MOTORHEAD,
NEWCASTLE CITY HALL, 11/11/05
" We
are Motorhead and we play Rock and Roll!!" This is the first
line Newcastle City Hall is greeted with by living Legend Lemmy. Simple,
effective and powerful - exactly what Motorhead are about.Dressed in the usual all black ensemble with cowboy boots to match, Lemmy strolls onstage, fag in mouth ready to punish the hall with a set full of classics. The show starts with 'Dr Rock', it's a good song although I'm beginning to miss their 'we are Motorhead' intro but the band look on good form and next is a track off their new album 'Inferno' called 'Killers' which is a good track but it's already apparent that there's something technically wrong. Any time Phil Campbell goes to the mic there's feedback so his vocal input throughout the show was lacking. Next is one of the greats off the 'Ace of spades' album which isn't always in the set - 'Love me like a reptile' instantly recognisable by the opening few notes. The band are on top form but the crowd just aren't responding which becomes more evident as the gig goes on. Up next is 'Stay clean' and the band are really trying to get the crowd going, Phil Campbell is running about onstage, shouting to the handful of punters allowed to go right up to the stage. The venue was completely seated and the bouncers restricted everyone from standing at the front so very little moshing or headbanging was going on.  'Metropolis'
follows, personally it's not one of my favourite songs as it's one
of Motorhead’s slowest but nevertheless it's a classic. "Dancing
on your grave' is then followed by another new one 'In the name of
tragedy'. Mikkey Dee's fierce attack on the drums is outstanding but
more prevalent in the song 'Sacrifice' which as Lemmy advises' "Kids,
don't try dancing to this one - you'll break your fucking legs. This
is the fastest song I’ve ever written!!" The highlight
in this one is of course Mikkey Dee's unrelenting drum solo which
is executed brilliantly before the rest of the band come back on and
finish the song.After the rush of 'Sacrifice' a slower song is next again with the intro 'this is for all the fat fuckin cats, all the twisted politicians..." it is of course ''just because you got the power, doesn’t mean you got the right''. The crowd look as though they still need a little encouragement in the 'Show like you're enjoying the gig' department. One of the highlights for me in the set is 'Killed by Death' so much so that I get goosebumps from just hearing it and the immortal lines  'I ain't
gonna be easy, easy - the only time I’m easy is when I’m
Killed by death!!'. If the song ain't enough for some people, the
strobe lighting throughout the song should wake them up and even myself,
in a completely sober state can't resist headbanging to this number.
Lemmy dedicates the next song, it's 'RAMONES' and it's ripped through
at lightening speed. In the four other times I’ve seen this
band, this has to be the fastest and tightest I’ve seen the
song played so I was well impressed.'Going to Brazil is played with as much speed and both Lemmy and Phil look like they're having a good time, this is followed by one from the vaults 'Fast and loose' which is given one of Lemmy's quick comments that raises a smile. Phil Campbell's guitar work is excellent and we then move onto the last part of the show."This is the bit where we pretend to go offstage-then you all shout and we come back out....we're all guys, we need a piss-you do the math!' and with that the hall is in complete darkness. On their return the stage is lit in red light and Mikkey Dee takes a break from the drums to play guitar. This is 'whorehouse blues' another off the new album which as the title suggests, is a very bluesy number with great guitar work and harmonica. However, Mikkey Dee's guitar goes out of action very early on in song and he exits off stage. It's not hindered the song by any means though as Phil Campbell carries on regardless with an intricate guitar solo that has most of the selected few at the front awestruck. 'Iron fist' is one of the last three songs and it's also another favourite of mine so I’m still surprised that no one's really headbanging bar me and 2 other people on the balcony. The last two songs in the Motorhead setlist are reserved for 'Ace of spades' and 'Overkill'. 'Ace of Spades' is a classic and of course gets the biggest crowd response, over the years it's remained their signature song apart from a slight lyric change whereby the line 'I don't wanna live forever - but apparently I am' now replaces the old 'don't forget the joker' (maybe the extra ice-cubes in the jack & coke are working??) Lastly is 'Overkill' which is also performed with strobe lighting and as songs go it packs a mean punch! Sacrifice may come with a warning, but 'Overkill' should do too! If anyone doesn't know the song and from the looks of the crowd, many didn't, the song has three  parts,
each going faster than the last. The lyrics again climax to the mighty
'Rock 'n' Roll ain't worth the name if it don't make you fuck!'"
Then it's over, the band say 'Goodbye Newcastle! Don’t forget us!!" and from my view it's sad to see how little appreciation was showed. How the likes of 'Iron fist', 'love me like a reptile' and 'Sacrifice' didn't make people punch the air and headbang ‘til they nearly fall over is beyond me. The band played a tight set and apart from the technical difficulties it was probably one of the best performances but maybe not the best sets I’ve seen in a while. The crowd got a hint of 'Louie Louie' but alas it was only the first few chords and then it was gone. I don't recall 'Bomber' being played either. For his 30th year as leader of Motorhead Lemmy looks well, his in between banter is great and the band really look like their enjoying themselves. Rock'n'roll, baby! Astrid |