OK, so here's where I blow my 'Metal' credibility 
In the UK in the early 70s Glam Rock, meant T Rex, Slade, The Glitter Band and The Sweet. I favoured the first two over the latter and even when a classmate leant me a copy of Love is Like Oxygen, I had difficulty considering The Sweet as a proper rock band.
They started out as a rock act, but were taken under the wing of the successful writing team of Nikki Chinn and Mike Chapman who wrote a string of hits for them including the excruciating Little Willy and Wigwam Bam (This was the 70s folks). Later on they produced harder sounding hits like Ballroom Blitz, Blockbuster, Hellraiser and Fox on the Run, but it was hard to avoid their pop past and they never fully made the transition to a proper rock act in the UK.
So, tonights gig was going to be a bit of a nostalgia trip for me. It was advertised as being a rock gig and there was a clear sense of excitement about the gig at some of the other boards I visit. Unlike last weeks Dragonforce gig, this wasnt quite sold out and most people there were over 40, so I felt right at home.
The support was provided by local glam-rock 4-piece Freewheeler. Although at one stage every song seemed to be about drugs, thankfully that wasnt the subject matter for all of them we actually got a few about alcohol too. Nothing groundbreaking, but sufficiently toe-tapping to make me consider going to see them again, sometime.
Just after 9PM, out came The Sweet. Only guitarist Andy Scott remains from the original lineup and he is now supplemented by Steve Grant on guitar and keys; ex-Praying Mantis skins man Bruce Bisland and Tony O'Hora (also ex-Praying Mantis) on bass and vocals. They came in to the theme from James Bond and blasted into Hellraiser, which managed to animate the venue full of 40 year olds, many of whom seemed happy to sing along just as they had, as teenagers.
The sound was terrific. Nice and heavy, particularly in the guitar department and Andy Scott seemed to be really enjoying himself. The vocals too were top-notch. Tony did a decent impression of Brian Connolly and Andy's distinctive backing vocals were very good too. All of this was way better than I'd expected and I was soon rocking along and losing my inhibitions.
Andy Scott made it clear early on that they wouldnt be playing the pop stuff ('Poppa Joe', 'Little Willy', 'Wigwam Bam' etc didnt feature at all. phew!). They also mentioned that they released a new album last year and if the couple of songs that they played from it were anything to go by, it seems like it will be worthwhile checking out. The sound was nice and heavy while sounding modern. It certainly wouldnt seem out of place alongside the like sof Royal Hunt or something similar.
Later on in the set they merged 'Love is Like Oxygen' with 'Fanfare for the Common Man' (Yay! The Sweet go Prog!) and then a little later there was a bit of Purple's 'My Woman from Tokyo'. The 80 minute show reached a predictable climax with 'Ballroom Blitz' and the crowd left buzzing with excitement.
Top show. If they return later in the year then you can count me in for a ticket.
Well done to Drew at the Underworld for organising it!
Hellraiser
Who Loves You?
The six teens
Everything (new)
Youre Crazy (new)
Lost Angels
Teenage Rampage
Eighteen?
???
Love is Like Oxygen /Fanfare for the Common Man
(piece of the) Action
BlockBuster
Fox On The Run
My Woman from Tokyo
Ballroom Blitz
If Vince is still looking for a reto act, he could do far worse than The Sweet - The crowd would be familiar with the material and they'd deliver a rocking set. It would boost ticket sales amongst the old farts too. There were people there from Sweden, Germany etc
In the UK in the early 70s Glam Rock, meant T Rex, Slade, The Glitter Band and The Sweet. I favoured the first two over the latter and even when a classmate leant me a copy of Love is Like Oxygen, I had difficulty considering The Sweet as a proper rock band.
They started out as a rock act, but were taken under the wing of the successful writing team of Nikki Chinn and Mike Chapman who wrote a string of hits for them including the excruciating Little Willy and Wigwam Bam (This was the 70s folks). Later on they produced harder sounding hits like Ballroom Blitz, Blockbuster, Hellraiser and Fox on the Run, but it was hard to avoid their pop past and they never fully made the transition to a proper rock act in the UK.
So, tonights gig was going to be a bit of a nostalgia trip for me. It was advertised as being a rock gig and there was a clear sense of excitement about the gig at some of the other boards I visit. Unlike last weeks Dragonforce gig, this wasnt quite sold out and most people there were over 40, so I felt right at home.
The support was provided by local glam-rock 4-piece Freewheeler. Although at one stage every song seemed to be about drugs, thankfully that wasnt the subject matter for all of them we actually got a few about alcohol too. Nothing groundbreaking, but sufficiently toe-tapping to make me consider going to see them again, sometime.
Just after 9PM, out came The Sweet. Only guitarist Andy Scott remains from the original lineup and he is now supplemented by Steve Grant on guitar and keys; ex-Praying Mantis skins man Bruce Bisland and Tony O'Hora (also ex-Praying Mantis) on bass and vocals. They came in to the theme from James Bond and blasted into Hellraiser, which managed to animate the venue full of 40 year olds, many of whom seemed happy to sing along just as they had, as teenagers.
The sound was terrific. Nice and heavy, particularly in the guitar department and Andy Scott seemed to be really enjoying himself. The vocals too were top-notch. Tony did a decent impression of Brian Connolly and Andy's distinctive backing vocals were very good too. All of this was way better than I'd expected and I was soon rocking along and losing my inhibitions.
Andy Scott made it clear early on that they wouldnt be playing the pop stuff ('Poppa Joe', 'Little Willy', 'Wigwam Bam' etc didnt feature at all. phew!). They also mentioned that they released a new album last year and if the couple of songs that they played from it were anything to go by, it seems like it will be worthwhile checking out. The sound was nice and heavy while sounding modern. It certainly wouldnt seem out of place alongside the like sof Royal Hunt or something similar.
Later on in the set they merged 'Love is Like Oxygen' with 'Fanfare for the Common Man' (Yay! The Sweet go Prog!) and then a little later there was a bit of Purple's 'My Woman from Tokyo'. The 80 minute show reached a predictable climax with 'Ballroom Blitz' and the crowd left buzzing with excitement.
Top show. If they return later in the year then you can count me in for a ticket.
Well done to Drew at the Underworld for organising it!
Hellraiser
Who Loves You?
The six teens
Everything (new)
Youre Crazy (new)
Lost Angels
Teenage Rampage
Eighteen?
???
Love is Like Oxygen /Fanfare for the Common Man
(piece of the) Action
BlockBuster
Fox On The Run
My Woman from Tokyo
Ballroom Blitz
If Vince is still looking for a reto act, he could do far worse than The Sweet - The crowd would be familiar with the material and they'd deliver a rocking set. It would boost ticket sales amongst the old farts too. There were people there from Sweden, Germany etc
