Rock and Roll Suicide.......
The Sporting Club 15th September 2001
(Reviewed by Steve Smith, who was not currently in Reverb at the time of his review)
I arrived at midday to help with the soundcheck and like with everything Reverb do this whole day was NOT plain sailing in the least this is what happened.............
Like a trojan horse Reverb took to the stage with their musical attack plan hidden behind arrogance. Behind the scenes though, nerves were high, their first gig with a new line up and a far more adventourous sound. After a well planned but drunkenly executed speech from me (Goon) they started. They, in traditional Reverb style opened with a high paced, highly distorted tune. Rock and Roll Star (Oasis) was played extremely well and was a great opener if there ever was one. The only thing lacking was passion, the same passion as i'd heard in the rehearsals i'd attended before the gig. Whether this was down to nerves or a conscious effort not to sound too raw on the first song we'll never know. It was by far the best song of the night though. The same problem continued into the next song 'More Life In A Tramps Vest' (Stereophonics) At times you could close your eyes and it sounded like the record. Well apart from Rooneys voice didn't quite match Kellys 60 a day one. Next up was a rocked up version of 'Thats Entertainment' (The Jam). This song did NOT lack passion, it had everything. With Rooney supplying very Liam Gallagheresque vocals and Rosey doing a fine job of the drums even though the original lacked them, this song rocked and blew the crowd away. The band were settling and their onslaught began. Next was a secret track from the multi platinum selling album The Man Who. 'Blue Flashing Light' (Travis) was Superb. The song was in the rehearsal set when I was there but it has never sounded so fresh, played with conviction and with the words "you're a slut, you're a bitch, you're a whore" sounding as painful as ever, this turned a few heads. Next for the Reverb treatment was 'Sunny Afternoon' (The Kinks), played in the same vein as thats entertainment it was amazing. 'Have A Nice Day' (Stereophonics) saw Judge supply backing vocals, showing off his other talent, acting he toyed with the crowd before the song making them laugh and proving they hung on the bands every word. The song was many peoples favourite of the night but to me it needed the solo. The band finished their first set with 'My Generation' (The Who) and went totally mad. The song blew me away even though i'd heard and played in it before. There first set was a total success and they had the world at their feet, but would it last...........
They opened the next with 'Bartender and the Thief' (Stereophonics). Not a favourite with me when I had to play it but they did a fine job. This set was already going to plan. 'Wonderwall' (Oasis) was in the the set 'cos basically its a classic, everybody has heard it and it was intended to get the crowd involved and that it did. Most people were quite drunk by now and happily obliged in singing every word back to the band. I wish I had enjoyed that feeling. How any band could do what they did next is beyond me.......Yardley who was irresponsively drunk at this stage didn't change the settings on his amp (which was infact MINE and I had written them in laymans terms on the setlist for him) so his acoustic part in 'Lucky Man' (The Verve) was painful on the ear. The rowdy crowd sang along but there were funny looks flying around like American cruise missiles in Afganistan. Next was the second "lucky" song and the first of the two originals of the night. 'Lucky Star' (Yardley) is a song that i'd heard twice before, it was acceptable then but very disappointing tonight. It was done with one acoustic, vox and a tambourine (supplied by Rosey), it lacked dimension and seemed to plod along in the same vein for 3 and a half minutes. It killed the set. 'Rivers' (Rooney) has been in the set ever since the first Square gig and along with 'Forever' (Goon) is the bands most loved original song. I infact think it is a superb song that will one day break the band worlwide like Wonderwall and The Drugs Dont Work did for the respective bands who wrote them. Despite lacking the extremely simplistic yet catchy lead guitar written by me it was pulled off with a jangly, bluesy, Byrds style ease. 'Married With Children' (Oasis) got the same treatment as 'Thats Entertainment' and 'Sunny Afternoon' and should have been a highlight. Yardley forgot the chords and ruined that dream. The same thing happened with 'I Am The Walrus' (Beatles, but played the Oasis live way) it was going great for the best part of 4 minutes then disaster struck again, Yardley forgot the chords and panicked. Then came an act of pure immaturity. After finishing the song he threw down his guitar and stormed off the stage. Don't get me wrong a firey personality is great for rock and roll. But there is a time and a place, you dont do it in front of a crowd that you're supposed to be winning over and i wouldn't have blamed them for leaving after his next act of petulance. When returning to the stage to collect his beer the crowd cheered him, instead of realising he hadn't blown it totally he flipped them the middle finger in a such an Eminem style the crowd gasped. He pushed himself through and that was it he ran away and sulked. Now due to overwhelming public appeal and the continued chating of "GOON,GOON" I took to the stage for the encore 'Time Of Your Life' (Greenday)........needless to say I was so drunk I forgot the chords. I dont think the crowd noticed cos I did'nt corpse it and we still got a cheer. I really enjoyed the whole thing, I dunno if it was the music, the alcohol or the fact that I spent the rest of the night in the company of a beautiful young lady. Whatever.......I had fun.
Goon |
