Music > Live Reviews
Ricky Warwick and the Fighting Hearts
The Adrian Flux Waterfront
21/11/16
It is a wet Sunday night in Norwich. Whilst we haven’t had weather anywhere near as bad as Brighton, the thought of heading to The Waterfront ain’t particularly inviting. Things don’t look great when I get to my usual parking spot on Rose Lane and find that it is flooded. Can Vice Squad and Ricky Warwick lift my mood?
Vice Squad are one of those punk bands I’ve avoided over the years. My elders and supposedly betters who experienced punk’s heyday first hand put me off with dark tales of selling out. But then they did that with bands like the UK Subs and – not for the first time - it turns out they were talking utter bollocks. Tonight, Vice Squad were superb and the song Punk Police should perhaps be dedicated to those that did so much to put me off seeing Vice Squad before now.
Careering through the likes of Latex Love, Spitfire, Sniffin' Glue and the mighty Last Rockers, sole original member Beki is on vox and guitar, ably backed up by guitarist Paul, Wayne on bass and drummer Django before finishing up with Ace of Spades. Now, if have to be picky it would be nice to hear someone do a song other than Ace as a tribute to Lemmy but this is a great version of a classic song.
Back in March, I saw Ricky Warwick & The Fighting Hearts supporting Stiff Little Fingers downstairs. It was the first time I had seen Warwick since he fronted the Almighty at Donington back on the early 90s and I was blown away. Tonight, Ricky and his Fighting Hearts of drummer Gary Sullivan, guitarist Mark Gemini Thwaite and bassist Robert Crane didn’t quite have the same effect.
Don’t get me wrong. The set – covering everything from the early days of the Almighty up to latest album When Patsy Cline Was Crazy and Guy Mitchell Sang The Blues – was strong and enjoyable but it did get a little bludgeoning and, frankly, a tad one dimensional in places. Maybe a couple of Warwick’s more restrained acoustic songs could have added a bit of colour and light.
Whatever, Damascus Street, Celebrating Sinking, Black Star Riders' Finest Hour and covers of the Clash's Tommy Gun and Lizzy’s Jailbreak were just what the doctor ordered to lift the gloom brought on by the shite weather outside. Of course, it was the Almighty songs of Free & Easy and closer Jonestown Mind that got the warmest welcome from the enthusiastic crowd.
All in all, it was well worth venturing out for this and hey, it wasn’t raining when I left the Waterfront for the journey home.