Saturday 25th January 2014 - First Belgian Rory Gallagher Celebration Night - Het Depot - Leuven/Belgium Review by Michel Preumont / Photos JP Daniels English translation by Bibi: Band of Friends or rather Gerry McAvoys Band of Friends! This trio is not to be regarded as a tribute band to the immense Rory Gallagher. In fact two of its members Gerry McAvoy (bass) and Ted McKenna (drums) were the companions of the Irish talent for many years. Rory is irreplaceable, but with guitarist Marcel Scherpenzeel, Gerry & Ted, which you have seen with the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, have found a rare bird. Marcel has not the profile of a gazelle, a bull suits him better, is simply an outstanding guitarist! Bibi, a European unconditional fan of the former leader of Taste, grabs the microphone: Leuven you must sign the petition which aims to rename the airport Cork Rory Gallagher Airport is obviously another story! Ted, Marcel and Gerry take over the note. A huge sound! Marcel vocals covered by a reinforced concrete wall of sound ... hard to recognize the lyrics and the set list is near the amps, shit! Immediate sequence to Moonchild. The prototype of muscular blues rock. First number of Gerry, who in a previous life had to play the comic in the classroom and found himself with his hands on his head in the corner, as Mistress Taylor did not too appreciated his crazy antics, which triggered general laughter. Leuven, hello, are you ready, because we intend to play up to two oclock this morning, and you, the guy behind the lights, this is not Saturday Night Fever, no flashing lights, dude, normal light please, or I pull your ears down. The last of the Independents…Marcel come on, we will enjoy these rednecks, ballet just above our skulls. They repeat this at least twenty times. A dirty boogie to follow (Continental Op) and a new choreography at the edge of the stage, drops of sweat falling into Gerda’s Stella, which she had deposited on the podium. Band of Friends, gang of rogues, yeah! No, JPD is not to me that Gerry gave a wink but to Miss Zeeland 1976 fidgeting beside me. ‘Do you read me. What is this noise like chipolata sizzling on the grill? Is there an electrician around? Marcel fiddles at the pedals and fix the inconvenience. The best parts of Gallagher parade: the epileptic Off the handle, a massive Bought and Sold decorated with a sequence of images Epinal rock ... legs apart, stretched bass guitar low to the crowd, fratricidal duel, you name it…Leuven is boiling! The incredible Philby and yeah yeah yeah preceding the racy Calling card. Gerry reminds us of the period of Rory in Ghent, his friendship with Roland Van Campenhout (we did not see), he wonder if we know Bill Withers (what an insult), sings Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone’, before attacking Tattoo’d Lady, the blues tango degenerating into thunderous blues rock. (Note from Bibi: Roland was on his way to Leuven but couldn’t make it on time due to very bad weather & road conditions). Shadow Play, a little funky solo, some reggae lines, a game for the new version of the Musketeers, to the public for their money. While we’re trying to follow this fight, JPD gets picked up by a girl who begs on his knees for a non-Catholic service. On stage the show ends with a power blues virulent ultimately final vaudeville. 90 minutes boiling. The public wants a dessert! Bis (encore)… A new one from the album Too much is not enough and finally a Dantesque version of Bullfrog Blues. Total madness and a final to fade Status Quo. Band of Friends: a formidable machine! Gerry McAvoy, Mister Bean on bass! It was not 2am. yet, but they played for nearly two hours…
Posted on: Tue, 28 Jan 2014 16:53:29 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015