For you Nazarath fans


NAZARETH + BLACK #5 Islington Academy Bar, Thursday 25th August 2005
A re-arranged date and strangely moved to the smaller bar area
rather than the main hall of the Academy. A good turn out and my
first Nazareth gig – a band I have longed admire but never managed
to see live until now. But first we have the excellent Black #5,
whose debut album `Last Few Hours' was one of the debuts of last
year. Due to the small stage and large drum kit the vocalist was
forced to sing in the crowd – can't get more intimate than that! A
few songs of the debut were aired including the rifftastic `This
Petty Trial' and `Down'. A few new numbers as well including one of
almost ballad like pace! The set was marred by a broken drum pedal
but they soldiered on and certainly impressed a few of the Nazareth
fans. I can't recommend this band highly enough as they have the
tunes and talent, they just need that all important lucky break…
Between sets I was amused to hear one punter ask without a hint
of irony, `Which is the house white wine?' Rock `n' roll! Nazareth
took to the stage and played a blistering of classic rockers
including `Razzamanz', `S.O.B' , `Turn On Your Receiver'
and `Shanghaied In Shanghi'. But Nazareth also do ballads so well
including `Hearts Grown Cold', which saw guitarist Jimmy Murrison
take the limelight and of course set closer `Love Hurts'. Encores
including `This Flight Tonight' and `Broken Down Angel' – sheer
classic rock class. Vocalist Dan McCafferty has lost none of his
power and was very at ease between songs cracking jokes, mainly at
his own expense. It's great that Nazareth can still belt out the
classics and long may they continue.
www.nazarethdirect.co.uk
www.blacknumber5.com