one of these places than in ten nights at a smaller venue but, really, the enjoyment factor in a small venue is so much greater. Rant over. For now, at least.
Since I moved to Liverpool a couple of years back, for a variety of reasons, I really haven't been to any gigs and, certainly not in Liverpool. Back in the day, Liverpool was a great place for rock bands to play. Great venues, great audiences, lots of fun. These days, wanky planning and zoning laws, and greedy, corrupt councils have created a situation where many venues simply cannot afford to put on gigs any more. So, until recently it was either an arena or, a tribute band in a pub. Well, tribute bands are really not my thing (as good as many of them are) and, the former, we covered above. Then, Hangar 34 opened. Not being too mobile nor, having much brass, I have tended to avoid the advertising. Why torture myself with loads of great gigs I can't go to? But, seemingly, much to my amazement, I mean enough to some people that they would be kind enough to facilitate my attendance at such an evening of hedonistic excess.
Since I moved to Liverpool a couple of years back, for a variety of reasons, I really haven't been to any gigs and, certainly not in Liverpool. Back in the day, Liverpool was a great place for rock bands to play. Great venues, great audiences, lots of fun. These days, wanky planning and zoning laws, and greedy, corrupt councils have created a situation where many venues simply cannot afford to put on gigs any more. So, until recently it was either an arena or, a tribute band in a pub. Well, tribute bands are really not my thing (as good as many of them are) and, the former, we covered above. Then, Hangar 34 opened. Not being too mobile nor, having much brass, I have tended to avoid the advertising. Why torture myself with loads of great gigs I can't go to? But, seemingly, much to my amazement, I mean enough to some people that they would be kind enough to facilitate my attendance at such an evening of hedonistic excess.
I arrived at the venue and managed to park right outside the front entrance, a nice surprise :-) Hangar 34 is a functional building and lacks any real style other than Stalag chic. Now, before you take that to mean I didn't like it, allow me to disabuse you of any such notion. I care not for décor when the money has been spent on a top notch sound system, a pretty neat lighting rig, and where parking is easy. It reminded me a bit of the old Robin 1, at Merry Hill... Oh, look, a Stegosaurus!
I hadn't intended to arrive in time to see the support band, and I didn't even know who it was but, I was earlier than I'd calculated. Serendipitously so, as it turned out. Being a naturally grumpy type, I decided to sit on the floor, glare at people walking past and, generally give off that 'You don't want to come anywhere near me' look, which I can manage without even meaning to, and wait out the opening act.
I hadn't intended to arrive in time to see the support band, and I didn't even know who it was but, I was earlier than I'd calculated. Serendipitously so, as it turned out. Being a naturally grumpy type, I decided to sit on the floor, glare at people walking past and, generally give off that 'You don't want to come anywhere near me' look, which I can manage without even meaning to, and wait out the opening act.
I was surprised to see three young ladies take to the stage and even more surprised to note that it was drums, acoustic guitar, and banjo (that was the instruments, not their names). About half way through the first song, I started to pay attention. I rose for the third song and, after half an hour of Worry Dolls, I was a big fan. I suppose young and thrusting music bloggers would pigeon hole it as indie folk or, something equally trendy, but I thought it was more bluegrass than anything else but, hey, what do I know? I know very little about these three young ladies other than they are located in London, but met in Liverpool. If you fancy a bit of indie folk/bluegrassy stuff, you could do a lot worse than to check out Worry Dolls.
As for Ian Hunter, what can I possibly tell you. You can see the setlist, above, it says everything you need to know. It's a well thought out mix of his back catalogue, with the new stuff spread liberally throughout, like army-ration jam. There's enough there to keep the old-school happy, and enough new stuff to shift some merch. The new stuff doesn't really sound old or new, per se, more like Ian Hunter songs you just haven't heard yet. He seems to just keep coming up with the goods, time after time. I could say, I'd have preferred to hear this, rather than that, but that's not really true. I was perfectly happy with what was played and how they played it. I have no criticisms. I think that is a first, for me.
If you're reading this, presumably, you know who Ian Hunter is and what he sounds like. Hey, even if he'd spent 2 hours reciting the telephone directory I would have probably given him a stellar revue. No, I'm not impartial but, looking around at the other faces in the audience, no one present was not enjoying the gig. This was not about converting people to the Church of Mott, we were all founder members, keeping the faith. If anything, Ian and the band seemed to be having more fun than when I'd seen him/them before. Ian seemed more relaxed, chatty, even a little playful with the audience. I don't know that I enjoyed it more than when I saw him before but I probably did appreciate it more. It's a great band he has assembled; I imagine he's a hard taskmaster, but they operate as one. When you have a bunch of talented musicians, playing wonderful songs, with an Ian Hunter up front and center, what's not to enjoy?
If you're reading this, presumably, you know who Ian Hunter is and what he sounds like. Hey, even if he'd spent 2 hours reciting the telephone directory I would have probably given him a stellar revue. No, I'm not impartial but, looking around at the other faces in the audience, no one present was not enjoying the gig. This was not about converting people to the Church of Mott, we were all founder members, keeping the faith. If anything, Ian and the band seemed to be having more fun than when I'd seen him/them before. Ian seemed more relaxed, chatty, even a little playful with the audience. I don't know that I enjoyed it more than when I saw him before but I probably did appreciate it more. It's a great band he has assembled; I imagine he's a hard taskmaster, but they operate as one. When you have a bunch of talented musicians, playing wonderful songs, with an Ian Hunter up front and center, what's not to enjoy?
Quite how long he will go on doing this, I have no idea. Hopefully, it will be a few more years, yet. All I know is that I'll be listening to Ian Hunter and Mott the Hoople until the day I die and I'll still be playing a disproportionate amount on my radio show.
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
June 23rd 2017
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
June 23rd 2017