REVIEW
SWEENEY ENTERTAINMENTS PRESENTS
www.sweeneyentertainments.co.uk
DR FEELGOOD
The Palace Theatre, Southend
Thursday 18th January 8pm
SWEENEY ENTERTAINMENTS PRESENTS
www.sweeneyentertainments.co.uk
DR FEELGOOD
The Palace Theatre, Southend
Thursday 18th January 8pm
Dr Feelgood are still rocking at the Palace Theatre
Local band Dr Feelgood, are still rocking after all these years and are a very underrated band. They have undergone various line-up changes over time not least the loss of their lead singer Lee Brilleaux and the exit of Wilko Johnson, whose songs still remain as part of their set. Many of their songs are covers and they have a strong 60’s r&b feel but they are still relevant today.
The theatre thrilled with the magnificent vocals of Robert Kane and the powerful guitar playing of Steve Walwyn and Phil Mitchell. Kevin Morris of course ably supported them on the drums.
As the night began, there were no introductions, but as the audience were obviously fans of Feelgood from way back, they needed none. The band simply walked quietly on to cheers, and then launched into the first set with the opening number Stupidity. After that, there was no stopping them with I Can Tell, Who do You Love, Baby Jane, Milk and Alcohol, Brilleaux’s She’s a Wind Up, Wilko Johnson’s All Through the City and others, with a dramatic Shotgun Blues to end the first set. Kane danced around the stage obviously enjoying himself but the audience seemed to be quietly listening. However, he got them to liven up by the interval. However, I remembered Kevin Morris’s comment to me in his interview that the local audience always seemed to be quietly respectful, unlike those in other countries, who let themselves go.
When Feelgood began the second set, everyone seemed to relax and soon were singing and clapping along, calling out and even trying to dance in the aisles. They sung their familiar songs like Roxette, She does it Right, Riot in Cell Block No.9, Going Back Home, Down at the Doctors, etc. Steve Walwyn demonstrated his prowess in a brilliant slide guitar section and Kane was demonstrating that he was no mean harmonica player. They finally ended the night with Gimme One More Shot to cries of ‘more’ and a standing ovation. They then returned for a singalong encore of Bonie Moronie/Tequila, which everyone had great fun joining in.
The theatre thrilled with the magnificent vocals of Robert Kane and the powerful guitar playing of Steve Walwyn and Phil Mitchell. Kevin Morris of course ably supported them on the drums.
As the night began, there were no introductions, but as the audience were obviously fans of Feelgood from way back, they needed none. The band simply walked quietly on to cheers, and then launched into the first set with the opening number Stupidity. After that, there was no stopping them with I Can Tell, Who do You Love, Baby Jane, Milk and Alcohol, Brilleaux’s She’s a Wind Up, Wilko Johnson’s All Through the City and others, with a dramatic Shotgun Blues to end the first set. Kane danced around the stage obviously enjoying himself but the audience seemed to be quietly listening. However, he got them to liven up by the interval. However, I remembered Kevin Morris’s comment to me in his interview that the local audience always seemed to be quietly respectful, unlike those in other countries, who let themselves go.
When Feelgood began the second set, everyone seemed to relax and soon were singing and clapping along, calling out and even trying to dance in the aisles. They sung their familiar songs like Roxette, She does it Right, Riot in Cell Block No.9, Going Back Home, Down at the Doctors, etc. Steve Walwyn demonstrated his prowess in a brilliant slide guitar section and Kane was demonstrating that he was no mean harmonica player. They finally ended the night with Gimme One More Shot to cries of ‘more’ and a standing ovation. They then returned for a singalong encore of Bonie Moronie/Tequila, which everyone had great fun joining in.
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If there was a criticism, it would be that Robert Kane could have given us some background information to the songs they sang, especially as there were some younger people in the audience to whom the songs would not be so familiar. He whetted the appetite a little beginning to talk about the song Milk and Alcohol, but that was merely to advertise the merchandise on sale in the foyer. However, the night was about the performance and not a bio story. The people sitting around me would have liked them to go on forever.
Even though Dr Feelgood have been around a long time, they still have the old energy and if you like bluesy r&b, with brilliant guitar playing, they provide a great night out. Review – Jacquee Storozynski-Toll Interview with Kevin Morris http://www.drfeelgood.org/ https://www.facebook.com/Dr.Feelgood.Official/ |
Our reviewer, Jacquee, meets Kevin Morris, who she interviewed early last year
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Ask the Audience
Mervyn Howell- Basildon I thought they were excellent. They played the crowd pleasers and the guitarist was excellent. The audience was a little quiet at first but they got them going by the end. I would have liked a little more stage presentation. Lynda Belt – Westcliff They were as good as usual as I have seen them before. The guitarist was brilliant. |
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