Post by South-Punk Admin on Jun 24, 2007 16:20:31 GMT
Arrived at Shepherds Bush Empire early and already a crowd was building outside. It almost felt like a place out of time, yet very much in time. The DJ set the sounds right for the evening by playing ‘One Track Mind’, ‘Keys To Your Heart’, ‘Prove it’ and other great material, and before long Love Minus Zero sauntered on. I was struck by the sprit that unfurled from them, and they rendered a sizeable venue to intimate proportions with their songs. I loved the female backing vocalists whom helped elevate one of the songs especially (almost reminded me of the ‘Out There in The Night’ video!). I think they helped set the scene just right, and after they finished there was a palpable sense of tremendous anticipation.
After not too long a delay, The Only Ones walked onstage to a rapturous reception and started to play a sublime set of songs, that both elevate the heart, lead you through the dark side of desire and accelerate you though the rock and roll stratosphere that only they can do. All dressed in black, apart from Peters flower print shirt and Mike Kellies white shirt, the band looked truly timeless, and it felt like they stepped out of 1981. Peter even commented that he ‘couldn’t believe it’d taken 26 years to get to this gig’ and that the SBE even felt like a ‘smaller Lyceum, which is cool’.
Sure there’s a frailty to Peter, but there’s also an inner strength that shone throughout the night – As John Perry would seemingly effortlessly let loose layer upon layer of beautifully executed solos and embellishments, so Peter would provide the solid underpinning with his under-valued rhythm playing. Alan on bass was exceptional and I think provided a lovely feel to the overall sound, and being biased but seeing Mike Kellie play drums is something I’ve always wanted to do and it didn’t disappoint. Incredible. He doesn’t need to employ any of the cheap tricks or smoke and mirrors illusions employed by many flashy players, but simply plays with his heart and soul and was fantastic. I always did want to see how he managed to fit in all those wonderful embellishments on ‘Lovers of Today’ and now I know…incredible!
The sound was crystal, and as the set progressed so did the bands confidence. I cant remember the exact order the songs were played in, but highlights for me were ‘The Whole of The Law’, a perfect ‘No Peace For the Wicked’, a sublime ‘From Here To Eternity’, a ‘new’ song I can’t remember the name of but which seemed to fit in well wit the set, ‘The Big Sleep’, ‘Miles From Nowhere’ and the ending of the set with ‘Another Girl, Another Planet’ and ‘The Beast’ was genius. The encores were even better, and I especially loved the heartfelt renditions of ‘Someone Who Cares’ and ‘Lovers of Today’, although the highlight for me was when Mike Kellie walked on stage and started the mutant Bo Diddley rhythm that constitutes ‘Me and My Shadow’…brilliant! Slowly the others came back and picked up the song till it all started to coalesce and became a whirlwind that blistered through a vortex of sound…incredible!
All too soon it was over. They didn’t do ‘Out There in the Night’ but they’d already done more than enough so I can’t really complain. It’s been a decade or so since I last saw Peter live with The One in the ‘90’s, and I must say it really lifted the spirits to see the four of them playing together and reunited as if they’d never been apart. Magical.
Steve
After not too long a delay, The Only Ones walked onstage to a rapturous reception and started to play a sublime set of songs, that both elevate the heart, lead you through the dark side of desire and accelerate you though the rock and roll stratosphere that only they can do. All dressed in black, apart from Peters flower print shirt and Mike Kellies white shirt, the band looked truly timeless, and it felt like they stepped out of 1981. Peter even commented that he ‘couldn’t believe it’d taken 26 years to get to this gig’ and that the SBE even felt like a ‘smaller Lyceum, which is cool’.
Sure there’s a frailty to Peter, but there’s also an inner strength that shone throughout the night – As John Perry would seemingly effortlessly let loose layer upon layer of beautifully executed solos and embellishments, so Peter would provide the solid underpinning with his under-valued rhythm playing. Alan on bass was exceptional and I think provided a lovely feel to the overall sound, and being biased but seeing Mike Kellie play drums is something I’ve always wanted to do and it didn’t disappoint. Incredible. He doesn’t need to employ any of the cheap tricks or smoke and mirrors illusions employed by many flashy players, but simply plays with his heart and soul and was fantastic. I always did want to see how he managed to fit in all those wonderful embellishments on ‘Lovers of Today’ and now I know…incredible!
The sound was crystal, and as the set progressed so did the bands confidence. I cant remember the exact order the songs were played in, but highlights for me were ‘The Whole of The Law’, a perfect ‘No Peace For the Wicked’, a sublime ‘From Here To Eternity’, a ‘new’ song I can’t remember the name of but which seemed to fit in well wit the set, ‘The Big Sleep’, ‘Miles From Nowhere’ and the ending of the set with ‘Another Girl, Another Planet’ and ‘The Beast’ was genius. The encores were even better, and I especially loved the heartfelt renditions of ‘Someone Who Cares’ and ‘Lovers of Today’, although the highlight for me was when Mike Kellie walked on stage and started the mutant Bo Diddley rhythm that constitutes ‘Me and My Shadow’…brilliant! Slowly the others came back and picked up the song till it all started to coalesce and became a whirlwind that blistered through a vortex of sound…incredible!
All too soon it was over. They didn’t do ‘Out There in the Night’ but they’d already done more than enough so I can’t really complain. It’s been a decade or so since I last saw Peter live with The One in the ‘90’s, and I must say it really lifted the spirits to see the four of them playing together and reunited as if they’d never been apart. Magical.
Steve