GRAHAM BONNET & DON AIREY -- 17 November 2001
David Meadows
I can't tell you how much Graham Bonnet's voice impressed me. The man has a
monstrous voice. Judging by his performance tonight, I honestly don't think
he has an equal for live range and power.
I really didn't know what to expect from the show. The ticket said "CLASSIC
RAINBOW ROCK NIGHT Featuring Original Members GRAHAM BONNET & DON AIREY". I
had some misgivings. First, I'll be honest, Graham Bonnet wasn't my
favourite Rainbow singer. Second, £14 for what was basically a tiny club gig
seemed a bit steep. And, most importantly, I just couldn't imagine Rainbow
songs without Ritchie. I mean, that was the whole point, wasn't it?
So anyway, I thought, why not? So I went. And, oh boy, am I glad I did.
Let me just say this now in case I forget: Graham Bonnet has an absolutely
incredible voice.
Bonnet looks exactly like he did 20 years ago. I mean, I don't think he's
aged at all. It's spooky. And he still looks nothing like a rock singer.
Image is NOT a priority with this man. But his voice! Oh my god, let me tell
you about this man's voice. From the first song I was stunned. I really
didn't expect anything so sharp, so melodic, or so powerful. I tell you, I
think he was holding back on Down to Earth. Or he's got better. Or maybe he
just sounds better live.
The club wasn't particularly full. The band came on stage unannounced; the
background music didn't even seem to stop. I didn't know the show had
started until I noticed the background music had started to sound a bit like
Eyes of the World -- and it was! Don Airey had just started playing the
intro!
Here's the set list (as near as I can remember it -- I'm terrible at set
lists).
1. Eyes Of The World
2. Love's No Friend
3. Bad Girl
4. The instrumental from Difficult to Cure -- the name completely escapes me
at the moment, sorry. No, the other one...
5. Night Games (and his high range on this has to be heard to be believed)
6. Stargazer / Difficult To Cure
Stargazer opens with a guitar solo from Dario Mollo. I've never heard this
guy before, but he's very good. He does a fair job of emulating Blackmore's
style (but not his "sound", obviously) and his solos are always interesting.
I would like to hear what he sounds like when he's not trying to play like
Blackmore.
If you had told me yesterday that Bonnet was going to sing Stargazer, I
would probably have groaned or laughed at the idea. But now I have to tell
you, and I'm completely 100% serious about this: he sang it better than
Ronnie Dio ever sang it. Swear to god. His voice is really that good.
Bonnet sings the first couple of verses of Stargazer (with a lot of
reference to a lyric sheet), up to the guitar solo, then the guitar solo
leads into Difficult To Cure.
Mollo's solo is spectacular. It follows the sense of Ritchie's classic
Stargazer solos, without being really the same. Sometimes it veers off
towards chaotic noise, but he always seems to rescue it and make it sound
interesting rather than awful. He's a player well worth investigating.
Half way through Difficult to Cure, the band leaves the stage and Airey
continues alone. And he somehow manages to emulate an entire symphony
orchestra while he finishes the song. Then he wanders off into a lengthy
keyboard solo which rambles through a lot of half-recognisable tunes and a
variety of weird electronic noises. I think he started to lose the crowd, as
the chatter in the room threatened to drown him out. I suspect he was being
too clever for them. He's a fantastic player. In fact, as I watched him it
occurred to me that if Deep Purple ever needed to replace Jon Lord at short
notice, Don Airey would be a good choice ;-)
Anyway, on with the set list:
7. Night Of The Shooting Star
I think this must be an Alcatraz song. Bonnet plays acoustic guitar rather
well. And although the song's a ballad, he screams his way through it in
that totally impressive way he has.
8. I think the next song was a Beatles song, and I know the name, and
it's... damn... it will come to me...
9. All Night Long
You know the bit where he goes "... wanna make you
miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii---
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
ii---
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine..."
Well.
What can I say?
10. Lost In Hollywood
And for the encores:
11. Since You Been Gone,
12. Instrumental (!) version of Spotlight Kid.
The band seemed to have a good time. Bonnet clowned around, lead a couple of
audience sing-songs, and even convinced the less-sober members of the
audience to get onto the dance floor. Don Airey announced some of the songs,
introduced the band members, and chatted quite happily with the audience.
Airey and Harry James did a kind of comedy routine to draw people's
attention to the merchandising store. And it was just a generally good
atmosphere.
Overall a great selection of songs, a fantastic band (I haven't mentioned
Harry James (drums) and Chris Childs (bass), because I can't think of
anything to say about them other than "excellent") and an entertaining
concert. I would watch it all over again. The only down side: too short. I
think it came to under 90 minutes, including encores.
There are more dates on the tour. Get yourself to their Web site
http://www.bonnet-rocks.com/ ), find a date near you, and go see them. you
won't regret it.
--
David Meadows / smart & funny & English
"The hand of God slipped when it was pouring the talent
into Ritchie Blackmore." -- Paul Mann
David Meadows
news:3bf5b...@mk-nntp-1.news.uk.worldonline.com...
> Here's the set list (as near as I can remember it -- I'm terrible at set
> lists).
>
> 1. Eyes Of The World
> 2. Love's No Friend
> 3. Bad Girl
> 4. The instrumental from Difficult to Cure -- the name completely escapes
me
> at the moment, sorry. No, the other one...
> 5. Night Games (and his high range on this has to be heard to be believed)
> 6. Stargazer / Difficult To Cure
> it's... damn... it will come to me...
> 9. All Night Long
> 11. Since You Been Gone,
> 12. Instrumental (!) version of Spotlight Kid.
And somewhere in there should have been Makin' Love -- I told you I was
terrible at set lists!
--
David Meadows / smart & funny
Fayvivian
>terrible at set lists!
>
>
>--
>David Meadows / smart & funn
How could you forget that one?
All the dates are for your side of the pond. You get DP, Graham Bonnet, Roger
Waters....where's the love for the US??
:(
Lenore
Scoot
>All the dates are for your side of the pond. You get DP, Graham Bonnet,
>Roger
>Waters....where's the love for the US??
>:(
>
We had DP this past summer and RW last summer. To make up for the lack of
touring this year might i recommend DP Live at the Ahoy Rotterdam CD. J. D.
was on the point with his review on these pages. PLUS, we have the DP live in
FL DVD to look forward to early next year.
Closer on the calendar is the RW In The Flesh DVD being released early next
month.
Turn up the tunes, close the eyes and remember when consequences were for the
other guy...
Scoot
Remember, it costs you nothinig to laugh.
beej
really looking forward to it now.
If you want a recommendation for something with Dario Mollo on get the
'Voodoo Hill' CD which came out last year - a cover of 'Gypsy' plus 9
original songs, music by Mollo and lyricas (and all vocals) by Glenn
Hughes. IMHO it's also one of the best things Hughes has done in
recent years.
Slubberdegullion
Damn I wish I had been there!
--
Slubberdegullion
"They say she comes on a pale train.........
........But I'm sure I hear a horse......."
David Meadows <da...@no.spam.here.co.uk> wrote in message
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Fabian J Lelo
FVD.
--
"I love the Blues,
They tell my story,
If you don't feel it,
You will never understand."
- David Coverdale.
"David Meadows" <da...@no.spam.here.co.uk> wrote in message
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Jack Taylor
"David Meadows" <da...@no.spam.here.co.uk> wrote in message
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>
Thanks for that enthusiastic review, David. Also for the link.
I shall be rushing down to the World's End in Camden tomorrow to get my
ticket for the Underworld gig, based upon your review.
Not having seen the guys since Donington '80 I am now really looking forward
to it (although Cozy will be sadly missed - can't imagine anyone driving
"Lost In Hollywood" with the same power).
Mick Burgess
A Light in the Black and Spotlight Kid. I`m off to see them again at the
Rock garden in easington this week
mick
"Jack Taylor" <Jack....@Carney.co.uk> wrote in message
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Alberto
album as you'll fins a SUPERB stargazer sang by him and a fantastic Ritchie
solo. helped by Cozy Don Airey and Roger Glover. I'd like to have the whole
concert...
Cheers
alberto