Thin Lizzy – Leeds O2 Academy – 16 December 2012


Support tonight was from Jettblack, and to honest I was a little disappointed as I’d rather hoped to see FM who were doing dates earlier in the tour. Jettblack provide straightforward 80’s tinged rock n roll. They were without their lead singer, who was appearing in War of the Worlds, but put in a fair performance.

I’d not seen Thin Lizzy before. The original “farewell” tour was in the middle of my A levels so I didn’t go (I still failed) I thought I might get to see the Scott Gorham / John Sykes version support AC/DC but that never came off. I had resisted the temptation to see the latest incarnation until now, and what a mistake that was.

Any worries about the quality of this line up were immediately dispelled with the opening tracks of Are You Ready and Jailbreak. Ricky Warwick delivered the songs in his own great style with just a nod towards original Thin Lizzy working through classics like Killer on the Loose, Dancing in the Moonlight and Waiting for an Alibi which were lapped up by the appreciative Leeds crowd. The sound throughout was load but crystal clear.

Darren Wharton helped out with the vocals by doing the gentler parts of Still in Love With You. Throughout, Brian Downey and Marco Mendoza delivered a tight paced rhythm section for the rest of the band to build the songs around. Whisky in the Jar provided the opportunity for a great sing along before the brilliant Emerald where Scott Gorham and Damon Johnson delivered the classic twin guitar dual in all it’s glory, much to the crowds delight.

The main set was brought to a close with, of course, The Boys are Back in Town before they returned with an encore of Rosalie and Black Rose.

A great performance, my only regret is that I’d not gone to see this line up earlier. 

NH

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