Promises are like hearts, made to be broken”

WELL, NOT THE BEST START to a gig review as a visit to the Princess Alice on Saturday to review Black Rose was a totally wasted journey as an ailment by a guitarist for the aforementioned band resulted in a very last moment cancellation so I was a mite pissed off as I was in the mood for some rockin' Lizzy and a young band playing the Undertones and Weller just did not fit the bill.

But a fortuitous email from singer Ben on the following Sunday teatime spurred me into action and up to Sunniside I sped to catch the band at the Fret and Fiddler. Sunny it certainly wasn't — I must have caught the dark side. (So I suppose that should have been the moon, then!). Anyway, it was bitterly cold and dark but the journey was straightforward and happened to be well worth it as upon entering the Fiddler (if you see what I mean!) the entrance to the concert room was down a nice little corridor which opened into a small but atmospheric room with a central compact stage. Bar and toilets adjoined and the room was completely self-contained.

Now for those of you who remember this fine magazine when it actually was a magazine, who may be wondering why a review of Black Rose again when Riffs covered them not so long back. Well, my inquisitive web watchers, the reason is that not only are the band one helluva rockin' outfit, who have kept in touch regularly; not to mention Colin from Shovelmouth asked me to check the lads out for my opinion, but the main reason was that they replaced guitarist Mark with new guy Mick late last year and so I was looking forward to seeing if this line up change had made any difference to the rockin' outfit I remember from Rosie Malone's in South Shields many moons ago.

“I'd forgotten what a powerful, attacking sound Black Rose has”

But, as luck would have it — and I have tons of it — all bad!! Mick was ill and the band had got a stand in — yep, you guessed it — Mark!! Such is life.
Black Rose took the stage for one set rather than their usual two “Not as long as we usually do cos of the time allowed,” said Ben, “We usually play for a couple of hours if we can”. “Or two and a half if you leave in your solos” chirped Barry.
They opened with Jailbreak and from there on in, save the odd ballad or two, it was superb quality rocking. Y'know something; I truly had forgotten what a powerful, attacking sound Black Rose has. Some may say that Lizzy was a trifle more mellow, some may say that the songs Black Rose play are not identical Lizzy, some may say there's life on Mars. (And what has Mars got to do with Lizzy. Not a jot. But I'm working my way through a bottle of JD so just lump it, okay?!)

“From the drawn out teaser intro into an excellent rendition of Don't Believe a Word”

The classic tracks came thick and fast with Ben, Mark, George and Barry getting tighter and more powerful as the audience became more enthusiastic and vociferous. Waiting for an Alibi, Emerald, Cowboy Song, and a superb long, drawn out teaser of an intro to an excellent rendition of Don't Believe a Word. Whether it was the mood I was in, personal circumstances — or just the Jack Daniels — I really got off on this. A brilliant ballad; but so gutsy and, thankfully, a fine length. And I just love long tracks. I hate thoroughly enjoying a song only to find that it finishes just as I get deeply into it. Drummer George was his usual manic self on stage and yet so laid back off.
I need say no more than Parisienne Walkways for you to know that this band shy from nothing. Suicide up next and the band show no sign of flagging. 100% all night long (just like Rosie!). Last song of the night just had to be Black Rose but the crowd was not gonna let a quality band go that easily. Another teaser of an intro (give me more, give me more) and then sliding gently into Lizzy's biggest hit, Whisky in the Jar. A solid performance with no faults that I noticed although Ben told me afterwards that there was several gaffs — but hey, enjoyment was paramount!

“If you want to hear Lizzy identically — stay at home and listen to the CD!!”

I said to Ben that I could remember the impact of Rosalie when I saw them last at Rosie Malone's, as the twin lead guitars vying with each really made an impression. “Thanks,” he said. “But I think you'll find that would have been Emerald!” Oh well, more brain cells popped thanks to the old JD!!
“We change our set constantly, we don't mimic Lizzy identically every song. We're very adaptable, it's all done with nods and winks cos we've been playing together that long,” said Ben.
“Sometimes it's like a little challenge. . .” said George “ ‘do we know what's gonna happen next’! But it certainly keeps you on your toes cos you don't know what he's [Ben] gonna do”. Y'know what's gonna be included, y'know where the hooks and the solos are, but in between . . . it could be anything.”

“I can remember the other week when he went on drastically long, when he eventually played the intro that we know to bring us back in, y'know, the link, he had gone on for donkeys, and I didn't know that he could hear me at the back and I said ‘thank f**k for that’ and the microphone picked it all up!!”
George continued: “Our new guitarist, Mick, well the other night in a the solo of Emerald, it was goin' on for some time, y'know, and then I recognised this tune — he was only playing Teddy Bear's Picnic!!!!”
“It's all within the limits of the song and if he chooses to do it . . .” adds Ben. “But we do get the real music buffs who don't like it.”

George adds: “This guy complained that Don't Believe a Word sounded too much like Fleetwood Mac. I mean, you're always gonna get the people who want you to sound exactly like the CD — so why don't they just stay at home and listen to the CD then!?”
“Yeah, I'm a great believe in adding your own touch otherwise you might as well just stay at home and listen to the record,” said Ben.

Some amongst you may think this is a tad sacrilegious but, trust me, the guys adore Lizzy and it is no slight on their respect and appreciation of Phil Lynott's superb musicianship.
“We do our very own version of Don't Believe a Word and we've found that people have actually gone out looking for that version by Thin Lizzy. Course it doesn't exist!!.” adds George.
“No,” pipes up Ben, “they did actually do it similar to that, way back in '81 at Hammersmith Odeon. Snowy White was on guitar. But we finish it differently.”
“At the end of the day, finishes George, what we do is take the original and put our stamp on it. And we do the best we can. We do some tracks very close, but we like to elaborate on some, too.”

Well I reckon that Black Rose are an excellent, tight, attacking rock band, and with the added bonus of them playing Lizzy tracks — and invariably the entrance is FREE — how the hell can you complain!!!!!
Okay so there's more accurate Lizzy tribute bands out there — but there's one thing that Black Rose can beat them with in abundance — BALLS.

Nige

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