Post by South-Punk Admin on Oct 15, 2010 11:45:43 GMT
Having last seen Walter with Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers in the early ‘80s at The Lyceum, it was a great thrill to hear that he’d playing a trio of UK dates this Autumn. In the intervening years he’d released the staggering ‘Rent Party’ album by his band The Waldos (truly an underrated Punk R’n’R classic), and for these dates his set was to be drawn from that album, as well as many Heartbreakers classics.
The atmosphere at the 100 Club was fantastic as the throngs slowly descended the steps into the legendary venue. First up was Jeff ‘Electrajet’ Ward (ex-Gunfire Dance Guitarist) performing a short, bluesy set to the growing crowds and was well received. At this point it was great to meet many people and discuss previous Heartbreakers and solo Johnny Thunders gigs, and it was nice to bump into Stuart (ex-Kronstadt Uprising) who is currently putting a new band together.
Between bands, Tom Phobic on the stands was blasting London Cowboys, Dead Boys etc and it set the scene for the arrival of main support Johnny Throttle. With a bassist sporting a Wasps T-Shirt (great band!) and a leopardskin waistcoat, things boded well. They played a set of urgent, adrenaline fuelled rock and roll and the singer had clearly studied his Stiv Bator moves. The set really gained momentum and the frenetic pace really engaged the whole audience. A great set from a band definitely worth seeing again.
After a short break of more Iggy, Lords, Punk ’77 sounds from Tom, Walter led his band onstage and they immediately received a fantastic reception from the now packed 100 Club audience. In his band were Oz on Drums and Birchy on Bass (both also ex-Gunfire Dance) plus Jez on second guitar (ex-Pleasure Victims). They blasted straight into ‘One Track Mind’ and sent a volt of lightening through the audience, immediately reconnecting them to the source of such great music, they then played some great Waldos songs ‘Cry Baby’ (with Harmonica), ‘Sorry’ & ‘Golden Days’, before launching into the songs that everyone had come to hear and had influenced so many lives (mine included!) – these would include a magnificent ‘Pirate Love’, ‘Get Off The Phone’, a brilliant ‘Too Much Junkie Business’ (dedicated to Johnny Thunders), ‘Take A Chance On Me’ (dedicated to its author, Jerry Nolan!), ‘Countdown Love’, ‘Born To Lose’ and then a transcendent ‘Chinese Rocks’, where Glen Matlock emerged from the audience to add guitar and backing vocals.
By this stage the venue was heaving, the audience was steaming and the atmosphere truly ecstatic as hearing this set of beautiful rock and roll really elevated every one present. The band re-emerged for an encore and played a great ‘Do You Love Me’ & ended with ‘All By Myself’. Fantastic! A very welcome return from Walter Lure, and I thought he had just the right balance of passion in his playing, with appropriate acknowledgement of the passing of fellow Heartbreakers Johnny and Jerry, as well as balancing a perfect set of Heartbreakers and Waldos songs. Excellent!
For Flyer(s), please visit:
www.southendpunk.com/html/walterlu.html
The atmosphere at the 100 Club was fantastic as the throngs slowly descended the steps into the legendary venue. First up was Jeff ‘Electrajet’ Ward (ex-Gunfire Dance Guitarist) performing a short, bluesy set to the growing crowds and was well received. At this point it was great to meet many people and discuss previous Heartbreakers and solo Johnny Thunders gigs, and it was nice to bump into Stuart (ex-Kronstadt Uprising) who is currently putting a new band together.
Between bands, Tom Phobic on the stands was blasting London Cowboys, Dead Boys etc and it set the scene for the arrival of main support Johnny Throttle. With a bassist sporting a Wasps T-Shirt (great band!) and a leopardskin waistcoat, things boded well. They played a set of urgent, adrenaline fuelled rock and roll and the singer had clearly studied his Stiv Bator moves. The set really gained momentum and the frenetic pace really engaged the whole audience. A great set from a band definitely worth seeing again.
After a short break of more Iggy, Lords, Punk ’77 sounds from Tom, Walter led his band onstage and they immediately received a fantastic reception from the now packed 100 Club audience. In his band were Oz on Drums and Birchy on Bass (both also ex-Gunfire Dance) plus Jez on second guitar (ex-Pleasure Victims). They blasted straight into ‘One Track Mind’ and sent a volt of lightening through the audience, immediately reconnecting them to the source of such great music, they then played some great Waldos songs ‘Cry Baby’ (with Harmonica), ‘Sorry’ & ‘Golden Days’, before launching into the songs that everyone had come to hear and had influenced so many lives (mine included!) – these would include a magnificent ‘Pirate Love’, ‘Get Off The Phone’, a brilliant ‘Too Much Junkie Business’ (dedicated to Johnny Thunders), ‘Take A Chance On Me’ (dedicated to its author, Jerry Nolan!), ‘Countdown Love’, ‘Born To Lose’ and then a transcendent ‘Chinese Rocks’, where Glen Matlock emerged from the audience to add guitar and backing vocals.
By this stage the venue was heaving, the audience was steaming and the atmosphere truly ecstatic as hearing this set of beautiful rock and roll really elevated every one present. The band re-emerged for an encore and played a great ‘Do You Love Me’ & ended with ‘All By Myself’. Fantastic! A very welcome return from Walter Lure, and I thought he had just the right balance of passion in his playing, with appropriate acknowledgement of the passing of fellow Heartbreakers Johnny and Jerry, as well as balancing a perfect set of Heartbreakers and Waldos songs. Excellent!
For Flyer(s), please visit:
www.southendpunk.com/html/walterlu.html