Thunderstick 

Leos Red Lion, Gravesend - 8th Feb 2020

Live review by; Myk

 

First up were Buffalo Fish with a three guitar approach which left me a little baffled as there seemed little point as I couldn’t really tell what this added to the sound.  They came across as a nostalgic seventies throwback, clearly very good musicians if a little static on stage but with a charismatic singer guitarist leading the way they were entertaining and a good warm up to the next band.

 

Next up were Gypsy’s Kiss again with a three-pronged guitar approach and a seventies sound. Once more I couldn’t really see what the third guitar was adding to the mix, especially as they also had a keyboardist enriching the sound. But an energetic approach from the band who were clearly enjoying themselves made for a very entertaining show. They played together really well and tracks like Gypsy’s Kiss and the barmy Heat Crazed Vole, which heralded an appearance of a six foot vole rampaging through the crowd, showed off their musicianship brilliantly. With the crowd well and truly warmed up the scene was now set for the main protagonists.

 

The lights were turned down and Thunderstick the band made their way from the back of the venue to the stage dressed in chemical protection suits and waving small flashlights, the theatrics building the atmosphere. Once on stage a pre-recorded narration played setting out the scene whilst the band readied themselves. Could the band match the hyped entrance? It’s Thunderstick of course they could.  Firing off with Riding With The Angels, a throwback to 1981 Samson originally sung by Bruce Dickinson, with singer Vixens’ vocals easily coping. There would be various costume changes during the set as the story being told upfolded, with new single Go Sleep With The Enemy coming across brilliantly live. Thunderstick the band perhaps are not given enough credit for how good they are, Barry is an absolute animal of a drummer, keeping a steady and thunderous rhythm with Rex on bass equally adept. Guitarists Vinny and Lee adding the driving riffs with additional solo squeals right on cue and Ravens’ vocals are superb as are her flamboyant costume changes to set the mood for each song.

Another 1981 vintage Earth Mother again showing off Ravens’ vocal dexterity, I’m not sure Bruce ever made it sound so good.  Albums Echoes From The Analogue Asylum and Something Wicked This Way Comes are plundered during the raucous set, with Blackwing and Heartbeat (In The Night) particularly standing out. To cap it all off we were treated to a fabulous encore of The Time Warp where perhaps Raven missed an opportunity to get the crowd totally involved. 

 

Overall Thunderstick maybe have a niche appeal, but it seems to me they are impossible not to enjoy with great tunes and engaging theatrical content.