Gig Review: Albert Bouchard – Bannermans, Edinburgh (26th September 2024)

Albert Bouchard (c) Gary Cooper

Here we are at Bannermans in Edinburgh to witness the legend that is original Blue Öyster Cult drummer, Albert Bouchard. It’s hard to believe he’s 77! If you caught him and his brother Joe last time, you already know you’re in for a treat. Tonight, we have a real bonus—he’s playing Imaginos in its entirety, an album he wrote but which CBS rejected. Blue Öyster Cult reworked it and released it in 1988, but tonight we get Albert’s reworked version, Re Imaginos, released in 2020, as the first half of the evening’s two sets.

The crowd is a devoted bunch of die-hard BÖC fans, many of whom are attending multiple dates on the tour. I could wax lyrical about the album, but you all know it, and I love how Albert has approached it. The crowd sings every word, and you can tell it means the world to Albert. “Del Rio’s Song” was made for singalongs, and it was a joy to join in as I took photos. His version of “In the Presence of Another World” hit the spot perfectly, while other highlights for me included “Astronomy,” “Black Telescope,” and, of course, “Les Invisibles” with its legendary singalong at number seven. The performance wasn’t note-perfect, and there were a few forgotten lyrics, but no one cared—we were there for Albert, and he was there for us. He was having fun, and so were we, and that’s exactly what a gig should be about. After the set, Albert heads off for a well-deserved intermission.

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The second set is a request set, chosen online, and it kicks off with the first album and “Stairway to the Stars.” Can it get better? Oh, yes! “The Red & The Black,” “Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll,” and “Before the Kiss, a Redcap” follow. But here’s where it gets personal for me—I got into BÖC in 1977 through the Spectres album when I was 15. And what did Albert play tonight? Only “Death Valley Nights” and “Fireworks”! I was in heaven, as BÖC rarely plays these tracks. I was transported back to my youth—bliss. Spectres will always be my favourite BÖC album.

Of course, we also got “Don’t Fear the Reaper,” and the night ended with the rocker “Tattoo Vampire” from Agents of Fortune. It was an evening full of smiles, listening to Albert’s stories and the classic BÖC tunes. The crowd was eager to sing along, and Albert was clearly having the time of his life on stage. We weren’t there for perfection or autotuned vocals—we were there for the real Blue Öyster Cult, and we got it in spades.

As I head home, still singing “Fireworks” to myself, I reminisce about listening to Spectres in an older mate’s room back in ’77. The old days were truly the best. If you could fit in “Golden Age of Leather” next time, that would be lovely.

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Photos by Gary Cooper

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