Hollywood Vampires – undead in Glasgow, 19th June

The last of a rash of gigs over a few days. This time the turn of LA “super group” The Hollywood Vampires.

It was a Hydro gig so I was already managing my expectations in terms of what the atmosphere would be like. The venue is cavernous and soulless at the best of times. Many bands struggle to build an atmosphere despite their best efforts. This and the fact that there were tickets selling on Groupon in the run up at less than half price suggesting poor sales.

On arrival, I noticed many seats were curtained off. I don’t know if that was due to the sales or it was always the plan to only have some of the sections open. Anyway, taking our seats it made me reflect on the venues I like seeing bands in and the ones which leave me cold. This was exacerbated by seeing a message telling me that due to the devastating fire at the weekend Scotland Calling will now be in the O2 Academy next year. This is another of my less-liked venues in the city. The punk day out’s normal “home”, the O2 ABC being one of my favourite small/medium sized venues. I hope something can be done for the ABC in the longer term. Glasgow needs more of those sized venues, and less cavernous soulless arenas. Plus, we need the biggest glitter-ball in Europe back!

The Damned

Back to the night in question and first up it was the band I was mostly there to see, The Damned. I wonder if they were selected for Vanian oft resemblance of the Dracula? It was the first time I’ve seen the band since Paul Gray re-joined for the Evil Spirits album. The sound was crisp and clear and the band were on top form, with Vanian and Sensible making several quips about the atmosphere and the difference between this gig and other times they have played the venue (and questioning who burnt down the ABC!)

It didn’t help matters in having the whole venue seated, including the normal “standing” area. Just another factor that adds to reducing audience interaction. Anyway, enough of my moaning. The Damned, as I said, were on great form, with one of the highlights for me being an incendiary Ignite. I knew it would be a short greatest hits set to cater for an audience largely not there to see them. They did an admirable job in pleasing long time die-hard fans with earlier singles New Rose, Neat Neat Neat and Love Song. While catering for the casual fan who may only know of them from Phantasmagoria and their “big hit” Eloise.

Vanian was punning throughout and introduced the only track they played from new album Evil Spirits by surmising we were in a location that used to be shipyards. Is this the future? he mused, or are we Standing on the Edge of Tomorrow. Finishing with the slow build and energetic romp that was Smash It Up Pts I and II, it was a perfect start to the evening.

The Darkness

It’s a pity then, from my perspective, that we had to bear The Darkness next. I’ll freely admit that I’m not a fan (apart from the Christmas song, but then I like lots of Christmas songs by people I don’t generally like) but I was willing to give them a go and genuinely interested to see what they were like.

It didn’t start well, Justin wound up the punters from the off ordering them to stand up as it was rude to sit down during their set. As their set progressed I found his desperation to be quite humorous as he frantically tried to get the audience onside, generally failing miserably. Unlike The Damned who made a couple of jokes and just got on with it.

I believe that they are obviously talented musicians so it’s a shame they sell themselves as a bit of comedy act. A one joke comedy act. A joke that isn’t funny in the first place. From where I was sitting it appeared to be Richard Ayoade on bass. Half the band were decked out in dodgy 70’s flared suits with the remainder with long hair and in standard “heavy metal” gear. Ultimately, I only really know one song, the one that the majority of the audience seemed to know too. Though I vaguely recognised a couple of others.

But that voice. It may be impressive to have the range he has, but boy does it grate. It pierces your skull like a poisoned dart to the brain. Suffice to say, I wasn’t sorry when they finished.

Hollywood Vampires

So to the main event, Hollywood Vampires. I had first heard about them a while ago from my wife who had been listening to them for a couple of years. They seem to have passed me by originally. However, with someone of Alice Cooper’s calibre on-board, they were definitely worthy of my attention. I’m not an Aerosmith fan (apart from Dream On) so Joe Perry I can take or leave. Intrigued by Johnny Depp though. Yes, intrigued, probably a good word, what could he bring apart from his good looks?

Having said that, the first time I actually listened to their music was on Saturday night. We had friends round for a BBQ and got into conversation about them. Really they are just a glorified covers band, with a couple of originals. But let’s face it, they do some great covers.

One of my favourite post-punk bands are Bauhaus. It was pleasing to hear the strains of vampirical anthem Bela Lugosis Dead welcoming Hollywood’s undead to the stage.

And it was a lot of fun from the outset. I don’t know much about the background of the band, how they got together or what their manifesto is. I assume it is a bit like Belfast postman, The King. He played the songs of deceased artists or bands with members who were dead, in the style of Elvis. Hollywood Vampires seem to do the same (not the Elvis bit), but add to the mix songs from Cooper and Aerosmith and their own compositions, which mainly seem to focus on death.

Heroes

Unfortunately, they have an ever burgeoning catalogue to choose from. Highlighted by the slide show of the great and good and gone of the rock/punk scene. Tonight we were treated to renditions of many of their songs. Among them The Doors 5 to1/Break on Through, one of the set highlights Motorhead’s Ace of Spades. The Who’s Baba O’Riley complete with gargantuan drum solo. And one of my all-time favourite songs, Bowie’s Heroes.

Heroes was one of the songs that brought Depp stage front. As the opening bars played out, I had a lump in my throat as is my wont when I hear that song. I was slightly concerned when I saw it was Depp who was going to sing, but I was pleasantly surprised. He didn’t destroy it. In fact it was much understated and he didn’t do a bad job at all. And, to be fair, he is a far better vocalist than Joe Perry who was pretty awful when he took his turn singing.

Eye Candy

As I watched the band, I was impressed by the bass player, Chris Wyse and Cooper guitarist Tommy Henriksen, though was unsure if Johnny Depp was actually playing anything at all at some points. I suppose he was the eye candy for many. Take the two teenage girls next to me with their mum. They were obviously there to see Depp. So excited about his appearance from the end of The Damned set, they even got excited when The Darkness mentioned his name.

I was ready to be frustrated by them but it was entirely the opposite. They brought a smile to my face and actually added to my enjoyment of the gig. Their night was made when he came stage side during the second song, looked up and waved at them. Unfortunately for them that was the only time he did so. It didn’t stop them screaming and waving any time he ventured in our direction.

People Who Died

Earlier in the set, the band played a cover of The Jim Carroll Band’s People Who Died. All the while projecting images of some of my musical heroes. Prince, Bowie, Strummer, Vicious, Lemmy and many others (and a wee nod to Johnny Thunders with Depp’s LAMF armband). It was a great cover, but poignant and raw based on events of the last couple of weeks. Unfortunately, at my age and the age of many of the artists I respect and listen to, if the Vampires come back to Glasgow again, there will be more up there on the backdrop.

The band finished with a storming cover of Train Kept a-Rolling before returning to leave us with the Alice Cooper classic Schools Out – with added Brick in the Wall. With outsize Hollywood Vampires balloons bouncing about over the punters at the front.

Hollywood’s undead left the building to the sound of Anarchy in the UK and had no danger of being destroyed by wayward rays of sunlight outside as everyone was drowned by a torrential rainstorm. The only damp squib of the evening (apart from The Darkness of course)

A great way to spend a Tuesday evening.