Mountain - The Boardwalk Sheffield 5th March 2002 & The Robin Dudley 7th March 2002
Set list: Blood of the Sun / For Yasgur's Farm / Crossroads / Never in My Life / Sea of Fire / Theme For an Imaginary Western / It's A Man's World / Nantucket Sleighride // Mississippi Queen
Following an absolutely superb opening set from the amazing Stray, veritable legends Leslie West and Corky Laing, ably assisted by Richie Scarlett, took to the stage. They opened with Blood of the Sun, closed with Nantucket Sleighride (following an explanation of what a Nantucket Sleighride is - and being a smart arse, I already knew this!) In between came lots of chat, a few jokes, some wonderful talkie bits from Leslie West and a blitzing cover of the Cream classic Crossroads. There was Theme for an Imaginary Western, the awesome Sea of Fire, one of my all-time favourite Mountain tracks Never in My Life, and to bring it all to a close, Mississippi Queen.
Of course, they could have played so many more songs, Nantucket Sleighride could have been three times as long, etc., etc., but, at the end of the day you don’t get many sets filled with songs of this magnitude. It doesn’t get much better than this. Especially after such a stunning support band as Stray. No, I was quite satisfied. Thank you very much.
Following an absolutely superb opening set from the amazing Stray, veritable legends Leslie West and Corky Laing, ably assisted by Richie Scarlett, took to the stage. They opened with Blood of the Sun, closed with Nantucket Sleighride (following an explanation of what a Nantucket Sleighride is - and being a smart arse, I already knew this!) In between came lots of chat, a few jokes, some wonderful talkie bits from Leslie West and a blitzing cover of the Cream classic Crossroads. There was Theme for an Imaginary Western, the awesome Sea of Fire, one of my all-time favourite Mountain tracks Never in My Life, and to bring it all to a close, Mississippi Queen.
Of course, they could have played so many more songs, Nantucket Sleighride could have been three times as long, etc., etc., but, at the end of the day you don’t get many sets filled with songs of this magnitude. It doesn’t get much better than this. Especially after such a stunning support band as Stray. No, I was quite satisfied. Thank you very much.
However, I have to say that there was quite a difference between the two gigs. The Tuesday night in Sheffield was cramped and seemed to have been chucked in the corner of a small room, following a hastily rearranged gig. This seemed to unsettle the band and whilst they performed well, it was only when I saw them two nights later at The Robin, in Dudley, did I realise how much better that latter show was. The band was more relaxed, more at home on the bigger stage and played with much more energy than in the restrictive confines of the Sheffield show. In Sheffield, Richie Scarlett looked as though he was seriously ill and we wondered if he would make it to the end of the show without, vomiting, passing out or going into a coma. At Dudley, he was alive, smiling and full of beans. Hell, he even posed for a picture for me!
Leslie West too seemed much happier in the surroundings at Dudley. He chatted with the audience, chastised people who weren’t paying attention and was very entertaining. As he fired up the guitar for the intro to Nantucket Sleighride, a member of the audience was caught chatting on his mobile phone. Leslie, on seeing this, asked what he thought he was doing. The singled out punter explained that it was his mate, who couldn’t make the gig, but wanted to hear the song. Leslie indicated that the phone be passed to him, enquired about the person’s name and then informed the caller, “Hey Bill, I’m fucking busy here!” Then he placed the phone on his amp and gave Bill some serious Leslie West style feedback and guitar heroics, before tossing the phone back to its owner.
Leslie West too seemed much happier in the surroundings at Dudley. He chatted with the audience, chastised people who weren’t paying attention and was very entertaining. As he fired up the guitar for the intro to Nantucket Sleighride, a member of the audience was caught chatting on his mobile phone. Leslie, on seeing this, asked what he thought he was doing. The singled out punter explained that it was his mate, who couldn’t make the gig, but wanted to hear the song. Leslie indicated that the phone be passed to him, enquired about the person’s name and then informed the caller, “Hey Bill, I’m fucking busy here!” Then he placed the phone on his amp and gave Bill some serious Leslie West style feedback and guitar heroics, before tossing the phone back to its owner.
Corky Laing is just a star of the highest order, no doubt about it. Of all the drummers I have ever seen beat the skins, he has to be one of the best. Never in my Life (sorry, couldn’t resist it) have I ever seen a drummer play the drums as a lead instrument, quite in the way that Corky does. Stunning. A truly incredible performance. Much to my joy I even managed to grab one of his drumsticks, which he kindly signed for me after the show.
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 Believe it, or not, it says Corky Laing! |
Indeed, all three of them emerged after the show to sign, body parts, LP sleeves, CD inserts, drumsticks, tickets and anything else people thrust at them. I was impressed by their star quality and the ease with which one could approach them - not what I expected at all. Leslie West is a guitar hero, a legend, let’s face it.
So, two gigs, ostensibly the same, yet radically different. One good, the other great. I got to see and hear Nantucket Sleighride played live by Mountain. Result! What do I follow this with? Oh, I know Iron Maiden, Brixton Academy, that should just about do it.
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
9th March 2002
So, two gigs, ostensibly the same, yet radically different. One good, the other great. I got to see and hear Nantucket Sleighride played live by Mountain. Result! What do I follow this with? Oh, I know Iron Maiden, Brixton Academy, that should just about do it.
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
9th March 2002
About the photos...
Del Bromham - Stray
I really didn't think I would get these pictures... I went to the Sheffield gig on the Tuesday night, with my good friend Bourne. It had been moved from the Boardwalk to The Barfly, about 10 minutes walk away. I didn't need the spare batteries, I knew the ones in the camera were fully charged.
We were watching Stray and I decided to get a couple of shots in the bag, as you do. I got the camera out, switched it on, took a pic, lined up for a second shot and the damned camera switched itself off! What the...? Apparently the batteries hadn't charged, even though the charger said they were fully charged. Bollocks!
Well, things working out as they do, I'd left the Duracells in the car outside the original venue for the gig and it would take me 20 minutes to get there and back and I'd miss a chunk of something. No shop or garage near to pop out and buy some AAs, so that's that, I thought. Then, on the Wed night, I went to see Man in Crewe, where we were also supposed to see John Wetton on the Thursday night, only to find that Wetton had cancelled, leaving the way open for me to go to Dudley to take this little lot!
Mostly they are OK, although I would like to know why I always get the bloke with the 33lb head and a wicked mullet standing right in front of me!
We were watching Stray and I decided to get a couple of shots in the bag, as you do. I got the camera out, switched it on, took a pic, lined up for a second shot and the damned camera switched itself off! What the...? Apparently the batteries hadn't charged, even though the charger said they were fully charged. Bollocks!
Well, things working out as they do, I'd left the Duracells in the car outside the original venue for the gig and it would take me 20 minutes to get there and back and I'd miss a chunk of something. No shop or garage near to pop out and buy some AAs, so that's that, I thought. Then, on the Wed night, I went to see Man in Crewe, where we were also supposed to see John Wetton on the Thursday night, only to find that Wetton had cancelled, leaving the way open for me to go to Dudley to take this little lot!
Mostly they are OK, although I would like to know why I always get the bloke with the 33lb head and a wicked mullet standing right in front of me!