First up tonight is Kristeen Young who is mostly doing a Karaoke
set with a load of hidden musicians although she does dabble at a keyboard. She pleasant enough and talks well, telling an
interesting story about a D-Day veteran and her own then 18 year old mother while
singing like Kate Bush in her operatic days. Overall Young, who gets 45 minutes, is
a strange but satisfying experience.
Now clear away the drum kit, it’s the March Violets.
This is only the second time I’ve seen them with the first
time being in 1986 at the Nottingham Palais. At the time
they were going through a pop phase and were led by Cleo Murray. They had a
minor hit called ‘Turn To The Sky’ which I imagine is getting nowhere near the
set list tonight because that phase is not regards as real Violets.
Guitarist Tom Ashton, who has been the only constant in the band over the years, was there that night but the other Violets original who is here tonight is singer Rosie Garland who left the band shortly before those gigs.
Those two got the Violets back together in 2010 along with another original member Si Denbigh when having just been a singles band they finally put together a proper album in 2014. Then sadly Denbigh suffered a stroke the following year. He can now no longer perform but now the other two have decided to return with William Faith on Bass.
Garland says ‘If not now, then when?’ to the audience about them making another comeback with Denbigh’s absence probably in mind.
They open with ‘Crow Baby’ and rattle through other early
classics such as ‘Radiant Boys’, ‘1 2 I Love You’ and ‘Grooving In Green’ along with ‘Made
Glorious’ which is the title track from the 2014 album and the more obscure ‘Dress
4 U’. There were also two new songs.
Garland has great stage presence and prowls the stage while continuing to engage
with the crowd between songs. She admits they are now all ‘old fuckers’ but
continues the same theme of urging everyone to live life to the full as life is short and shouldn't be
wasted. Get to see every band you want to see
because one day it could be too late. Sound advice.
The set ended with the epic ‘Walk Into The Sun’ but they
were soon back for an encore of ‘Strangehead’ followed by ‘Snake Dance’, a true
goth anthem that still sounds immense.
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