25/11/2006 Motörhead @ Brixton Academy

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Subject	Motörhead @ Brixton Academy
PostedDate	11/25/2006
	After a break of a few years, this has once again become an annual event around this time -  Motörhead hit town.  I had to miss last year's show (particularly unfortunate as Girlschool were supporting) so I am looking forward to this gig more than usual. Going to see Motörhead is almost a religious experience for me - or as close as I am ever likely to come to such a thing. They are in a class of their own and therefore no other band can realistically be compared to them. Ticket prices have gone up to around the £30 mark to see the band at Brixton Academy. I've never paid that much to see them before, but I know this band always deliver the goods so I don't hesitate to buy a ticket. There aren't many bands I'd pay that much to see, but I know Motörhead are worth it.  That said, I have to say I was less than impressed with their latest album 'Kiss Of Death'. The previous few albums had got progessively better until they peaked with the last one 'Inferno'. To me 'Kiss Of Death' just seems like 'Motörhead by numbers' - almost like the cliched 'contractual obligation album'. It still sounds like Motörhead, but there just aren't any really good songs this time round.  It just sounds like Lemmy and the boys thought "Oh well, another year has rolled around - better knock another album out quick and get out on tour to get some wedge in the bank". Don't get me wrong - it's not a terrible album. But if I was writing out young master Kilmister's school report I'd put 'Could try harder' at the bottom... Usually, every Motörhead album has a couple of out and out rock 'n' roll songs on it - and these are often my favourites. This album is sadly lacking in this respect - the nearest this album gets to a good rock 'n' roll song is 'Christine' - but it's no 'Going To Brazil', 'Life's A Bitch' or 'Stay Out Of Jail'. The usual themes of women and war are present, along with more songs about religion and politicians fucking up the world. I couldn't fail to notice that the band's poorest albums of the last ten years have been the ones made when Lemmy had shaved off his 'tache - look at 'Overnight Sensation' and 'Snakebite Love'. Lemmy is even seen smilingon the back cover of the latter! I think someone must have had a word with him about these things 'cos then he grew the 'tache back and the band's albums got progressively better again. Until now that is. Upon hearing the last offering I had check the liner to see if he had shaved his 'tache off again! Fortunately, there is a photo of him inside with face fungus intact and scowl in place - all is not lost. I can't help wondering if the picture was taken before or after the album was made and he had shaved inbetween though.... Anyway, my train of thought has become derailed - caught in a passing tornado maybe - or maybe strafed and bombed by a jet fighter(Bomber) of the same name - more fitting for a Motörhead album maybe? I was supposed to be telling you about the gig... It was a good Motörhead show, but is there any other kind? Well yes actually - there are excellent ones. But this wasn't one of them. Like the current album, I thought it was a bit 'head by numbers - but less so. Naturally, the new album was featured - but fortunately only with two or three songs. The show started with 'Dr Rock' - more often played the last few years after not being heard for a long time. All the hits got an airing as you'd expect, and as usual the very underrated 'Rock 'N' Roll' album was overlooked while the sub-standard 'Sacrifice' got trotted out again - Lemmy must like that song, but I don't know anyone else who does.  The song the band take their name from has unfortunately remained unplayed for some years now - I guess Lemmy got fed up of playing it - but he still manages to force out 'Ace Of Spades' and 'Overkill' - songs which he must have played even more times by now... The once very pleasantly surprising acoustic interlude of 'Whorehouse Blues' is getting very predictable now - although it still seems to go down well with the crowd. I get bored during the drum solo quicker these days, although at least it's been the only solo spot for a few years now - at least we don't have to put up with the seemingly endless seperate solo spots by Wurzel, Phil Campbell, and Mikkey Dee any more while Lemmy sneaks off for a crafty fag.  I was disappointed by the absence of both the famous Bomber lighting rig, and the classic song that inspired it - that would have helped justify the expensive ticket price (I'm not the only one who thought so) this time round. There were no special guests or other surpises this time round either to make the show more memorable. Well, there was one surprise as Lemmy gave a namecheck to the late great Phil Lynott and announced they would play a tribute to another band fronted by a very charismatic bass player - Thin Lizzy. Then they launched into a pretty good version of 'Rosalie' - ironically a Bob Seger song rather than one actually written by the Irish band, although they did make that song their own when they covered it. Motörhead played superbly as always, the sound was good and loud, and nearly all my favourite songs got played so it was worth the money. Even at 60 years old, Lemmy still has an amazingly commanding stage presence from the moment he walks onto the stage - there is no doubt who is in charge. As far as I am concerned, the man is still the King of Rock 'n' Roll and is showing no signs of slowing down or giving up his crown. He remains a great inspiration to many - myself included. You can find a one minute video clip of 'Ace Of Spades' from this show if you look in my 'Videos' area. It's not quite as good as being there as it was taken from the back of the venue and the sound is distorted as it was so loud even at the back! On the plus side - you don't have to drink overpriced Carling pisswater while watching it....