Enuff Z Nuff / Last Great Dreamers
Queens Hall, Nuneaton 6/9/19
Review by; DeeDee
It is the first jaunt for me over to Queens Hall in Nuneaton. Arriving early as interviews are booked, I am in the downstairs Crew Bar, gazing at all the memorabilia that covers the walls and ceilings, I immediately feel at home. There is also a small stage, which has a band playing tonight while the main show is upstairs. Something for everyone I guess. The room upstairs is a good size, so is the stage and bar, perfect. It even has free WiFi!
THREE GREAT DREAMERS tonight as Marc Valentine is unavailable, however, a miniature Marc sits proudly on Rick Pratts’ bass drum. Slyder Smith is in charge of vocals and bassist Tim Emery makes up the trio. ‘Glam tinged power-pop rock’ is how they describe themselves on Facebook, I suppose that does explain their style, think Heavy Metal Kids with some Mott, T.Rex and Clash, it’s a combination that isn’t found anywhere else.
Slyder gets it all underway singing ‘Crash Landing In Teenage Heaven’, quite comfortably on his own. There is a decent number of Nuneaton punters in the room, who give full support, as we spin into ‘I Think I like It’ from the 2018 well received ‘13th Floor Renegades’. A few off ’Transmissions From Oblivion’ the 2017 album, with the favourite ‘Glitterball Apocalypse’, then ‘The Way We Collide’, ’Turn It Up’ and ‘Misunderstood’, which precede ‘Far From Home’ and ‘Lady (Don’t Need You) from their debut album ’Retrosexual’. They remind us what a timeless album that is and how the LGD are still in vogue, all these years later. ‘Oblivion Kids’ is last up and although it’s not the same without Marc, the Three Great Dreamers were superb.
Going back to 1989 the band are celebrating a lot this year and on November 16th, they will grace the Lounge in Camden for the 25th anniversary of their ‘Retrosexual’ album.
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ENUFF Z NUFF replaced Tony Fennell in March with original guitarist Alex Kane, who along with Chip and Donnie Vie were the founding members of Enuff Z Nuff. It is also good news that Donnie has a new record out that features Paul Gilbert from Mr Big and Matt Walker of the Smashing Pumpkins, entitled ‘Beautiful Things’.
The set tonight is full of the ones we fans adore, singing along to ’Heaven Or Hell’ and getting in the groove with ’Wheels’, it’s a storming gig. The trick with the bottle is part of every show, Chip standing behind guitarist Tory Stoffregen while Tory drinks a bottle of something in one hand and strums Chip’s bass with the other. Bowie’s ‘Jean Genie’ is covered, Chip is quick to tell us how he loves our country and our musical heritage. A relative newie from last year ‘Diamond Boy’ is fast becoming a popular choice, drummer Dan Hill marks his territory with this one. Then a guitar jam follows with Alex, Tory and Chip to break it up a bit.
Of course it wouldn’t be conceivable, not to hear ‘Fly High Michelle’ and the ‘Last Great Dreamers’ jump on stage to help sing on this one, (yes, they were just about still sober enough to accomplish this!). ’New Thing’ also has impromptu guests, when good friends of the band, Mike Richards and Rob Lane of ‘Ryan Hamilton and the Harlequin Ghosts’ are urged to join in. Ending a marvelous evening on ‘The World Is A Gutter’ it is all over far too soon. Another fantastic performance and don’t worry if you missed them this time around, they will be back at Hard Rock Hell AOR 2020 along with more dates.