Garry gets the 1980’s vibe
The line up at the Rewind festivals can be a bit hit & miss, the evening acts tend to cater for the ‘Now….’ CD brigade but the afternoon acts are the real treat, in the last few years we’ve seen The Straits, Mike & The Mechanics, Boomtown Rats, Steve Harley, Paul Carrack etc…..all good stuff.
But this years gem came in the shape of Lloyd Cole & The Leopards, I saw Lloyd with the Commotions a couple of times back in the day and then once in a room above a pub in Wolverhampton on an acoustic jaunt…..but it was my first time with this new band The Leopards…..and what a treat it was.
When a band has a short set of 25-30 mins you have to get it spot on, and that is exactly what Lloyd and the guys did…..the phenomenal ‘Rattlesnakes’ opened the set and it was clear to see from the off that the Lloyd Cole fans had made their way to the front and we’re going to sing their hearts out to whatever Lloyd had chosen to play.
This was a setlist to die for if you are a Lloyd Cole fan…..and even if you are only familiar with the hits, they are all here…..’Jennifer She Said’, ‘Brand New Friend’, ‘Perfect Skin’ & ‘Lost Weekend’…..what a selection of classic tunes, I was instantly transported back to June 22nd 1986 when I first saw Lloyd Cole & The Commotions supporting Simple Minds at Milton Keynes Bowl…..this was an amazing set and the fans, both hardcore and casual really appreciated what they had just witnessed.
There was just one song left….what could it be? It couldn’t be surely?…..our prayers were answered…..’Forest Fire’ was the set closer…..and it was greeted with a huge cheer and some raucous singing…..this had turned from a set I was really looking forward to into a set that will stay long in the memory, Lloyd Cole is back and back with a bang.
Sadly I was too late to bag tickets for his Birmingham Glee Club gig in October but I will catch him next time and I urge you to catch him too.
Garry Foster
Unchained: Tuesday’s 10pm-Midnight
Prog Rock Files: Thursday’s 10pm-Midnight
101.8WCR FM & online at www.wcrfm.com
