9/11/2010 Bucket & Co + JOANovARC @ The Purple Turtle

Subject	Bucket & Co + JOANovARC @ The Purple Turtle
PostedDate	11/9/2010
	A bit of a change of plan for tonight; I had been planning to see Zombina & The Skeletones at The Gaff. When I found out that JOANovARC had the support slot at the Purple Turtle only a short bus ride away I figured I would have time to catch them first before heading to Holloway Road in time to see Zombina & Co. I'd never heard of the headline act at the Purple Turtle so wasn't going to stick around to see them. Then as I found out a bit more about who was going to be in the headline band things started to look rather interesting, but more of that later... For once I actually managed to get to Camden early enough to see the opening band.  Things didn't get off to a great start on my arrival at the Purple Turtle when I discovered they had run out of Newcastle Brown!  Didn't they know I was coming?  However, bearing in mind who was supposed to be performing with the headliners it might not be so surprising the bar has run out of that particular beverage...  Although I manage to get to the venue by 8.00, JOANovARC don't take to the stage for another quarter of an hour. The band are excellent as usual, and play quite a lot of newer material. The new stuff is quite varied and showcases the band's newer more commercial sound - without being too lightweight and poppy. One of the catchiest tunes reminds me of Katrina & The Waves 'Walking On Sunshine' with it's bouncy guitar. They are back down to a four piece tonight as percussionist Violet The Cannibal (yes, really) is otherwise engaged elsewhere. It doesn't matter too much as this lot are formidable live even as a three piece! Unusually, and maybe because of the older audience tonight because of the headline act JOANovARC include three covers in their set: The Eurhythmics 'Sweet Dreams' is well received as is the rest of their set - which includes some of the band's older harder rocking numbers like 'Seeds Of Summer'. 'Purple Haze' also goes down well with the audience, however, the best cover has been saved for the end of the set. If Shelley's Marshall rig wasn't so loud then you would have heard a hundred or so jaws hitting the floor during an incendiary 'Freebird'! I've seen a lot of bands play this song over the years, but I've never seen anyone play it with the sheer power and passion that JOANovARC play it with! The band don't play this song very often, but when they do - people remember it! As the sole support act tonight JOANovARC play a longer set than usual of about an hour. I was originally planning to leave as soon as they finished to catch Zombina & The Skeletones at The Gaff. However, I have already spotted Thunder's Luke Morely and ex-Quireboy Guy Bailey propping up the bar although they aren't even playing tonight - things are starting to look interesting. I decide to hang around for the headliners after all. It proves to be worth it. Bucket & Co. is the latest project of ex-Bad Company and Humble Pie guitarist Dave 'Bucket' Colwell. He has a solo album out with some well known names from the world of rock guesting on it - some of them are here tonight. I don't know who the first lead singer is, but he certainly has a good voice - he ain't Paul Rogers, but who is? From the opening chords of the first song it's apparent that fans of Bad Company will like this band - there are very few covers in tonight's set but the overall feel is very similar to Bad Co. One surprising cover is a lesser known Iron Maiden song - Adrian Smith is another contributor to the Bucket & Co album. After already spotting Guy Bailey at the bar and noting the Quireboys Paul Guerin on stage playing rhythm guitar I'm not that shocked to see none other than Spike peering out from behind the backstage curtain. Sure enough, he joins the band for a few songs - adding his throaty rasp to the Bad Company classic 'Shooting Star'. Spike is on good form and looks to be throroughly enjoying himself. There are more special guests in store, and after a few more songs the band are joined by Tracie Hunter on backing vocals for a few numbers. The lineup of vocalists tonight has already has already been very impressive, but the best is yet to come. For the last few songs the band are joined by Danny Bowes from Thunder. There can hardly be a better way of showcasing your songs and album than putting a show together with so many well known guest artists - it's turned out to be a very interesting evening and well worth sticking around for! After playing for around an hour and a half the show is over all too soon - with a final and rather predictable cover of 'Can't Get Enough'. Sorry Zombina - hope to catch you again next time, but this was too good to miss! Some of the characters from tonight turn up on stage again at another gig later in the week - stay tuned for more rock 'n' roll...