What can you say about Hawkwind? One of the earliest space rock groups having formed in 1969. They have gone through many incarnations and have incorporated different styles into their music such as hard rock, garage rock, progressive and psychedelic rock. Dave Brock remains the bands only original member, having enjoyed roles as founder, singer, songwriter, and guitarist. I first saw these guys at Crystal Palace bowl in 1985 at a charity show with believe it or not “the forces’ sweetheart” Dame Vera Lynn. They were also joined that day by Lemmy and legendary topless dancer Stacia. Dave Brock has stated that he`d like the band to continue after he feels he`s unable to tour.
I`ve been lucky enough over the last few years to get to a fair number of their shows and enjoy the format, which is new album release so a few new numbers, some old tracks, a cracking light show and if you`re lucky `Silver Machine` thrown in for good measure in the encore. Tonight follows the same structure except for the absence of `Silver Machine`.
We are launched into our nigh-on two our journey or voyage with the part spoken word `There Is Still Danger There` and `Changes (Burning Sun and Frozen Waste)` from the latest release along with the delightfully reflective `Traveler of Time and Space` from last year`s `Stories from Time and Space` album and before you know it over twenty minutes have passed in the blink of an eye. We enjoyed a nod to the past with `Paradox` and `Lost Chances` but the fifteen minutes meld of the spellbinding `Assault and Battery` and `The Golden Void` was almost breathtaking and took me to thoughts of growing up and listening to these tracks from the classic `Warrior on the Edge of Time`.
1978`s `Psi Power blasts out, a track which the band released under the name “Hawklords” for legal reasons, as there was a dispute over ownership of the name “Hawkwind” at the time. The highlights in the home stretch for me were my favourite track, the mesmeric and trippy `Spirit of the Age` which had a fair few out of their seats and dancing along and the intoxicatingly psychedelic `Steppenwolf`. The final track `Right to Decide` had everybody singing along with the lyrics “You can’t do this, you can’t do that, You can’t go forward and you can’t go back” before the quintet of Dave Brock, Richard Chadwick, Timothy `Thighpaulsandra` Lewis, Magnus Martin, and Doug Mackinnon waved and left the stage.
This ecstatic audience demanded more and the fellas indeed returned to share the thumping `Urban Guerilla` and that was it. I have to admit that I thought Dave Brock, the understated but charismatic leader was the most animated that I’d ever seen him before and the camaraderie of these accomplished musicians was almost tangible tonight and fed into this excited crowd. It was a delightfully relaxed evening which left me wanting more and i`ve been whacking the Hawk`s back catalogue ever since the show.
If you want a cracking proper live concert with a laser show, an animated backdrop and music that will take you safely into another dimension and out of your worries and concerns for a couple of hours with a fusion of space rock, hypnotic rhythms, synth-driven atmospherics and driving riffs, then you`ll find no better astronauts and co-pilots than Hawkwind. There`s a few dates next month and Summer festivals as well so there`s no excuse not to go along and Tune in, Turn on and Trip out.
