FM Shepherds Bush 10-3-2012

This gig was a celebration of a cd released 25 years ago when hair was plentiful and suits were pink!!

First up was the Deborah Bonham Band who played 5 songs in their 20 minute set all from her soon to be released new cd. She has a very good bluesy voice but the music was a little on the ploddy side.

We had Romeo’s Daughter up next as main support. As we had 20 years ago and also 2 years ago on the “Metropolis” tour.

In their 40 minute set we has 4 oldies (Velvet Tongue, Attracted To The Animal, I Cry Myself To Sleep and Wild Child) and 4 new ones from the just released “Rapture” cd (Trippin’Out, Bittersweet, Lightning and Keep Walkin’).

Led by the wonderful voice of Leigh Matty all the songs new and old went down a storm with Craig Joiner on guitar leading from the front with some very tasteful soloing.

Let’s hope this time round they get the success they deserve.

After the rousing success of the “Metropolis” cd and the high profile support slots that were generated this was a chance to savour one of my all-time favourite cd’s to be played in full and with the size of the crowd I wasn’t the only one looking forward to going back 25 years.

Coming on to their original Pink Panther intro tape the rousing reception showed the love we all have of this classic band.

Here’s what they played:

That girl
Other side of midnight
Love lies dying
I belong to the night
American girls
Hot wired
Face to face
Frozen heart
Heart of the matter
Dangerous
Let love be the leader
Tough it out
Don't stop
Does it feel like love
Bad luck
Burning my heart down

Encore:

Hot legs

For an hour and 35 minutes we all had the time of our lives. We had all of the “Indiscreet” album played back to back, a B side, a cd single and then most of the “Tough It Out” cd and then an old favourite to finish.

With Pete Jupp (drums), Merv Goldsworthy (bass) and Jem Davis on keys (and sometime Van Halen paintjob keytar) laying down the beat it leaves the 2 guys at the front to take it to the next level.

Jim Kirkpatrick on guitar has completely rejuvenated the band since his arrival. His fluent non flashy approach is just perfect. He doesn’t overplay (he could if he wanted to) but all his playing including solos have a wonderful melodic touch to them.

To his left is “The Voice” Steve Overland. I’ve been a mega fan since first seeing him with Wildlife way back in 1983 supporting MSG.

He really does get better with age and if he came out and sang the phone book I’d pay to see it. He knows when to let the crowd join in in fact he could have let the crowd sing it all as they knew all the words. A true great.

I could go on for ages about the whole evening picking favourites.

All of it although it seemed to me that after playing “Indiscreet” they seemed to relax and if possible it went up to another level with “Dangerous” being greeted like a returning son!!

To finish with the old live favourite “Hot Legs” was a masterstroke and left us all leaving with an enormous grin that even now is difficult to shake off.

A wonderful evening that was being filmed so we look forward to seeing that and now look into the future to the new cd that is being recorded as we speak.

And returning FM to where they belong at the top of the melodic rock tree.

ME/Shazz