GIG REVIEW –DEXYS | Dexys Midnight Runners Reviews 

Our London Guitar Academy reviewer, Paul Wood, was out in style last week to catch Dexys at a packed and sweaty Kasbah Club in Coventry.

The show was one of a short series of performances by the band (taking in Norwich, Coventry and the London Roundhouse) prior to their performance at this year’s Glastonbury festival.

The show followed the format adopted by Dexys for their triumphant series of dates at the Duke of York Theatre in London last year – a performance of their last album “One Day I’m Going To Soar” followed by a selection of earlier favourites.

The female vocalist/actress from the album (and the Duke of York shows), Madeleine Hyland, was unavailable for this series of shows. She is currently featuring in the RSC production of “Bring Up The Bodies” at the Aldwych Theatre. Her role in the show was taken over by Siobhan Fahey (Banarama, Shakespears Sister).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s a link to the official Dexys video of “She’s Got A Wiggle”:

Dexys regulars included original members “Big Jim” Paterson and Pete Williams and the band features Lucy Morgan from the last album on violin.

Long known for their intense and power packed live shows, the current band didn’t disappoint.

The nature, story and performance of the “One Day..” album hangs together well when played through on stage . Pete Williams is excellent as 2^nd male vocalist and the on stage foil/conversational partner for Kevin Rowland. Siobhan Fahey perfectly fits her role as the femme fatale that forms the object of Kevin’s obsession (“She Got A Wiggle”, “I’m Always Going To Love You”) but ultimate rejection (“Incapable Of Love”).

Here’s a link to the official Dexys live video for “I’m Always Going To Love You”

And the official Dexys video of “Incapable of Love”:

Kevin Rowland is brilliant – his performance blends West End Theatre, Van Morrison, James Brown and Jimmy Ruffin but ultimately it is all Kevin Rowland.

Known for his on (and off) stage intensity, there’s even the odd touch of humour -when struggling midset to reset the microphone stand and with Pete Williams grinning at him from ear to ear, Rowland dead pans to the audience “we were looking to add a bit of comedy to the show” . Part way through one of the long conversational dialogues between Rowland and Williams, Kevin suddenly says “Have a sausage”!

For a band that’s only released 4 albums in over 30 years (all of which should be in everybody’s collection), they are on top form and the appreciative crowd roar at the conclusion of every song.

With the “One Day…” album set finished (they didn’t play the album’s concluding track “It’s OK John Joe”), the band launch into a collection of past classics.

“There There My Dear” gets played twice – first as a slow version then followed immediately by the up-tempo original version, “Geno” gets given a calypso treatment and has Rowland/Williams shimmying around the stage as though they were Kid Creole & the Coconuts and the set closes with a full length version of “Come On Eileen”.

Back for an encore, Dexys play a full length version of “This What She’s Like”. For a band that has generated a number of absolute classic tracks, this is their masterpiece (to date) and the crowd go berserk as the song starts from its conversational opening and builds to the final full band climax.

Here’s a link to the album version:

A full2 hour set in total and Dexys prove they can still keep a crowd enthralled and begging for more.

If you’re still searching for the (not quite so) young soul rebels, go see them live now if you can – there was a 27 year gap before “One Day I’m Going To Soar” appeared!

A new Dexys film “Nowhere Is Home” is to be released for a one night only screening at 37 Vue cinemas in the UK (including Islington, Westfield White City and London Piccadilly) on July 21st at 7.45pm. For tickets see the official Dexys website:

http://www.dexysonline.com/view-7-42

Full set list

Now

Lost

Me

She Got A Wiggle

You

I’m Thinking Of You

I’m Always Going To Love You

Incapable of Love

Free

There There My Dear (version 1)

There There My Dear (version 2)

Geno

I Love You (Listen To This)

Come On Eileen

This Is What She’s Like

 

Blast From The Past

Here’s a link to the official Dexys video for “There There My Dear”