First gig of the year, what better way to see the new year in proper than by witnessing the mauling of some classic Doors tunes??
It started off so well, despite a cheesy intro tape and "ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together" style announcement, on trotted a drummer dressed in footy kit, a bass player who looked like he may be good friends with Jools Holland, and... the moment everyone at the civic hall has been waiting for, Ray Manzarek and Robbie Krieger, from The Doors!!! Oh no, It's Ian Astbury of The Cult. Whooo, will they interact with their adoring public? Only verbally, there is no stanna stagelift at the venue.
I'm getting ahead of myself with the interaction, firstly the music. Roadhouse Blues opened the set in rip-roaring fashion, Krieger tearing the speakers apart with his guitar 'shredding'. I felt optimistic. Next up, Break on through. Oh dear, cracks begin to show. Ray plays the organ with his foot, whilst the song itself is padded out to epic proportions.
The padding goes on and on over more and more tracks. Astbury tries so hard to be Jim Morrisson it's untrue! he's got the haircut, the swagger, and partially, the growl. "No one get's out aliiiiiiiiiiiive" in a Californian howl. Then, "Hello Wolverhampton" in a weak northern whistle!
Ray Manzarek's pre-amble for Five To One sees him waffling about how he's American, and Americans like to send people to war, to Kill. We should all Free our minds. The thing is, the only thing the audience have in common with the word free, is that it's associated with a bus pass, something 96% of the audience seem to be applicable for....
... On it goes, Five to one plus 20 extra, when I notice a SECURITY GUARD on stage, to make sure no-one gets up onstage. The Doors, now with their personla security. Bizzare.
"and now Robbie Krieger is going to do a flamenco guitar solo".... I kid you not. These were the last words we heard from Manzarek, as we hot-footed it out of the venue so that we don't ruin the memory of the doors forever.
It started off so well, despite a cheesy intro tape and "ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together" style announcement, on trotted a drummer dressed in footy kit, a bass player who looked like he may be good friends with Jools Holland, and... the moment everyone at the civic hall has been waiting for, Ray Manzarek and Robbie Krieger, from The Doors!!! Oh no, It's Ian Astbury of The Cult. Whooo, will they interact with their adoring public? Only verbally, there is no stanna stagelift at the venue.
I'm getting ahead of myself with the interaction, firstly the music. Roadhouse Blues opened the set in rip-roaring fashion, Krieger tearing the speakers apart with his guitar 'shredding'. I felt optimistic. Next up, Break on through. Oh dear, cracks begin to show. Ray plays the organ with his foot, whilst the song itself is padded out to epic proportions.
The padding goes on and on over more and more tracks. Astbury tries so hard to be Jim Morrisson it's untrue! he's got the haircut, the swagger, and partially, the growl. "No one get's out aliiiiiiiiiiiive" in a Californian howl. Then, "Hello Wolverhampton" in a weak northern whistle!
Ray Manzarek's pre-amble for Five To One sees him waffling about how he's American, and Americans like to send people to war, to Kill. We should all Free our minds. The thing is, the only thing the audience have in common with the word free, is that it's associated with a bus pass, something 96% of the audience seem to be applicable for....
... On it goes, Five to one plus 20 extra, when I notice a SECURITY GUARD on stage, to make sure no-one gets up onstage. The Doors, now with their personla security. Bizzare.
"and now Robbie Krieger is going to do a flamenco guitar solo".... I kid you not. These were the last words we heard from Manzarek, as we hot-footed it out of the venue so that we don't ruin the memory of the doors forever.
(btw: the pic is of a film called storm riders, as it's best not to look at riders on the storm!)
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