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Glasgow
Scotland - The Garage Thursday, April 24, 2008
Set List :Good Lovin Gone Bad | Movin On |
Rock Steady | Shooting Star | Deal with the Preacher | Fire and
Water | Can't Get Enough | Ready for Love | Wishing Well |
Seagull | Rock n Roll Fantasy | All Right Now.
While the
band performing at The Garage may have been billed as Bad
Company, it quickly became obvious to all in attendance that
they were watching what can only be described as a Paul Rodgers
cover band led by guitarist Mick Ralphs. Aside from this,
the concert was also disturbing for many other reasons.
For starters, how can Ralphs call this band Bad Company
with he is the only original member? It was so bad that
Ralphs didn't even attempt to play most of his classic solos.
It was just as well as the two he did play during the 60-minute
set were played very poorly, lacking any fire or passion.
Instead, Ralphs left the work to unknown guitarist Dave Colwell
who, with noticeably shaky hands, tried to play the solos close
to the original recordings but ended up playing what can only be
described as sloppy seconds.
Strangely, Ralphs included three of Paul Rodgers' hits with the
band Free. NOT Bad Company actually performed "All Right
Now," "Fire & Water" and "Wishing Well." When asked after the
show by 96.3's Glasgow's rock radio deejay Tom Russell why they
played three Free songs, Ralphs, caught off guard, stammered
that the band did not have their own equipment and since they
did not have a piano they couldn't perform "Bad Company" or "Run
with the Pack." So, let me get this straight, Bad Company
released six classic albums during their career yet Ralphs
claims there are no other songs to chose from in the catalog
that don't require a piano? Get real! I guess if you
want the truth don't bother asking Mick Ralphs.
The
concert kicked off with "Good Loving Gone Bad." I was not
prepared for the blonde-haired, impish copycat attempting --
poorly I might add -- to imitate Paul Rodgers. The singer
looked nervous and uncomfortable throughout the entire evening
although there was no reason for this behavior as both the room
and crowd were very small. To
make matters worse, they played like a bar band that had passed
their 'sell by date.'
The band
awkwardly moved through the Bad Company catalog performing the
songs "Seagull," "Can't Get Enough," "Feel Like Making Love,"
"Shooting Star," "Moving On," and as previously mentioned, Free
hits "Fire & Water," "Wishing Well" and "All Right Now." Drummer
Harry James and bassist Jaz Lochrie tried but failed to connect.
To see
the great band that was once Bad Company being dragged down to
the slums with these very mediocre, replacement, "wanna be" rock
stars was beyond sad. Mick Ralphs has sold out. The credibility
is gone and this was my final Bad Company concert. Rumor has it
that Mick Ralph's next scam is going to be called "Mick The
Hoople!"
-- F
Giancone |
