Article
|
|
20 Apr 1975 London, Roundhouse
(supporting Dr. Feelgood)
DR. FEELGOOD'S
first major bill-topping appearance has come comparatively
quickly; DJ Jerry Floyd pointed out that the band had played
at the Roundhouse at the bottom of the bill only last September,
so it must have been gratifying to them to have sold out Sunday's
concert.
Considering that most people had gone to see Dr. Feelgood,
it was much to Fumble's credit that they stirred up a lot
of genuine enthusiasm with a mixture of fifties songs - "Poetry
in Motion", "Book of Love" etc. - and their own material,
such as "So Long Marilyn", a tribute to Marilyn Monroe (written
long before it was actually fashionable).
A few years ago, Fumble suffered the indignity of being liked
by everyone all at once, which meant there was a slightly
condescending tendency to take them for granted. However they
are still one of the most professional bands around with more
onstage personality than many, and a far sultrier sound now
that the new lead guitarist is fully initiated.
But now i pause, wondering how to convey the ludicrous effect
of being exposed to Wilko Johnson for the first time (like
something akin to gamma rays or a form of nerve gas) and fully
aware that anyone capable of wielding a pen ' has already
poured every groveling superlative on that brilliant, if slightly
misshapen head.
It must have been great to have been the first person to write
about Dr. Feelgood with every adjective still at your disposal.
Now you really need to invent a new vocabulary.
The level of audience excitement was unusual for one thing.
It reminded me more than anything of how people reacted to
the Stones about ten years ago, a feeling of being in at the
start of something huge.
Wilko Johnson only needed to twitch a nostril to bring the
crowd to near hysteria. He did a lot more than that however,
setting off in manic forays around the stage with the rigid
grace of one of those fairground contraptions, all abrupt
angular turns and a uniform speed (no time wasted in accelerating).
Vocalist Lee Brilleaux is no less of a star. Wilko might be
pretty weird, but he's just plain evil with a powerful voice
eminently suited to the demented stutterings of the Telecaster
and the equally sordid rhythm section. He sweats profusely
and constantly dabs his face with a towel, plays some excellent
slide guitar on some numbers, harmonica on others, crouches
and does ruder things with the mike than anyone else. It seemed
that the set was a standard one as far as material went although
apparently the band's collective confidence has increased
a lot recently. They started with "Talking `Bout You" and
went on to do other rock standards Like "My Baby, Your Baby"
and some of their own material including "Roxette" and the
new single "She Does It Right", which were good enough to
dash the only conceivable criticism there could be of the
band - that their novelty value might outweigh their lasting
power.
A diamond version of "Route 66" brought the set to an end
but there were encores. W.J. came back onstage looking genuinely
surprised and delighted at the reaction and completely ruined
his ex-con image by blowing kisses. He then sang "I'm a Man"
while Brilleaux blasted vigorously at his harp. Johnson's
voice sounds like he looks (see, my descriptive powers are
exhausted) and it was really good except for the agitation
he appeared to suffer at being rooted to one spot for a few
minutes. "Boney Moroney" and "Tequila" followed and that was
it. Although the Feelgood's stuff is all pretty similar it
is in no way repetitive, but works on you insidiously building
up to a distinct peak of excitement.
I haven't mentioned bass player Sparko or drummer The Figure
mainly because i couldn't see them but their combined sound
was fabulous - great lunking bass lines and fast solid drumming.
It may be inevitable that Brilleaux and Johnson will get more
attention. But the thing about Dr. Feelgood is that they are
very much a band.
- LINDSEY BOYD
NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS
April 21 1975
|
| |
|
More
articles:
Success for Weston Group in beat championship
(Local paper, 1967)
Baloons flying
high behind Iron Curtain (Local paper, 1968)
Fumble (Record Mirror,
1971)
FUMBLE (Beat Instrumental,
1972)
American Press (1972)
Fumble gain a firm hold (1972)
Nancy
finds out all about....
(date unknown 1973)
There's no flies on Fumble (NME,
1973)
Fumble flies to fame and fortune
( 1973)
Rumble, rumble...here comes
Fumble (Record Mirror, 1973)
Fumble begin to feel good (Evening
News, 1973)
Fumble US Tour (Record Mirror,
1973)
In a class of their own
(Sounds, 1973)
Under the influence: Des
Henly (NME, 1973)
Rollin' and Fumblin'
(Melody Maker, 1973)
The Raver
(Melody Maker, 1973)
Back
in time - Nutrockers! (Reading Rock 73)
Accident Prone (Music Star,
1973)
An
interview with Barry Pike (Drum Magazine 1974)
Rock'n'Roll band signs up (St.
Albans Midweek Recorder, 1974)
Record and Popswop Mirror (Record
& Popswop Mirror, 1975)
Robin Katz talked to Sha Na
Na and Fumble (Sounds, 1975)
Pop goes GLC decibel dosage
(Daily Telegraph, 1975)
Concert reviews:
Playhouse Theatre
(supporting Bill Haley) (date unknown)
Newcastle,
City Hall (supporting David Bowie) (Jan 7, 1973)
Philadelphia,
Tower Theatre (supporting David Bowie) (Feb 17, 1973)
London,
Greyhound (May 17, 1973)
Paris
(May 31, 1973)
London,
Speakeasy (June 7, 1973)
London,
Marquee Club (July 14,
1973)
London, Rainbow Theatre
(supporting Chuck Berry) (Sept 7, 1973)
London, Marquee Club
(March 1974)
Bristol,
University (Apr 27, 1974)
London, Kings Road Theatre (Dec
15, 1974)
Burton-on-Trent,
76 Club (Mar 29, 1975)
London,
Roundhouse (supporting Dr. Feelgood) (Apr 20, 1975)
Festivals:
The Reading
Festival 1973
Alexandra Palace
Music Festival 1973
Roskilde
Festival, Denmark 1973 (Sounds)
Roskilde
Festival, Denmark 1973 (NME)
LPs and Singles:
Fumble
(Sovereign) 1972 (Melody Maker)
Poetry In Lotion (RCA) 1974
(Disc, Melody Maker)
Alexandra
Park (Sovereign) 1973 (Disc Magazine)
Million
Seller (Sovereign) 1973 (Melody Maker, NME, Disc, Sounds)
Not Fade Away (RCA) 1974
(Record Mirror, Melody Maker, NME)
Don't
Take Love (RCA) 1974 (Sounds)
German / Danish articles:
 Fumble
ride the oldie-wave (fans magazine, 1973) translated
Fumble
- Nostalgischer Pomaden-Pop (Flash magazine, 1973)
Success through persistence (BRAVO
magazine, 1973) translated
 FUMBLE
(GO, 1972)
Sjoveste LP i lang tid (Some
Danish paper, 1972)
Kendt
beatgruppe i Diskotek Limelight (Danish paper, 1973)
Roskilde-festival en stor succes
(Berlingske Tidende, 1973) |
