26/10/2011 The Broken Hearts & Gasoline Queens @ Boston Arms

Subject	The Broken Hearts & Gasoline Queens @ Boston Arms
DateCreated	11/16/2011 2:12:00 PM
	Certainly an interesting night at the Boston Arms Music Room. I seem to be finding myself here quite often these days as there are regularly bands I actually want to see playing, plus it's usually cheap on the door the the drinks at the bar are at pub prices.  The Skuzzies are supposed to be tonight's opening band but are a 'no show' - due to 'illness' apparently. One of them does crop up later with the headliners though... The evening gets off to a good start with The Gasoline Queens and their Dogs D'Amour influenced brand of rock 'n' roll. After their recent gig at the 12 Bar Club the band have been restored to their usual lineup - with Dave Renegade back on guitar after four string duties at their last show. They are joined by Texas Terri for their last song - she seems to be turning up everywhere at the moment! With a more robust PA and a better audio mix the band sound excellent tonight, and their style of music goes very well with the headliners, as well as the general vibe of the night. I'm sure they win over a few new fans as the audience seem to lap it up. And on to tonight's main attraction. This is the first UK appearance for 20 years or so of Billy Rath - bassist for the legendary Johnny Thunders & The Hearkbreakers. Fronting his pickup band 'The Broken Hearts' for this short tour is Steve Dior, ex-London Cowboy and veteran of various other band bands from over the years - including playing with Sid Vicious. Which must have been 'interesting'. On drums we have 'Steve Crook', who has also been instrumental in organising all this. It has to be said that Billy Rath has seen better days, he is almost unrecognisable as the guy who played bass in the Heartbreakers. The years have not been kind to him and he seems rather out of it as he gurns his way through the set looking like a member of the 'Last Of The Summer Wine' cast (badly) dressed as a rock 'n' roller. Steve Dior looks every inch the rock 'n' roll star, although the cracks start to show if you get too close. He also seems rather out of it, but certainly more with it than Billy. Everyone present is hoping to hear a load of songs from the Heartbreakers classic L.A.M.F. album - and that is just what this band deliver. We get virtually the whole album - which is exactly what we want to hear. And the band deliver it in just the same ramshackle spirit as the original Heartbreakers - for probably much the same reasons. Go figure... Steve also throws in a few songs from his own career to fill things out - it would be a very short headline set otherwise. And Texas Terri pops up again! Although the band are a bit sloppy and loose (and not I suspect because they are under-rehearsed) even after playing a few shows, it's still a very enjoyable show. Billy looks a bit of a passenger much of the time, and it has to be said doesn't play that well - particularly noticable on that short solo bass bit on 'Pirate Love'. Steve pretty much carries the show even though he's appears 'away with the faeries'. He is obvously talented and has natural charisma as well as his musical ability - you can't help but think he probably would have become a star if if wasn't for having some 'issues'.... Ropey performances aside, it's an entertaining evening of good rock 'n' roll - with the L.A.M.F. album featuring so heavilly it was always going to be a cracking setlist!  I think Johnny would be looking down smiling...