THE TREATMENT / AIRRACE
IRON ROAD - PERSHORE
March 22nd
Review by; DeeDee
Celebrations tonight as it’s The Iron Road’s 5th Birthday. The Treatment are also in good spirits as their new album has been released today and it’s already topping the Amazon charts. So good news all round.
Tonight is billed as a double headliner but it’s the AOR veterans AIRRACE that take to the stage first. Having been around since about 1982, only Guitarist Laurie Mansworth remains from the original lineup.
He is joined by his son Dhani on Drums (Dhani is also drummer for The Treatment) and Linda Kelsey-Foster on Keyboards, who has also worked with Reuben Archers Personal Sin. Renowned Bass player Rocky Newton (MSG, Lionheart) has also joined the ranks, completing the new look is Adam Payne on vocals.
We get a mixture from two of the bands albums ‘Shaft Of Light’ which was the debut in 1984 and the latest release ‘Untold Stories’ that came out in August last year. Melodic with a capital M, Airrace lift off with an oldie, ‘I don’t Care’ and it is obvious from the start that Adam Payne has a voice that is perfect for these kind of numbers. Very refined, his range and pitch are spot on, he makes Airrace sound stadium-like in this small Worcestershire venue. ‘Eyes Like Ice’ from Untold Stories, is more catchy and Laurie attaches some very strong chords in a key that gives it a nice feel. More from ’84 with, ‘Caught In The Game’, ‘Not Really Me’ and ‘First Over The Line’ and the audience appreciate the excellent AOR vibe. I like the smooth, professional way Airrace command the stage, even if they are competing for space at times! Back to Untold Stories, ’Men From The Boys’ has a more bluesy groove, again the vocals and guitar-hooks interacting, create quite a result. Softer and full of harmonies ‘Summer Rain’ is a floaty breeze, while ‘Different But The Same’ returns to the more upbeat rock side of things. They end on ‘Brief Encounter’ another from Shaft Of Light, a really decent show tonight, I enjoyed it.
AIRRACE are -
Laurie Mansworth - Guitar
Rocky Newton - Bass
Linda Kelsey Foster - Keyboards
Adam Payne - Vocals
Dhani Mansworth - Drums
Getting together in 2008, THE TREATMENT have experienced the reality of life on the road, having toured with some of the wildest rock stars including Kiss and Mötley Crüe, they have also played Ozzfest In Japan. This hasn’t given them any inflated egos, they are still a bunch of ordinary guys from Cambridge who now feel a part of the current wave of New Classic Rock. With 3 albums complete, the 4th ‘Power Crazy’ has been released today, in time for the start of this tour. Naturally a few will be given an airing during the course of events tonight.
The band are soon up on stage with new songs, ’Hang Them High’ and ‘Lets Get Dirty’, it’s AC/DC, Thunder and Kiss all rolled into one. High pitched screams from Tom Rampton with loads of backing vocals from the others, fast guitars and an air of excitement from the off. Yes, it’s simple rock and roll, ‘The Doctor’ which featured on the 2011 ’This Might Hurt’ is a raunchy riff filled gem. The Iron Road audience are shaking their heads, the party is well under way, Tom gets their participation for ‘D**K,F**K,F**K’ also from 2011 and the room is truly buzzing. ‘Bite Back’ has a hook that Angus and Co would be proud to play, it’s very Dirty Deeds era. No surprise Tom regards Bon Scott as his main influence and guitarist Tagore Grey lists Mr Young as one of his heroes. Staying with the new album ‘Luck Of The Draw’ is a moody 12 bar blues, down and dirty, slung back and thrown into your face with attitude. Wow, love that one.
After the fast more melodic rocker ‘I Bleed Rock + Roll’ which featured on the 2013 ‘Running With The Dogs’, it’s time to hear more from Power Crazy. ‘The Fighting Song’ and ‘Rising Power’ are both steady and powerful jaw breakers, that expose the Treatment’s bravado, they come across this evening as exciting, cock-sure and full of energy. ‘Shake The Mountain’ again from ‘This Might Hurt’ is the last song, think Crüe, Steelheart and those sleazy LA bands of the 80’s, it has that momentum, thrust even. Great show, full on and not a minute wasted.
They hit the road again in May for the full Power Crazy Tour, along with support from Bigfoot, I’ve got my ticket already!
THE TREATMENT are -
Tom Rampton - Vocals
Tagore Grey -Guitar
Tao Grey - Guitar
Dhani Mansworth - Drums
Rick ’Swoggle’ Newman - Bass