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Picture
REVIEW
✭✭✭✭✭ 5/5​
​THE STORY OF GUITAR HEROES 
at the
​ PALACE THEATRE, SOUTHEND 

on
24th February 2019
Interview with Phil Walker click here
“If you like music and guitars you will LOVE this show!”
The Story of Guitar Heroes returned to Southend’s Palace Theatre last night.  Billed as the ‘Ultimate Guitar Show’, Phil Walker and his band hit the stage running with Chuck Berry’s No Particular Place to Go and such is their instant appeal, by the time they’re on to the next song - an Eddie Cochrane number - the appreciative audience are already singing and clapping along.
​
The amiable, Phil Walker, takes us through the decades from the fifties to the present day, if you count Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody as present day (the BAFTA and Oscar nominated film has probably helped here).  Walker and his talented band, re-play each iconic hit, banging out those finger busting guitar riffs, song after song, all the while looking like they are having a blast.  They clearly adore their work and look very tight together.

I saw the show last year and was hugely impressed with the talented Walker, who certainly knows his stuff when it comes to banging out a guitar riff and, indeed, guitars in general.  The 20 odd collection of guitars which adorn the stage are all part of Walker’s private collection and each one is there to represent the song its original was played on.

With undeniably more than enough guitar-heavy tunes out there to choose from, Walker could probably put on a show to last at least 6 hours long!  He has the unenviable task of managing to whittle it down to around just over two.  Anyone who saw the show last year will note that the show has been given a few updates, giving it a fresh feel, although there have obviously been no compromises when it comes to showcasing the absolute classics.  Hank Marvin and the Shadows are still there, Jeff Beck, The Who, Jimi Hendrix and rest assured, there’s no way Deep Purple’s Smoke on the Water is going to get sent to the archives just yet.

Highlights include the Albert Lee song, Country Boy, in which Walker’s fingers steam along faster than an express train and likewise with a country music singer/songwriter, Brad Paisley number.

Eric (“I knew I was different but I didn’t know why”) Clapton’s Layla, goes down a storm, not least because Walker’s black Fender Stratocaster decides to give up the ghost just as he about to launch into the song.  With a replacement quickly handed over he went on to finish the song to rapturous applause from the Southend audience.

The last time The Story of Guitar Heroes was in town, Walker teased us with the possibility that they might even do some Bert Weedon next time they came.  True to his word we were treated to a few of Weedon’s tunes with, amusingly, guitar lovers in the audience giving a collective groan with the obvious recollections of trying to learn to play guitar with Bert’s infamous book, Play in a Day - which it would seem, nobody ever did!

The second half of the evening produces hits and riffs from The Eagles - Hotel California nicely played by Phil and Toby and joined by two other previously unseen band members, Josh and Dave, Prince, BB King, AC/DC, Les Paul, Jimmy Page, Gary Moore as well as the highly anticipated Sweet Child of Mine guitar riff given to us by Guns n Roses’ Slash.

Walker has a great team behind him with Allan Varnfield on drums, Lee Williams providing bass, guitar and vocals as well as a bit of eye candy for the ladies and the guitar, bass and vocal talents of Toby James who also returns from last year with Phil Walker.  These guys are all hugely talented musicians and it’s a joy to watch them performing their craft.

Ending with songs from Thin Lizzy, Steve Vai, Brian May and an encore of the legendary Johnny B Goode and Status Quo’s Rockin All Over the World, the audience were up and rockin’ all over the auditorium.   Whether you play guitar, are learning to play the guitar or simply just enjoy listening to the amazing sounds that guitars produce, then be sure to get yourself a ticket to see The Story of Guitar Heroes, you won’t be disappointed.

The tour continues www.storyofguitarheroes.com
Check out our photos of the Palace Theatre, Southend show from our fab photographer, Clarissa Debenham/Film Free Photography
All images below are the exclusive property of Southend Theatre Scene and Film Free Photography by Clarissa Debenham and may not be reproduced, copied, stored, downloaded or altered in any way without permission. If you are interested in Clarissa's photography please get in touch by clicking the above link.
Check out our review from last year's show here
For more info go to the website: storyofguitarheroes.com

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