This is the fourth Bowie tribute I have seen this year so I am starting to feel as much a tribute expert as I am a Bowie fan.
The Robin 2 in Bilston Wolverhampton is a great live venue with a long tradition of original and tribute bands and a loyal and knowledgeable audience, a significant number of whom are a “walk up”
S&V perform as a seven piece with Chris Burke on lead vocals, tall, blonde, lean and imposing, he isn’t a Bowie clone but convinces as a front man . Jeff John in short frock coat and ruffle neck white blouse looks like he is auditioning for a Spandeau Ballet tribute on lead guitar, John Wilmott plays Bass, Colin Elward is hidden at the back on Keyboards, with a similarly shy Simon Harry on Rhythm Guitar, Gareth Addey is on Drums and Mike Davies on Saxophone.
The sax is a problem. As soon as I saw it I knew that they would play “Sorrow”, “Young Americans” , “Absolute Beginners” and “the Man Who Sold the World” ,what I did not expect was for it to appear in every song to the extent that at times I felt as though I was watching a Madness tribute. The introduction to ”Ashes to Ashes” was ruined by an obtrusive lead sax part. Davies play well, but his omnipresence is a musical misfire.
Invariably I am charitable to most live performers, and tribute acts. But when these acts are asking £20 (tonight), £30, sometimes more, the stakes are raised. I would expect to pay £10 for a cover band, if I am paying over twice that, my expectations are similarly raised.
S&V came on at 8.30pm and finished at 11pm with a half hour break so the venue could take some more beer money! It was a game of two halves, the first was poor, the second was much better.
Setlist
Moonage Daydream
Sorrow
Changes
The man who sold the world
Oh You pretty things
Starman
Life on mars
Boys keep swinging
Blue jean
Queen Bitch
Hang onto yourself
Ziggy Stardust
The main problem was not the song choice, it was the running order which clunked and stuttered. Even the usually reliable “Starman” failed to prompt a sing a long, “Boys” was leaden, and “Mars” had an odd original keyboard intro.
“Moonage Daydream” is one of David’s very best songs and a live cracker. It was totally misplaced as an opener before the crowd, and band, were warmed up. The second half of the song should be psychedelic gold dust, with Ronsons’ s guitar part howling and beguiling, instead it was like watching a brand new Ferrari doing a trip to the local dump- totally wasted.
Not that the first half was a disaster, “Oh you Pretty things” worked well and was a surprise and welcome inclusion
Act two
Look back in anger
Young Americans
Space oddity
Absolute Beginners
Ashes to Ashes
Fashion
China Girl
Scary Monsters
Suffragette City
Rebel rebel
Lets Dance
Heroes
Modern love
Look back in Anger was a far more sure footed opener, and “Young Americans” and “”Beginners” flourished with original saxophone parts, by contrast “Ashes to Ashes” was destroyed by the saxophone despite the best efforts of John Wilmott on bass.. Fortunately the second act was saved by an energetic “Scary Monsters” and a whiplash “Suffragette City”.
I have written his for the benefit of the “Bowie fascination” cognoscenti, a party night out crowd would find themselves content, but it was as though they had learned the songs, rather than felt them.
Sound and Vision are touring extensively at the moment.
Garyswordz 