Last year’s ‘Killerstar’ album was one of my favourites, certainly among the most listened to. The show at the 100 Club was fantastically received by most that were there (unfortunately I couldn’t make it) and when this set was announced, I was looking forward to it intensely. It does not disappoint.
It is a slightly different lineup to that of the album. No Earl Slick, Kevin Armstrong steps in, Mark Plati moves to bass, the horn section now comprises Simon Bates and Claire Hirst. No matter: the core of the band is and was Rob Fleming on vocals (plus guitar and bass synth) and James Sedge on drums with Mike Garson on piano.
The music is in an eighties/nineties rock vibe but there is a touch more subtlety than most rock bands of the time, some real quality playing and a freedom in the playing that somehow escaped most bands of the time.
Now, the 100 Club is a decidedly odd duck in terms of venue. Revered by many and a classic venue for all sorts of music, it is almost schizophrenic in that if the crowd is able to move around, you tend to lose any sense of atmosphere, but when it is packed out – as it was on that night – there is an atmosphere that lifts a band and as the heat rises, so does the emotion in the room. It only holds around 350 but there is nothing like it when it is packed.
The band seemed to be feeding off the crowd and it generated a stunning performance. The band cooking up a storm and all the subtleties of the band still showing through, even in the midst of a live performance.
It needs to be listened to as a whole show, not picking out individual performances or tracks but Simon’s sax playing is superb throughout and Mike Garson’s piano lifts the sound from any sense of the ordinary.
As with the original release, the vinyl album definitely adds something extra, but the CD is still excellent if the LP bug hasn’t got you yet.
