Back at Bannermans Edinburgh again, this time for a fantastic sold out double header with Girlschool and Alcatrazz featuring Doogie White on vocals, and oddly it’s Girlschool on first.
A band I have seen many times over the years since their 1981 Hit and Run tour and they never fail to deliver with tonight being no exception. As the guitars crank in, the girls kick off with “Demolition Boys” from their 1980 debut album Demolition, a track that always takes me back. Kim still has one of those recognizable voices, the guitars bounce between her and the fabulous Jackie Chambers with Tracey and Denise providing the rhythm support; an excellent start to the show.
We get a couple now from the follow up Hit and Run album from 1981 in the form of “C’mon Let’s go”. I’ve always loved the drums on this one as it showcases what a superb drummer Denise is, very underrated, a real crowd pleaser of a bouncy singalong. We follow “The Hunter” now with its groove-laden guitar riffs before we head to the title track off their 2015 album Guilty As Sin with its crunching opening guitars and singalong chorus lines is such a joy to listen to and join in with as the Bannermans crowd does with much vigor. A touch of “Hit and Run” now with Denise pounding away and some killer bass riffage from Tracey Lamb who looks like she has been let off the lead tonight as she bounces about along with Jackie, pulling all those classic poses as she shreds her guitar, a crowd favourite for sure.
The lone outing from 1992s Nightmare at Maple Cross in the form of the harder groover “Action”, Kim’s voice always reminds me of Suzi Quatro on this track so it’s fitting that Tracey’s bass lines are just jumping on this song. We have two killer tracks from Hit and Run next with the rifftastic “Future Flash” followed by the drumtastic opening on “Kick it Down”, the girls can write some real classic singalong tracks and this one is no exception with the guitars really carrying this one along. The girls have “Nothing to Lose” and definitely nothing to prove these days as the guitar builds up along with the drums, another foot tapping catchy track. As Denise starts to knock ten bells out of that poor drum kit, the guitars kick in with Tracey providing those killer bass lines as we are told we need to “Watch Your Step”, a track where you really hear everyone in the band. This has always been a favourite of mine and tonight is no exception, just fantastic live.
We “Take it Like a Band” now, a speedy track with a real Motörhead feel to it; a headbangers delight, and the place is sweating now. Another couple from Demolition with “Take it All Away”, always a fun singalong song live before we get to possibly the main song for a lot of us old timers in “Race with the Devil”; this is a headbanging joy of a track, I miss my long hair with tracks like this and it never fails to please and bring a smile to all the faces in the crowd. We have a classic cover next in the form of Motörhead’s “Bomber” before the guitars start up heralding the arrival of “Emergency” as we reach the end of a fantastic set. We are treated to an encore with what else but ZZ Top’s “Tush”, a storming foot-tapping end to their set tonight.
There are not many words left to describe how good a band Girlschool are and it’s a testament to their quality back catalogue of songs that they are still going today. This is a band still enjoying playing with the ever-smiling Jackie who is the perfect guitar foil for Kim along with one of the best rhythm duos out there in the form of Denise Dufort and Tracey Lamb. A packed out Bannermans really enjoyed the girls tonight and long may they continue to play and record. I, for one, will be back next time but I would love to hear a few from Screaming Blue Murder next time as it’s one of my fave albums.
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Tonight’s headliners now with a Doogie White fronted Alcatrazz taking the stage as they open with “Grace of God” from this year’s stunning new album V, it’s clear the band mean business. Joe Stump on guitar is a joy to watch as his fingers seem to float across the strings, Gary Shea on bass keeping those rhythms going with Larry Paterson on drums doing a sterling job, Jimmy Waldo is filling out the huge sound of this track on keyboards and lets not forget Doogie, what a voice he has, a great start to the night.
We get “Too Young to Die, Too Drunk to Live” from 1983’s No Parole From Rock N Roll, a keyboard-heavy rock classic with Doogie on fine form. Joe Stump again is incandescent on guitar with Jimmy let loose on this track on keyboards; I forgot how much I love keyboards done right in a song. We have three tracks in the set tonight from Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow’s Stranger In Us All album from 1995 starting with the rocking fast-paced “Wolf to the Moon” along with the slow burning classic “Ariel” and lastly “Black Masquerade”. These three tracks absolutely suit this band and slot in seamlessly in amongst the Alcatrazz setlist. A couple more from the new album are included with “Turn of the Wheel” and possibly my favourite of the album, the rocking “Sword of Deliverance”. It’s outstanding live with a fantastic chorus, superb drums and bass along with Jimmy’s keyboard and Joe’s guitar trading licks.
We have a single outing from 2020s Born Innocent in the form of “London 1666” with Larry, Jimmy and Joe kicking in before Doogie opens up those huge lungs. Gary is having fun on bass and rarely is in the same spot for too long, a fabulous track live. As the keyboards and drums kick in we head to an “Island in the Sun”; another one of those great classic 80s style rock ballads before we “Jet to Jet” with Joe and Jimmy’s opening salvo again before Doogie hits us with both barrels. Larry is beating those drums tonight along with his rhythm buddy Gary on bass, it is hard to take your eyes off Joe on a lot of the tracks tonight as his fingers seem to have a will of their own on his frets; absolutely stunning track live. We have a couple of Michael Schenker tracks tonight with the first being “Take me to the Church” which featured Doogie from the Michael Schenker Fest 2018 album Resurrection with its keyboard laden intro before the drums, bass and guitar kick in; a different feel to the Alcatrazz tunes but no less enjoyable and slots in well tonight.
We have one more Alcatrazz track tonight with the fast paced “God Blessed Video” from 1985’s Disturbing the Peace, there is a harder edged vocal treatment on this track and a different pace on the guitar along with the rhythm beat from the drums & Bass, Jimmy on keyboards towards the end of the track is fabulous. The second Michael Schenker track now with “Vigilante Man” from the Michael Schenker Temple of Rock 2015 album Spirit on a Mission, this is a great guitar and drums hook-laden track with the band in a fantastic groove all the way through and Doogie in full flow, tremendous song to end the main set on before we get the encore.
The encore cover of Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow “The Temple of the King” which Doogie dedicated to the legend that was Ronnie James Dio definitely went down well with the crowd and was a fitting way to end a absolutely superb set from a band full of tremendous musicians and a vocalist like Doogie White who always hits the right note. I head home now quietly humming “Sword of Deliverance” to myself having had a tremendous night out with two fabulous bands, and a packed venue of fans enjoying themselves. What else do you need in life when music never lets you down?
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Pics by Coops Gig Photography
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