WITCHKRAFT STEAL THE SHOW
THE COATHAM BOWL - Monday, 27th March 2006
If anyone had ever said to me
“Stevie. Will you play the Redcar Bowl and support The Sensational Alex Harvey Band?”
I would have said without hesitation,
“YYYEEEESSSS PPPLLLEEEAASE. How much do you want paying for the privilege?”
However, after winning 2 tickets from Witchkraft via the Riffs website I would have to say
“FFF********KKKIIINNNGGG nee chance buster. After seeing Witchkraft blow the SAHB off the stage I would not dare grace the same stage as the maestro that is Mr Mal.”
They were absolutely awesome and totally inspiring to any musician of any level. Now, I’ve known Andy Atkinson since the days of the Booze Brothers (when he played Harmy along side my two brothers and Carl). He has come on in leaps and bounds since then. I saw them play a few weeks ago and enjoyed them then but to put them on a big stage with a huge Turbosound rig and full lighting show…they just shone.
This time, of course, they had a new drummer. And a great drummer he is. Tom, Andy’s son, is a very talented lad with a great future ahead. I hadn’t seen him since he was scraping his knees as a little jam eater but what a player. Apparently cracking on the axe and keyboards too. Look out for him cos he’s gonna be hot with the right backing and direction.
I think the lads are definitely suited to the big stage, audience and event. They had the crowd in the palm of their hands from the very first “Ode to joy” through a magic varied set with plenty of the Purps in and ended with Mal’s usually flamboyant “Black Night”. After he’d finished whipping his guitar and some squealy good Fender Foot Massage I heard a bloke next to me say to his marra: -
“Firk me begorra. A hav’nae seen oot like that since a was at the Rabbie Blackmore and Richie Burn’s Ceilidh and Flagellation night at Peebles club”.
All in all it was spot on.
Yours in rock as ever
Stevie Wright the lucky winner