Monsters of Rock: Thunder - Manchester Evening News Arena 20th November 2002
Setlist: Welcome to the Party / River of Pain / Low Life in High Places / Spin Doctor / Higher Ground / Back Street Symphony / Love Walked In / Dirty Love
If I need to spell it out, if I need to tell you, what is the point? If you don't already know, how is anything I have to say going to make a difference?
Well, I can try.
If I need to spell it out, if I need to tell you, what is the point? If you don't already know, how is anything I have to say going to make a difference?
Well, I can try.
It's quite simple. From the first time I heard Thunder, back in the days of The Power Station on BSB (Oh, shut up! I know some of you have no idea what that means!) I remember thinking that this was a band that was better than its' peers by a considerable amount. And I was right. Thunder is one of the best live rock bands I have ever seen and I don't say that lightly. It is not just the great songs, the superb musicianship, it isn't even Danny Bowes' awesome voice, it is the whole thing, and the show they put on. There are no fancy sets, the lights are effective, the sound is good, but a Thunder live show is more than the sum of its' parts. And before you start saying, he doesn't know what he's rambling on about, believe me I do. I am putting them on a level with some great live performers: Rose Tattoo; The Dells; The Kinks; BB King; The Grateful Dead; Bobby Paris; Al Green; I've seen them all and in their own way Thunder has the same intensity and level of live performance, which leaves you wrung out, hoarse and exhilarated after the gig. Kudos to Alice Cooper for following them on stage. It takes someone of Alice's stature to be able to play after Thunder and not be worried by what they can do. I can think of so many bands that wouldn't be able to handle it. I remember what Rose Tattoo did to Rainbow on the Difficult to Cure tour. Blackmore had a hard time and it should have been called the Difficult to Follow tour because the Tats rocked the house, big time. But, I digress, for a change.
Thunder. I have seen them several times before and on each and every occasion, I have been unable to do ought but croak the next day. This time would be no exception. Your hands are tender from all the clapping, your shoulders hurt from the arm waving and your legs ache from the standing and foot tapping. A Thunder gig is a full body workout. No seriously, I was mortified when Thunder broke up. It is the only exercise I ever get and I was glad to see them again. I have put on so much weight since the last gig I went to at Liverpool's Royal Court. After the other night, I feel pounds lighter. I hope they do a full tour in their own right, maybe with The Quireboys, then I can get to a few gigs and maybe fit in those jeans again by the end of the tour.
All right, so I may jest somewhat, but that is what makes the difference. Some bands are technically good live, some have a superb stage show, but they just don't involve you. I want my live music to be 'live', not just the same as the CD. Thunder delivers in this respect. The songs are beautifully crafted pieces of music and all but one have been live favourites for years. They're songs you can sing along to and Danny makes sure that you do.
Luke Morley and Ben Matthews keep the hot licks and cool riffs flowing endlessly, whilst Chris Childs nails the bass to the floor with a heavy-duty, reliable accuracy and Harry James, well, no one quite does what Harry does. He is, even by drummer standards, different but this is just part of how Thunder draw you in to be part of the show. Then there is Danny Bowes' voice. This guy has some pipes, I tell you what. Danny can not only sing on the records, he can do it live. Maybe he is even better live than on CD? For sure, he is right up there with Glenn Hughes, Chris Farlowe and Marvin Junior (look it up!) as far as power and sheer WOW! factor are concerned. His voice is so good, it literally takes your breath away. My daughter has fallen in love with Danny, on account of his voice.
As a showman, I'd put money on the fact that Danny Bowes is a Kinks fan. He winds the audience up just like Ray Davies does and Thunder make the most of the ends of songs, as do The Kinks, with Danny's 'deafness' and inability to hear the crowd cheering and clapping. Bowes is right up there with Ray Davies as a crowd teaser and pleaser too. He makes you cheer, clap, sing, dance, wave your arms around in the air, because if you don't the band won't play such and such, or they'll go home or they'll all sit down and wait whilst the audience goes hysterical. It all adds to the enjoyment of the evening and for my money, I can hardly wait for Thunder to tour again. I know for certain that at least one of the gigs will be a complete family outing. Oh, and what a great name, Thunder. I can't, for the life of me, think why I like that so much.
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
22nd November 2002
Thunder. I have seen them several times before and on each and every occasion, I have been unable to do ought but croak the next day. This time would be no exception. Your hands are tender from all the clapping, your shoulders hurt from the arm waving and your legs ache from the standing and foot tapping. A Thunder gig is a full body workout. No seriously, I was mortified when Thunder broke up. It is the only exercise I ever get and I was glad to see them again. I have put on so much weight since the last gig I went to at Liverpool's Royal Court. After the other night, I feel pounds lighter. I hope they do a full tour in their own right, maybe with The Quireboys, then I can get to a few gigs and maybe fit in those jeans again by the end of the tour.
All right, so I may jest somewhat, but that is what makes the difference. Some bands are technically good live, some have a superb stage show, but they just don't involve you. I want my live music to be 'live', not just the same as the CD. Thunder delivers in this respect. The songs are beautifully crafted pieces of music and all but one have been live favourites for years. They're songs you can sing along to and Danny makes sure that you do.
Luke Morley and Ben Matthews keep the hot licks and cool riffs flowing endlessly, whilst Chris Childs nails the bass to the floor with a heavy-duty, reliable accuracy and Harry James, well, no one quite does what Harry does. He is, even by drummer standards, different but this is just part of how Thunder draw you in to be part of the show. Then there is Danny Bowes' voice. This guy has some pipes, I tell you what. Danny can not only sing on the records, he can do it live. Maybe he is even better live than on CD? For sure, he is right up there with Glenn Hughes, Chris Farlowe and Marvin Junior (look it up!) as far as power and sheer WOW! factor are concerned. His voice is so good, it literally takes your breath away. My daughter has fallen in love with Danny, on account of his voice.
As a showman, I'd put money on the fact that Danny Bowes is a Kinks fan. He winds the audience up just like Ray Davies does and Thunder make the most of the ends of songs, as do The Kinks, with Danny's 'deafness' and inability to hear the crowd cheering and clapping. Bowes is right up there with Ray Davies as a crowd teaser and pleaser too. He makes you cheer, clap, sing, dance, wave your arms around in the air, because if you don't the band won't play such and such, or they'll go home or they'll all sit down and wait whilst the audience goes hysterical. It all adds to the enjoyment of the evening and for my money, I can hardly wait for Thunder to tour again. I know for certain that at least one of the gigs will be a complete family outing. Oh, and what a great name, Thunder. I can't, for the life of me, think why I like that so much.
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
22nd November 2002