Thursday night finds me back in Islington at the famous Hope & Anchor pub. The Warner E Hodges Band are returning to this venue with another sold out show - this venue is really too small for them. However, before the headliners there is another band I've been wanting to see for a while. The Spangles are a power trio consisting of members of The Main Grains and The Idol Dead. Less punk and more rock & roll than the former, and less glam than the latter they are a terrific dirty raw and basic rock 'n' roll band dripping with charisma and personality - fun and highly entertaining!
I saw the Warner E. Hodges Band here last year and the venue was too small for them then, and it's even more so now! The place is packed, and to call this gig 'intimate' would be an understatement. Warner is best known as being a member of country punk outfit Jason And The Scorchers, and tends to be perceived as a 'Country rock' artist when he goes out on his own. However, the Warner E. Hodges Band focus much less on the Country and far more on the ROCK! There is still some Country in there, but Warner's favourite band is actually AC/DC - and this is very much reflected in the show we are treated to tonight. The set features much of Warner's own Country/ROCK material as well as some from other artists he has been involved with over his career. There are also a few covers, including AC/DC songs which are played not as token 'crowd pleasers' but just as pure fun because Warner loves playing them so much. The Country cover side as usual includes John Denver's 'Country Roads Take Me Home' (as also covered by Olivia Newton-John!) but in a more rockin' style - and this always goes down a storm with the crowd! And just to emphasise that Warner's roots are really in rock rather than Country he throws in an all time heavy metal classic - Black Sabbath's 'War Pigs'. And it's probably the best version you will ever hear. By anybody - and that includes Black Sabbath if the one time I've seen them is anything to go by.
I didn't bother even trying to take any pictures due to the extremely cramped conditions, and also because once again the excellent Trudi Knight was in action at the front taking far better pictures than I could ever hope to even if I had a decent camera. You can see her pictures from the gig here.
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