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DPAS
LIVE REVIEW WHITESNAKE It’s been nearly 20 years since David Coverdale & Whitesnake last trod the boards in Glasgow & there was a real air of expectancy throughout the crowd at the SECC on Thursday night. "Burn" as an intro tape was a surprise and then the house lights dimmed to reveal a simple, but stunning stage set & light show. And there they were - DC looked great, throwing all those old shapes as if it was 1980 all over again. He was in good form between numbers too. He really did look delighted to be back. Oh - the music? Well the set was as per the rest of the tour. For the first few numbers DC sounded like he was singing in a different key from the band and I put that down to adrenalin & excitement, but sadly it continued like that all night. He sounded as if he was really struggling to be heard above the band and the band were winning! Which leads me to another gripe - Whitesnake are British - why does David feel he needs so many American musicians who clearly don’t have a feel for the subtle power & simplicity of the music. The band are all excellent musicians, but therein lies the problem. It all sounded so ... technical, so soulless and no amount of shape throwing can hide the fact. Volume is all well and good, but no use if the net effect is to obscure the songs. Highlights? Few, but a beautiful acapella "Blindman" (which proves my point about the band) and, despite earlier gripes, a nice solo by Doug on "Ain’t No Love ..". I’ve waited almost 24 hours to write this, but I still feel bitterly disappointed. David - a plea from the heart: go listen to the recent greatest hits album - listen to the SONGS and give John Sykes a call and get back out a do it properly this time. The kids seemed to love it, but then I’ve been with David since the Apollo in ‘74 & I know he can deliver much better. If anyone out there’s got a tape of the show that reveals I was the victim of a bad sound mix, then I’d be delighted to hear it. review: Robert Brown
What a night, exactly 22 years to the night since I first saw Whitesnake at the Glasgow Apollo. The line-up back then is rightly considered the ultimate Whitesnake, but no doubts about it - this band is every bit as good. Opening band Y&T were great, every bit as good as when I saw them support AC/DC many years ago, they looked so up for it, a really tight band with the highlight of their set being the epic I Believe In You. I had the pleasure of meeting the band as they were leaving (I had nipped to the bar for a quick shandy, which is next to an exit door). Very approachable and nice to talk to. Gary Moore I had never seen live and was really looking forward to it, sadly as with most reviews I have seen it just seemed he wasn't quite into it. A great set list including Wishing Well, but the vital spark seemed to be missing. On to headliners Whitesnake. Almost 6 years have passed since DC last played in Scotland and at that time it looked like the last. Fortunatley the Snake has been dusted down and re-vamped for 2003. The band were great, Marco and Tommy are a great rythm section and the latter's drum solo was pretty good. Both Reb and Doug's guitar work was superb, Doug's solo spot in particular being well received. And a quick mention for Timothy Drury on keyboards, who did a great job as well. As for the main man, Mr Coverdale had the audience in the palm of his hand from the minute he appeared on stage, the voice was incredible as good as I have heard him in years. From opening song Bad Boys to set closer Still Of The Night it was an incredible night. Crying In The Rain sounded great and the inclusion of Walking In The Shadow Of The Blues was a nice touch. Vocal solo spots included Blindman, Lie Down, and Too Many Tears, while no Whitesnake show would be the same without Soldier Of Fortune. Here I Go Again was great for singalong time as was another oldie Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City, where the Whitesnake choir (Glasgow Division) tried its best to lift the roof off. The sound was loud and clear with all band members audible, and remember David we will hold you to your word that you will be back next year for the 26th anniversary. Hopefully with the same band and a new record. On a personal note, both my wife and I have "spoken" with David on his site at www.whitesnake.com on many occassions over the last couple of years, and I swear I nearly dropped when during the show he asked "Where's Martin and Sandra ?? Mr and Mrs Scotsnake ??" When the light came on us and he waved over it was an incredible moment. I just hope someone has recorded the show, as that just made the night that bit more special. As we left the hall to the tones of We Wish You Well, if anyone saw a couple leaving the hall with smiles the length of the Clyde, that was us, but then again everyone seemed to leave very happy. review: Martin Waldron (Scotsnake) |
