Hello cherubs. Your humble narrator went to see Hawkwind the other week. Actually that's not true. I went to see Hawklords, this being the name that a group of people who USED to be in Hawkwind have called themselves. But it's a bit complicated 'cos there was actually another band called Hawklords on the 70s made up of.....yep, you guessed it - people who used to be in Hawkwind. It's a long story and I shall point you here for the full gen. Read it. Go on.
The current Hawklords band consists of a fluid lineup of ex-Hawklords/wind musicians, with varying lengths of service in their parent bands and the lineup at the Lomax, or whatever the frig it's called this week, was a cracker. Danny Thompson (drums), Alan Davey (bass), Jerry Richards (guitar), Harvey Bainbridge & Steve Swindells (synths) and Ron Tree on vocals were joined by living legend Nik Turner, the mainstay of any Hawkwind band that isn't actually Hawkwind. And what a glorious noise they made. I was pretty much expecting a shambles, but this band have evidently put their reheasal hours in - Davey, Thompson and Swindells seemed to be keeping it in some sort of control, allowing Tree, Turner and Bainbridge to really fly. Tree, in particular was a revelation; I'm told he always hated the Robert Calvert comparisons he was always subjected to whilst a Hawkwind member but you can understand why they were made - the guy is a pure party-head and, I imagine, a bit of a poetic genius on the sly. Certainly the kind of fella I'd like to go for a pint with.
The setlist had enough of all eras to keep folk happy. Orgone Accumulator, followed by Sonic Attack, Master of The Universe, Brainstorm etc etc.........you get the picture. And they even did the most naff thing possible and encored with Silver Machine! My brain told me I should have no part in such crowd-pleasing foolishness; but my body, dancing madly, took no notice. Absolutely superb. Big shout out to the crowd as well - I love ageing hippies and the Lomax was full of 'em, alongside a good mix of acid casualties and pot-heads. Score!
Thanks for reading cherubs. Check the band out when they're next round your way and check back here soon for more Gary-rantings. Love.
The current Hawklords band consists of a fluid lineup of ex-Hawklords/wind musicians, with varying lengths of service in their parent bands and the lineup at the Lomax, or whatever the frig it's called this week, was a cracker. Danny Thompson (drums), Alan Davey (bass), Jerry Richards (guitar), Harvey Bainbridge & Steve Swindells (synths) and Ron Tree on vocals were joined by living legend Nik Turner, the mainstay of any Hawkwind band that isn't actually Hawkwind. And what a glorious noise they made. I was pretty much expecting a shambles, but this band have evidently put their reheasal hours in - Davey, Thompson and Swindells seemed to be keeping it in some sort of control, allowing Tree, Turner and Bainbridge to really fly. Tree, in particular was a revelation; I'm told he always hated the Robert Calvert comparisons he was always subjected to whilst a Hawkwind member but you can understand why they were made - the guy is a pure party-head and, I imagine, a bit of a poetic genius on the sly. Certainly the kind of fella I'd like to go for a pint with.
The setlist had enough of all eras to keep folk happy. Orgone Accumulator, followed by Sonic Attack, Master of The Universe, Brainstorm etc etc.........you get the picture. And they even did the most naff thing possible and encored with Silver Machine! My brain told me I should have no part in such crowd-pleasing foolishness; but my body, dancing madly, took no notice. Absolutely superb. Big shout out to the crowd as well - I love ageing hippies and the Lomax was full of 'em, alongside a good mix of acid casualties and pot-heads. Score!
Thanks for reading cherubs. Check the band out when they're next round your way and check back here soon for more Gary-rantings. Love.
I'll let you know what I think of 'em. Any advice where to start?
Looking forward to more rantings! Later!