Mr Spider + Five By Five - Post Office Bar, Broughty Ferry 18-12-05
Five By Five began the evening - a quintet of two guitarists/vocalists, bassist, drummer and female lead/backing singer. Playing a set predominantly filled with covers, they also performed a couple of original songs that struck me as every bit as strong as the "known" ones, with some excellent interplay from the guitars and neat variations in the lad and harmony voices. Of the covers, they did a splendidly decelerated and quite languid "Light My Fire" that oozed rather than sped into the airwaves, a rousing rendition of Fleetwood Mac's "Don't Stop" that really had the place a-rockin', a spot-on version of Steve Harley's "Come Up And See Me, Make Me Smile' that featured some splendid harmonies on the choruses, and then to end the set, they did a wonderful version of Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb" that featured a soaring guitar solo and the whole band providing a worthy performance of a great song.
Then came Mr Spider with vocalist Michele McLaren resplendent in colourful Mexican-looking top, blue jeans, brown boots and flowing hair, as the band immediately launched into set opener "Crossroads" by Cream and immediately whipping up a storm.
The first set (of two) featured some classic tracks and, although I missed about a third of it due to being called away by the guy running the venue for a chat, I was lucky enough to witness their splendid medley of JJ Cale's "Cocaine" and Black Sabbath's "N.I.B." with Michele's vocal as passionate as ever on the latter and suitably sultry rock 'n' rolling on the former. Tonight's cover of Hendrix's "Hey Joe" was electrifying as the band really got into the Hendrix feel while Michele provided a vocal that you actually felt now fitted the song better than the original - superb! A Booby Bland track at the end of the set gave the chance for the band to showcase their playing, as, with special guest second guitarist from Five By Five, Mr Spider guitarist John, lit up the place with a searing solo and some on-fire sparring with the second guitar over the solid rhythmic propulsion, to end the first and quite excellent set on a serious high.
But what happened in the second set, amazed even me. They began with ZZ Top's "Tush" and right away, Michele's vocal really flew as she gave a sterling performance that just rocked while the band seemed more fired up by Michele's glowing performance as the guitar work shone and the band exploded into life .An instrumental original gave the chance for the trio to show their stuff with more tasty guitar from John, while the group-penned blues original, as a song, sounded every bit as good as the covers.
I've heard them in concert twice now, and loved it each time, so am getting quite familiar with the songs and arrangements. But then they announced 'this is the first time we've played this live' and my ears pricked up. What I heard was the opening riff to none other than Black Sabbath's "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" - for the few seconds this played, all manner of thoughts ran through my head such as "no wayyyyyyyyyyy" and "surely they can't do this one" and "Michele's never gonna make this one, is she?" - and then Michele started to sing - and this vocal just exploded out of the speakers as she proceeded to deliver the song in a manner so powerful it made the hairs stand up on the back of your neck - she launched into the thing, singing her heart out, giving every ounce of power and passion that the original provided. It was electrifying - for the choruses, the guitar stopped, leaving the thunderous bass and solid lurching drums - an effect that was just stunning - above which Michele delivered a jaw-dropping vocal that seriously did Ozzy proud as she just tore through the track as if it were her own. It was incredible - I was open-mouthed and wanted to stand up and yell and applaud, but I'm not sure the audience were ready for that!! The band arrangement and playing was tight and heavy while Michele proved undoubtedly that, as a rock vocalist, she is simply magnificent!
If this wasn't enough, they immediately followed that up with a version of AC/DC's "Highway To Hell" and Michele was now firing on all cylinders, actually outstripping the band who were riffing away underneath, as she sounded suitably anthemic and hot. If this lady ever finds a bit of anger or firepower passion in her vocal from somewhere, she's gonna be unstoppable.
Not forgetting that the band also play a few more laid-back bluesy tracks to a tee, with some gorgeous guitar work and Michele's vocal almost sliding through the booze-soaked blues to perfection.
But tonight belonged to the rock tracks - incendiary was only the half of it, and I'll remember this performance for a long time to come. I know it's a covers band, but this is a shit hot covers band and they're finding a metal edge that is going to win them a lot of new friends. So, seek them out and catch them live - you owe it to yourself.
