Reviews >Reviews 2006 > Rocknblues

Champ no longer - The winner in 2004 & 2005 was beaten by a 4 year old boy this year!

I like the Rock and Blues Custom Show. As a festival, it has an atmosphere that suits me well. Leeds is great musically, but the riots and wanton destruction are abhorrent. V has some good bands, but always has boring pop acts and is always populated by trendy wankers poncing about trying to impress members of the opposite (or same) sex. Glastonbury is the daddy. Of that there is no doubt. Nothing ever comes close. Both Rock and Blues and Glastonbury, bizarrely, have a few similarities. It's all about that freedom. People do dance like nobody's watching. People do sing like nobody is listening. There's no pressure to conform. People do whatever they want. There's no hype to cram into a tent to see the latest trendy next big thing only to be disappointed by yet another average indie band who blatantly copy all that has gone before. At Rock and Blues; if it's good people will like it. There is no fashion (this side of the 80's anyway). There is no hype.

Arriving on site just before 6 on the Thursday evening, we managed to get three tents up before a heavy shower poured cold water on my erections. Fortunately, it didn't last long and I was able to get the last one up before Mr Alistair arrived at 7. We enjoyed chewing a bit of cud and a couple of cans before making our way up to the Cross Piston Saloon to see the Bon Jovi Experience. As tributes go they weren't bad. I'm not overly familiar with latter day Bon Jovi material, but it was competently executed and it was good to see the band putting some effort in. The biggest cheers were for 'those' hits and, yes, entertainment was had. I wouldn't be surprised to see this lot at Glastonbudget next year. The only slight gripe was the accent. If you're gonna try for the Bon Jovi Experience right down the the Noo Joisey accent, at least try for one that at least is somewhere approaching east coast (east coast America that is, not Cleethorpes).

Friday dawned fine and dry. I know this because the incessant heat drove me out of the tent at 06:30. Although the first band of the day was in the Cross Piston at 13:00, with main stage action commencing at 16:00, it was too hot to do anything and I couldn't be arsed. So a long day was spent lounging around the tents. Shit was eventually accumulated and I walked up to the arena to catch the end of American Dog. Certainly American biker metal, it was ok, but I wasn't bothered that I hadn't seen the whole set.

Vixen were pleasant enough, but somewhat overly flaccid for my harder tastes. I was never a fan at the time and tonight in no way made me a convert. Although watching from the usual place, I felt the need to venture down to the stage front in order to review the artistic interpretation (not to check out their tits then? - ed). I would generally affirm that it was better watching from the back. Admittedly, I haven't escaped either, but the ravages of time have not been kind. To further provide informed comment, I wandered past the signing tent later and must admit the bass player is kinda cute though.

Now headliners UFO are one of my favourite bands. I was eager to see them again, especially as Andy Parker had returned to his rightful place behind the drumkit. I was not disappointed. It was a superb set. Largely drawn from the classic 'Strangers....' live set, it also included three of the best from the last studio album, 'You Are Here', as well as one from forthcoming album 'The Monkey Puzzle', due for release in September. 'I'm a Loser' was especially well executed, but all the way through great songs played with verve and finesse. UFO's ace card is Pete Way. Although clearly 'getting on a bit', he still moves around the stage like a roadrunner on acid.. He loves rock'roll. He lives rock'n'roll. He is a Rock God. UFO are one helluva great live band. They have a great back catalogue and continue to produce valid new material, something many of their classic rock contemporaries fail to achieve. Although a big fan, I believe there is still some room for improvement. Vinnie Moore is a worthy successor to Michael Schenker, who is just too much of a liability these days to be considered (he's a nutter - ed), but if only there was a bit less of the widdley widdley stuff.. UFO still have firm roots in the blues. With the blues, less is more, Moore. My other slight complaint is their continued ignorance of the post Schenker era of the early 1980's. 'No Place to Run', 'The Wild, The Willing and the Innocent' and 'Mechanix' are great albums - the occasional delve into this much underrated chapter in their career would be wonderful. The encores finished with 'Shoot, Shoot' and even the sceptics went home happy.

Saturday dawned fine and dry (so Tone told me - as he was up early for one of his Holsten workshop sessions), but less hot so I managed to stay indoors until 9. With less time available, I had to rush around in order to spend only 3 hours fecking about before going to the pub. Going to the pub does unfortunately mean missing the bikini babe and beer belly competitions (apparently this year won by a 4 year old boy - though I'm not sure which competition he entered). This year it also meant missing the thing on a stick competition, but what the hell, it's a nice walk to a nice pub with good cheap food - and a good sit down. (My personal fave stick thing was a stick on a stick - although special mention must go to the cheese and pineapple on a stick; great idea, poor execution).

Saor Patrol - Not quite Snow Patrol then

I did get back into the arena to see the end of Saor Patrol. I glanced around the crowd hoping to see some disappointed indie kids expecting to see Irish oiks Snow Patrol but alas saw nothing of the sort. Anyway this lot couldn't be more different. Kilted beardy blokes with a set of bagpipes and three sets of drums. Technically neither rock nor blues, but definitely Braveheart, they proved something even more fitting for the event. A fine fine outfit.

Opening the main stage proper were The Quireboys. I've always been a fan since seeing one of their first gigs back in 1985 at Huddersfield Poly; and have since sung live on stage with them (albeit leaving rather abruptly before security escorted me from the premises - I do have audio proof of this as well - Ed). They are a tidy outfit that plays good ol'fashioned rock'n'roll. All the hits were aired, even first single 'There She Goes Again', as well as plenty of more recent numbers. The timing wasn't bad either, coming on stage just after 6, but not starting the best song 'Seven O'Clock' until 18:58 (a good bet went begging there - Rob, where were you?) A very enjoyable set, although it's not often one can say their view of the stage was interrupted by a loaf of bread on a stick.

Next up were M3 - classic Whitesnake. Half of Whitesnake from the late 70's/early 80's, playing all the best songs until Coverdale became a pretentious wanker. Bernie Marsden may look like Eddie Large these days, but he plays a mean hard driving blues guitar and still sings 'Ain't Gonna Cry No More' impeccably. All the classics were aired with 'Don't Break My Heart Again' still sounding fresh, as well as some more obscure tracks - my personal fave being 'Hit'n'Run'. Swedish singer Steffan (didn't catch his second name) may not have the swagger (or arrogance) of Coverdale, but he has a great hard rock voice, perfectly suited to these songs. Micky Moody's solo spot may not have changed for the last 25 years, but the crowd still lapped it up. Neil Murray, dependable as ever, tall as ever, kept time perfectly with Jim Copley on drums. 'Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City' proved to be popular with the masses and the set finished with 'Here I Go' again. A popular set.

My previous experiences with Hanoi Rocks were patchy - dire in Scarborough and a good set supporting Twisted fecking Sister last month. Tonight followed the Twisted Sister show. It was almost the same set, opening with 'Boulevard of Broken Dreams' and headlong straight into 'Malibu Beach'. Michael Monroe was on fire. Charging around the stage, climbing the stage structure and getting the right arse with the stag crew. I was impressed. Connie Bloom (it's that man again) was not initially doing his Jack Sparrow (unless pirates are wearing big floppy leopardskin caps these days), but soon became his own alter ego. It has to be said that one or two of the newer songs are really quite good, and it's always great to see a band really trying to win over the audience. They succeeded - almost. There were certainly some fans won over but a lot of indifference. Finishing with 'Tragedy' and 'Up Around the Bend', a band on form.

A short break followed before headliners The Damned took the stage. It was preceded by my personal favourite moment of the weekend. The Doctor took to the stage to introduce the band and promptly fell onto his arse and broke a white acoustic guitar - both sublime and ridiculous.

The Damned - "Can I play 'Happy Talk' yet Dave, please"

Beset by technical difficulties, it took a while for The Damned to get going. Initially we had 'Love Song' sans the Sensible guitar, with the next couple of songs plagued by difficulties for Vanian's mike. Things had settled down a bit by the time 'New Rose' was aired early in the set and the sound was excellent when 'Neat, Neat, Neat' followed soon after. 'I Just Can't be Happy Today' kept this punter smiling and 'Eloise' sent the goths wild (well, Noel anyway.) Unfortunately, things tailed off soon after as the band veered off into extended solos - not very punk rock. 'Smash It Up' resumed things nicely and 'The History of the World' was good to hear, but most of the second half of the set suffered from sag. The Doctor threatened to play 'Spirit in the Sky' if we didn't cheer for an encore. Personally, I would have preferred that. The Damned returned for a couple more including, surprisingly, Sensible playing 'Happy Talk' - nice.

As always, the wet t-shirt contest followed. Completely un-pc, largely poor quality entrants, but tremendous fun. The Doctor is in his element here. No arsing about - he just wants the girls to get 'em out. As a tribute to the good doctor I would like to campaign for the word 'Norks' to be entered into the Oxford English dictionary. A worthy winner soon emerged from a poor field and we could all trudge back through the rain. General Skulduggery were still playing in the Cross Piston, but I thought I'd give it a miss. I think I'd seen enough over the weekend.

As I was saying, I like Rock and Blues. Sure, the music ain't mindblowing, the facilities aren't fantastic, there is quite a distinct lack of blues at times, and the afternoon entertainment is limited. But take it for what it is. It's a well organised festival. Good value. Good entertainment. Great atmosphere and perfectly safe. Now if only Leeds was policed by The Outlaws.....

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