Dream Theatre Blackburn KGH 11th November

What a coup, Dream Theater playing Blackburn, not that I am a great fan, but I do like what they do, and as they are playing in my home town, they have to be seen.

Supported by Symphony X, a good heads down rock outfit with some good tunes, the night kicks of with a bang. That is until mr security bastard informs me that the taking of photographs will not be allowed, and that they would be saying the same to everyone who attempts to take any illicit photographs all through the night, and true to their word they were.

Anyway, that would not spoil it for me, as Dream Theater make their way to the stage, obscured by a blackout curtain, into music filtered out and they were off. Tiny cameras have been discreetly placed around the stage and feed from these cameras are projected onto the rear of the stage for all to see, thus providing strange angles to view the band from. Some members play up to these cameras, while the others act as though they are not there.

Most of the songs they played tonight I knew, or rather I had heard before, but to ask be what they were called, my answer would comprise of a set of shrugged shoulders, but that does not matter, for they play with such precision, complex structures are executed with out the need for a safety net.

Two hours of this are lapped up by a most appreciative audience, but all good things have eventually to come to an end. We all spill out onto a cold Sunday evening in November, to discuss what we have seen and heard. All that remains is to head off home, which for me takes all of five minutes. Hurrah.

Sorry no pictures are available from me for this gig - thanks mr security bastard

Frank Sidebottom Blakeys KGH 9th November

Frank Sidebottom was playing in Blackburn, so of course a visit had to be made, for you cannot beat a bit of Frank. Yes his act has not changed in all the years I have known of him, but who cares. Little Frank, silly songs, audience participation, raffles, dressing up in silly costumes all are familiar, yet utterly bizarre, just try to describe his act to someone who has never seen it and you would struggle, that or they will look at you as though you have just grown a secong head, a head that could rival Franks.

But who cares, the room was full of people quite willing to sing along with his silly songs, play along with his silly games and ultimately to have your picture taken with the man himself. And yes I did.

Off The Wall - Blackburn KGH

off the wall

KGH blackburn 15th september 2006

My experiences with tribute bands have been mixed at best, for the whole idea leaves me feeling a little soiled, don't get me wrong, i have nothing against tribute bands, its just the fact that i just couldn't do it myself. That being said tonights tribute band attempt the emulate one of the greats, Pink Floyd.

Fortunately I have been informed that this band are up to the task, and have a light show to match. The venue is appropriately decked out, banked seating have been errected to provide an optimum viewing position.

Over the speakers it is announced that the performance will start in 5 minutes, of coures those needing a state of conciousness alteration pay no heed to what has just been said and stay in the bar. So when the first notes of Shine On You Crazy Diamond a frantic dash eminates from the bars and seats must be occupied.

Images of Syd Barret are projected on the circular screen at the rear of the stage, as without him, none of this could ever have existed. Along with a brief few images of Syd projected during Wish You Were Here, this is the only reference to this madcap genius. On previous occasions, the band had performed such classics as Arnold Layne and See Emily Play, but not tonight.

Classics are played and enjoyed, Welcome To The Machine and Have A Cigar, to Sheep and Learning To Fly, with most of Dark Side Of The Moon thrown in for good measure, even a track from Division Bell is let loose on a most appreciative audience. As this is going to be a long set, it has to be split into 2, this gives us time to replenish those parts that need it,

The intermission allows the audience to aquaint itself with itself and to see what cross section has ventured out tonight.From the middle aged die-hards to teen metal heads, all are here, even some pree teens, maybe it was cheaper to buy a ticket for their children than to get a babysitter for the evening, but it looked like they were enjoying the single occular device given to us. Its at events like these that brings out aquaintances that you only see at events like these, its always good to catch up like this. So on with the show.

Of course those in need of an altered state of conciousness slowly amble their way back to seats during the first song, but hey ho.


The second half, that being the one that follows the first is as stupendous as the first, sublime renditions of Floyd classics whip up the crowd, maybe substances have some bearing of the participation of audience based whooping. A couple of frommage based food product hand clapping incidents have the required cringe factor, but are soon forgotten when Off The Wall begin The Great Gig In The Sky.

Never before have so many open mouths been seen in King George Hall, the female guitarist has a voice, I really mean a voice. I personally have only heard this vocal sung as well once before, and that is the original. A collective raising of the hairs on the back of the neck with shivers down the spine marks the Van Der Graff Generator moment, and the crowd reciprocate with raptuous applause.

Throughout both sets projections illuminate and educate, visuals of both digital and actual beings flicker upon the circular screen. George Bush and Robert Mugabe are the idiots on the grass, Hitler makes a brief appearance, along with the Wizard Of Oz, all of which raises a smile, a nod and a wink. Quite some considerable time and effort have been spent producing such a superlative performance, but all things have an end, and this is it.

All the musicians have been given time the the proverbial light that spots, showing that time and effort pays off dividends, and being a Pink Floyd tribute band is a proud badge to wear. The show ends with a huge projection of a glittering disco ball, rotating to the last notes from Comfortably Numb, silouetted against this the saxaphone player tootles like a Lisa Simpson possessed, its time to go now, thank you and goodnight.

Whole Lotta Led - King Georges Hall, Blackburn

whole lotta led

King Georges Hall - 10th feb 2006

To be honest I don't much care for tribute bands, reason being, tribute bands by their very nature owe their existence to another bands ability to write and perform original material. Performing covers in an original way as a non-tribute band has its place, as many bands do this paying tribute to another band they have been influenced by. Few exceptions exist for me, Australian Pink Floyd and The Muffin Men, to name but a few. These do exactly as prescribed, they are tribute bands, they don't pretend to be anything else, but have a certain special quality, that enables them to rise above the run of the mill tribute band. Enough about the merits of being or not being a tribute band, its time for the evenings entertainment.

Packed into the Windsor Suite on a cold February evening, passionate followers of probably the most classic of all classic rock bands, have collected together to witness a tribute band attempt to recreate the music of Led Zeppelin. This has to be a most monumental task, how can you emulate the originators of all that is 'rock'. This attempt could be such folly, and fall so flat that no glue soaked patchwork of vulcanised rubber could re-inflate, but any attempt must be viewed with an open mind. Even if clouded with a modicum of alcohol.

The concept for the evening, for this band works with Led Zeppelin based concepts, is to play the Knebworth 1979 set list in its entirity. In the past they have performed other classic concerts, including Earls Court 1975. This attention to detail does have its plus points, rather than just playing all the popular tunes, or a greatest hits, a snapshot of Led Zeppelin history at the end of its glorious reign.

The Song Remains The Same opens the set to a pensive audience. The band obviously do not look like Zep, and in no way attempt to dress like them, but musically they have it. Older members of the collected inquisitors look upon the band not sure how they should respond, some perplexed faces look around for re-inforcement, some nod heads with eyes closed re-capturing a lost youth. Younger members just enjoy what is being performed for what it is, rock music carved in marble, classic, timeless, influencing all that followed.

Classic after classic permiates the room, the band are working hard, unfortunately punching the air does nothing but add an air of fermented cows milk, cringeworthy, and not worth repeating, unless you are Spinal Tap. This band must really enjoy what they do, despite the air punching. Professionalism is obvious, no lightweight could play such bombastic songs with such ease. Each member has time in the spotlight, from playing the keyboard part from No Quarter on bass, to the compulsary skin pounding that is Moby Dick, even including a bit of Theremin play on Whole Lotta Love.

Vocally, on a good day he could probably pull rabbits out of hats, but tonight he sounded a little tired and ragged around the edges, more Bon Scott than Robert Plant, but there is only one Percy. Playing the Knebworth set is a mighty task, not just for its length, but for the variety of style, unfortunately the vocals let them down in the detail. That detail cannot be overlooked, to be Zep you have to have it all, or its nothing.

Tribute bands are, as tribute is, not the real thing. Emulation can work, but you have to make it your own. Dread Zeppelin did just that, mixing Zep with Elvis, playing it in a reggae style making it original. Tonight I saw a tribute band, nothing more nothing less. Enjoyable but not too memorable, personally I thought they were ok, glad I saw them, but not too sure if I would go again.