Fun Loving' Criminals
Tonight, Huey Morgan is definitely 'the man', and Fun Lovin' Criminals do what they do best – leave their audience hungry for more
With his extensive knowledge of music and unique sense of laid-back cool, Huey Morgan and his morning show on BBC Radio 6 has now become an essential part of my weekend. It is easy to forget that the easy-going but street-savvy New Yorker has, for the last twenty five years and through six studio albums, channelled that same musical passion into his band, Fun Lovin' Criminals.
This weekend, whilst fellow American Katie Puckrick sat in for Huey on the radio, Fun Lovin' Criminals were headed up the A11 for their return to Norwich and their gig at the Nick Rayns LCR, a tour that celebrates not only their string of classic hits, but also their recent album of covers, remixes and new material, Another Mimosa.
It is an early start – we all have to be done and dusted before the students are allowed in for their weekly Meltdown, but it is Brooklyn's DJ Mateo Difontainethat gets the party started. I'm usually a bit disappointed when live music nights kick off with a DJ instead of a support band, but DJ Mateo has spun, cut and scratched for the best, and in the best New York style produces a cracker of a set that suits this audience to a tee, mixing hip hop, soul and funk with 'Dad-rock' classics like Bowie, Queen and Nirvana. You gotta hand it to the man – he sure knows how to warm up a crowd.
Huey Morgan has broken his foot so, whilst Brian Leiser strides the stage to his keyboard and Frank Benbini finds his way to his place behind the drumkit, Morgan, on crutches and with his right leg in a brace, negotiates his way to an expensively stylish lounge chair at front of stage. He is given his guitar, and the set kicks off to the strident chords of Rumble, the Link Wray number and opening track off Another Mimosa. We all know it as 'that instrumental track from Pulp Fiction'.
It is followed, appropriately enough, with Neil Diamond's Hello Again, but then we are on familiar ground as the first of many hits is delivered in the form of The King of New York. And that is what Morgan resembles, seated on his throne, being passed his instruments and served copious quantities of Remy Martin. He exudes that air of confident authority that De Niro channelled whilst playing Al Capone in The Untouchables. But De Niro don't do singing and guitar like Huey Morgan.
Over the next ninety minutes or so, the band run through a mix of new and old, every song given a laid back introduction by the man himself, each one peppered with words that wouldn't make it onto the radio show. He may not be able to cross the stage, but still manages to playfully wind up Leiser by flicking guitar plectrums at him after each and every song. And, after he has used up all twelve on the microphone stand, the guitar tech produces more in order that we can make it to the end of the setlist.
Most moving moment comes with a heartfelt tribute to Tom Petty ahead of the cover of Mary Jane's Last Dance. Crowd pleasing highlight is undoubtedly the rocking rendition of Scooby Snacks, at the end of which Morgan hauls himself to his feet and triumphantly punches the air.
Tonight, Huey Morgan is definitely 'the man', and Fun Lovin' Criminals do what they do best – leave their audience hungry for more.
