Mountain - Manchester Academy 28th May 2006
Setlist: Blood Of The Sun / Long Red / Theme For An Imaginary Western / Blowin In The Wind / If Heartaches Were Nickels / Mutant X / Richie acoustic solo / Going Down / Mississippi Queen // Nantucket Sleighride / Never In My Life
Normally, I’m quite good at taking down the setlist. At this particular show, I was less than stellar in my responsibilities to my millions of followers. Looking back at my review of their 2002 shows in Sheffield and Birmingham, I noticed that then too, I got so involved in the show that I was unsure of the setlist! I guess that’s just the Leslie West effect. Yeah, that’s right, I am one of those saddo types that writes down the song titles in a notebook, and even I have to admit that it’s a little anoraky and trainspotter-creepy! Or, my preferred option, if I’m near the stage, snap a photo of the setlist, or better still, snag a setlist at the end. That would have worked well, except for one small fact; Mountain didn’t use a setlist. Bugger!*
OK, I don’t have millions of followers. I consider myself fortunate if I get an email from one person who appreciates either my writing or my photos for any particular event. Perhaps I’ll be appreciated posthumously? It doesn’t look like anyone’s going to notice me this side of death. Ah, who am I kidding? No-one ever reads this stuff anyway. I could rant for billions of words and it wouldn’t make the slightest difference.
Normally, I’m quite good at taking down the setlist. At this particular show, I was less than stellar in my responsibilities to my millions of followers. Looking back at my review of their 2002 shows in Sheffield and Birmingham, I noticed that then too, I got so involved in the show that I was unsure of the setlist! I guess that’s just the Leslie West effect. Yeah, that’s right, I am one of those saddo types that writes down the song titles in a notebook, and even I have to admit that it’s a little anoraky and trainspotter-creepy! Or, my preferred option, if I’m near the stage, snap a photo of the setlist, or better still, snag a setlist at the end. That would have worked well, except for one small fact; Mountain didn’t use a setlist. Bugger!*
OK, I don’t have millions of followers. I consider myself fortunate if I get an email from one person who appreciates either my writing or my photos for any particular event. Perhaps I’ll be appreciated posthumously? It doesn’t look like anyone’s going to notice me this side of death. Ah, who am I kidding? No-one ever reads this stuff anyway. I could rant for billions of words and it wouldn’t make the slightest difference.
So, Leslie West, Corky Laing and Richie Scarlet, otherwise known as Mountain, return to the UK for another season of touring the more intimate venues and I, for one, awaited this particular show with a great deal of excitement. I have never made any secret of the fact that I absolutely adore the power trio format; there is just something about the raw sound that you just don’t get with a four piece – I believe it’s the space in the sound that makes the difference – and a good threesome is well worth the effort! If you haven’t seen Mountain before, you cannot appreciate just what you are missing out on. This is such a tight band and, even though it is easy to think of Richie as the new boy in the line up, they have actually been together now for quite some time.
Corky Laing is such a fine drummer of the old school, able to play with power, yet swing it at the same time. The only person I can think of to compare him to is Ian Paice of Deep Purple; I think that just about says it all.
Corky Laing is such a fine drummer of the old school, able to play with power, yet swing it at the same time. The only person I can think of to compare him to is Ian Paice of Deep Purple; I think that just about says it all.
Richie Scarlet is a multi-talented individual whose bass-playing style adds an awful lot of oomph to the overall sound, helping to make this three piece band sound much bigger than it is. In many ways, Richie is one of the best kept secrets in the music business and really should be more widely lauded than he is.
Leslie West, on the other hand, needs no introduction. He is a truly unique guitarist and vocalist, not to mention a complete individual and seeing Mountain live is just as much about experiencing his personality, as it is about witnessing his earth-shattering guitar sound. No-one else on the planet sounds anything like Leslie West (either voice, or guitar) and if you need to have it explained to you why Mountain is a must see act, then you don’t deserve to breathe air.
Leslie West, on the other hand, needs no introduction. He is a truly unique guitarist and vocalist, not to mention a complete individual and seeing Mountain live is just as much about experiencing his personality, as it is about witnessing his earth-shattering guitar sound. No-one else on the planet sounds anything like Leslie West (either voice, or guitar) and if you need to have it explained to you why Mountain is a must see act, then you don’t deserve to breathe air.
The setlist is almost irrelevant in a review of a Mountain gig; with 35 years worth of back catalogue to take a swipe at, selecting 90 minutes worth of songs to play must be incredibly difficult. It’s not so much what to play, as what to leave out. That said, it’s difficult to imagine Leslie being allowed to leave the building alive without playing Theme For An Imaginary Western, Mississippi Queen, or Nantucket Sleighride so, right there is a third of the show.
Having, initially, delighted us with Blood Of The Sun, Long Red and Theme, a chair was placed center stage and Leslie sat down and performed an outstanding acoustic rendition of Blowin’ In The Wind, followed by the absolutely stunning [new] song from Guitarded, If Heartaches Were Nickels. Whilst cynics may put forth the proposition that this is a good excuse for LW to have a sit down and a rest, who cares when he performs like that? Furthermore, this was new and something I hadn’t seen at a Mountain show before, and I liked it. (For the record, Leslie plays acoustic guitar the way he plays electric: as if he is trying to slice your ears off!!) The acoustic segment definitely needs to stay in the show as it is mind-blowingly brilliant.
What was more surprising still was that, after Corky’s drum solo, Richie and Leslie returned to the stage, with Leslie handing over the acoustic guitar and we were treated to a rather excellent acoustic guitar performance from Mr Scarlet who, as it turns out, is a bit of a guitarist in his own right. I spoke to Richie after the show and the Manchester show was only the second time that this had happened, the previous night in Sheffield being the first. Nevertheless, it was a welcome addition to the show and, whatever the reason for Leslie’s generosity, it added a new dimension.
Having, initially, delighted us with Blood Of The Sun, Long Red and Theme, a chair was placed center stage and Leslie sat down and performed an outstanding acoustic rendition of Blowin’ In The Wind, followed by the absolutely stunning [new] song from Guitarded, If Heartaches Were Nickels. Whilst cynics may put forth the proposition that this is a good excuse for LW to have a sit down and a rest, who cares when he performs like that? Furthermore, this was new and something I hadn’t seen at a Mountain show before, and I liked it. (For the record, Leslie plays acoustic guitar the way he plays electric: as if he is trying to slice your ears off!!) The acoustic segment definitely needs to stay in the show as it is mind-blowingly brilliant.
What was more surprising still was that, after Corky’s drum solo, Richie and Leslie returned to the stage, with Leslie handing over the acoustic guitar and we were treated to a rather excellent acoustic guitar performance from Mr Scarlet who, as it turns out, is a bit of a guitarist in his own right. I spoke to Richie after the show and the Manchester show was only the second time that this had happened, the previous night in Sheffield being the first. Nevertheless, it was a welcome addition to the show and, whatever the reason for Leslie’s generosity, it added a new dimension.
Now, people at my time of life can only take so many surprises in one night, and we’d already had more than a pacemaker-full. But we weren’t done yet. Not only had Richie been given the opportunity to shine on acoustic guitar, he also got the chance to sing a song and perform a bass solo during a foot-tappingly excellent version of Going Down. The last time I saw them live, back in 2002, it was evident that this was Leslie West and Corky Laing, with Richie Scarlet. However, in the past few years Richie has clearly become an fundamental part of the band and this is now Mountain: Leslie, Corky and Richie. The difference is noticeable and extremely enjoyable, extending to this particular line-up a strong link to the past, back to a time when the kinship of the band members was integral to the emerging legend. The interplay within this band is obvious and they feed off each other seamlessly, something which only comes with mutual respect and closeness.
In the past, you are unlikely to have seen any line up of Mountain that wasn’t populated with excellent musicians but, for me, this current incarnation is one of the best. Although I was far too young to ever see the original line-up live, I think that this band probably comes pretty close to the feel of the original and, certainly, you have the sensation that you are witnessing something special taking place on stage.
You will have to search hard to get better value for your money than a Mountain show.
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
29th May 2006
*The ‘Bugger’ works best if you say it with a Robbie Coltrane, ‘Cracker’ accent. Go on, try it**.
**This shouldn’t be confused with the Mark McManus, ‘Taggart’ ‘Murder’ accent, which is subtly different.)
In the past, you are unlikely to have seen any line up of Mountain that wasn’t populated with excellent musicians but, for me, this current incarnation is one of the best. Although I was far too young to ever see the original line-up live, I think that this band probably comes pretty close to the feel of the original and, certainly, you have the sensation that you are witnessing something special taking place on stage.
You will have to search hard to get better value for your money than a Mountain show.
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
29th May 2006
*The ‘Bugger’ works best if you say it with a Robbie Coltrane, ‘Cracker’ accent. Go on, try it**.
**This shouldn’t be confused with the Mark McManus, ‘Taggart’ ‘Murder’ accent, which is subtly different.)
About the photos...
I don't know what it is about Mountain but I seem to beset by problems. Thrice have I attempted to get some decent pictures of them and thrice have I been thwarted, most heinously.
The first time, the camera batteries, which I had spent all day charging, turned out to be knackered and I got one photo before the camera died. The second time, I had Mr 33lb Head stood in front of me. This time, I had a great spot, no-one in front of me, fully-charged batteries... and the only lights at Manchester's Bar Academy are blue (shining on the back of the stage) and red shining on the front. Not the best options by any stretch of the imagination.
Nevertheless, I did manage to get one really good photo...
The first time, the camera batteries, which I had spent all day charging, turned out to be knackered and I got one photo before the camera died. The second time, I had Mr 33lb Head stood in front of me. This time, I had a great spot, no-one in front of me, fully-charged batteries... and the only lights at Manchester's Bar Academy are blue (shining on the back of the stage) and red shining on the front. Not the best options by any stretch of the imagination.
Nevertheless, I did manage to get one really good photo...