30th August 2002 - The Blast - Celtic Warriors, Cambs

A review of the gig kindly supplied by Katsock who regularly reports on the performances of our good buddies Six Months On.

We arrive at the Wood Green Animal Shelter before any of The Blast arrive, which is good because I can't wait to see their faces when they see the size of the venue. John T's comment is that just the backstage area is bigger than most of the venues they play. A sizeable crowd has gathered already with plenty of people dancing away to the headline band's soundcheck. Worryingly, I have time to get through three cans of Scrumpy Jack before The Blast are on and fleetingly wonder whether I am going to be able to shorthand straight to review the gig. I comfort myself with the thought that, as long as I can manage to conjugate the verb 'to mosh' or think of enough appropriate substitutes, I'll probably wing it ok ...

They open with 'Communication Breakdown' mad and loud, and the size of the venue has a deceptive effect on the perceived size of the crowd, but down at the front is definitely the designated mosh pit area (well, it is traditional); they're loving it already. John T has taken over the intros between songs for tonight and during 'Sweet Emotion' I notice Stevie's caught the headbanging bug already (though that's nothing new so probably doesn't count). Dan, however, is hammering those drums and chucking his hair around, which is something new so definitely counts, and he continues throughout the set.

I can see all three guitars really settling into the gig now. For 'Down Payment Blues' and 'Strange Kind of Woman', John S largely lets Stevie and John T get on with it (probably sensible, is any stage big enough for that much hair?) but somehow manages to play off them too. Hence, there's a great atmosphere ready for that classic rockers anthem, 'War Pigs', so can only impress this crowd for sure, especially when even John S starts shaking his little tail feather. Once more there's a wild mingling of white and black hair as Stevie and John T play off each other and John T starts grinning hugely. I'm sure Stevie would be grinning hugely, if anything else around him existed at this point in time, other than his Marshall and his guitar.

The night is being videoed and I notice from the big screen at the right of the stage that some great moments are being caught on camera, all through 'Break on Through', 'Ain't no Love' and 'Pinball Wizard'. As the opening bars of the latter start up and the crowd starts to recognise it there's a lot more dancing going on, even at the bar, and a few more people move down the hall to see what all the fuss is about. God, my throat hurts from shouting along, what must Jamie's be like?

John T's intro to 'Only Rock and Roll' gets a big cheer and a great double-act between Jamie and John S is all caught on the screen. With a combination of John T giving it the mosh and Stevie's solo for 'Black Night' the camera can't resist them. John T carries on the show all the way through 'Cadillac' too. I hear that a little bird suggested he introduce this as early Aerosmith but in the excitement of the night he decides not to - not that anyone notices this isn't something they won't have heard before. I could swear they're joining in anyway ... even John S almost manages to look animated during 'Dazed and Confused'. They're really rocking by this point so it's a pity that, having started late, two songs have had to be missed but unfortunately this marks the end of their set.

The crowd are yelling for another however, and it's not just me, Karen and Jules (when she comes up for air that is) leading the chant. 'Freebird' is a great choice for encore as it's got to be a favourite of many. Jamie lines up with John S on one side and Stevie and John T on the other, a great photo opportunity that I notice isn't missed. Stevie makes like an Egyptian across the stage towards John S and as the song finally draws to a close the audience are still yelling for more.

I think the last word has to go to one anonymous biker that Karen polled immediately after the gig, which I think means you were relaxed and enjoying yourself: 'They're great, they look like Judas Priest on their night off'. That'll be job done then I believe - good one.

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