Bad Company with
the Joe Perry Project
Newcastle Metro Arena
April 7, 2010
By Ian Routledge
Set list:
Can't Get Enough | Honey Child | Runnin’ With The Pack | Burning
Sky | Young Blood | Gone Gone Gone | Seagull | Electricland |
Simple Man | Feel Like Makin' Love | Shooting Star | Rock 'n'
Roll Fantasy | Movin' On | Deal With the Preacher
Encore:
Ready For Love |
Bad Company
So far in 2010,
there haven't been many “have to” see gigs. In fact there aren't
many coming up during the summer either. The UK is getting lots
of big name bands, but they're all signed up for festival slots.
So, it was link the little sunray peering through the grey cloud
when Bad Co announced a small UK tour late last year.
As usual, we had
to go through the formalities of a pre-gig aperitif, which was
made more enjoyable this time as we had two birthdays in the
party. I do have to say that one of the birthday boys did
survive rather better than the other, but that's a completely
different story.
Anthony, my best
friend, and I decided to release ourselves from the celebrations
early to go and see the support band, The Joe Perry Project.
Being fans of Aerosmith we expected great things, alas we were
about to be disappointed. The band consists of original project
bassist David Hull, guitarist/keyboardist Paul Santo, drummer
Marty Richards and German vocalist Hagen Grohe, who was
apparently discovered by Perry's wife on YouTube, and of course
the man himself. What we got in the 45 minute set was Perry
mumbling introductions to songs, him singing certain tracks
himself rather badly (why hire a lead vocalist and then not use
him), and at times confusion over what song they'd be playing
next. All in all it's not what you would expect from a
professional outfit. At the end of the set, which finished with
a horrendous version of 'Walk This Way', the consensus of
opinion that had it not been for Perry's name that the band
would never have received a recording contract.
Therefore after
the short break, it was with great excitement when the main band
appeared. I've seen the band in many guises over the years,
mainly those organised by Paul Rodgers, but this would be the
first time I've seen Rodgers, Ralphs and Kirke play together.
The trio are backed by an added lead in former Heart guitarist
Howard Leese and bassman Lynn Sorensen.
The night started
with “Can’t Get Enough,” which immediately got the audience on
their feet, and we were away. A change in the previous gigs
setlist, brought “Honey Child” up to number two, followed by
“Runnin’ with the Pack.” By now, both band and audience were
enjoying every minute. “Burning Sky,” “Young Blood,” “Gone,
Gone, Gone” followed before “Seagull,” my favourite Bad
Co song, with Rodgers and Ralphs alone on stage with their
acoustic guitars. The pace didn’t rev up so much as glide into
another gear with “Electricland," “Simple Man,” before we got
into top gear finishing with “Feel Like Makin' Love,” “Shooting
Star,” “Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy,” “Movin' On,” and what seemed to
be a last minute entry “Deal With the Preacher,” after which the
band left to rapturous applause. It wasn’t long before they were
back on stage (maybe the extra song had pushed time a little
tight), for a two song encore. “Ready For Love” was followed by
the stage lights being switched off, total darkness, so Rodger’s
piano could be moved front and center for “Bad Company,” the
final song of the evening.
So what can you
say about Bad Co? Well the three originals are backed
excellently by Leese and Sorensen. Simon Kirke has so much
energy on drums, the man must be so fit for a 60 year old. Mick
Ralphs, at 66 looking more like an ageing schoolmaster than a
rock star, but can still produce mellow tones as if it was 1975,
not 2010. Finally, Paul Rodgers is still, in my opinion, one of
the greatest rock voices of all time. What was also pleasing was
the length of the gig. In previous years a Rodgers fronted Bad
Co or solo gig would have lasted only 75 minutes. Tonight we got
out money’s worth at well over 90 minutes.
