I used to go to quite a few shows at this venue in (Nigel) Tufnell Park, but rock events here seem few and far between these days. Tonight is an exception, and as I usually only get a chance to see Girlschool around once a year in London if I'm lucky - I'm not going to miss this! The girls are doing a joint headline tour with Alcatrazz - who the band have already toured with in the past. In fact their guitarist Joe Stump guests on one song on Girlschool's latest album WTForty Five?
Although I know their name and that they have been around for a long time I'm not that familiar with Alcatrazz's materiel. I think there are two original members left in this band who formed in the USA in the early 1980's, and some big names in the rock world have passed though over the years, including original singer Graham Bonnet and guitarists Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai!
Currently Alcatrazz vocal duties are taken care of by journeyman singer
Doogie White who does a fine job. Although I don't really know any of their songs the band come across as a very tight and polished unit.
Alcatrazz were certainly worth seeing, although I wouldn't go and see them on their own. But I certainly
would go and see the joint headliners
Girlschool on their own - and have done many times in the past. This lot have
loads of great songs, and are always a lot of fun!
Some old bands still play well, but just seem to be 'going through the motions' for old times sake for an easy payday. This isn't one of them. Girlschool still give a spirited performance as they bash though the hits, and still genuinely look like they are having fun!
And they don't just play play all the old stuff - they also play songs from their more recent few albums 'Believe', 'Legacy', and 'Guilty as Sin' - all of which have some excellent songs on them. And of course their new album 'WTForty Five!' is featured too, with Joe Stump of Alcatrazz returning to the stage to guest with some sizzling guitar on 'Are You Ready?' The girls also pay tribute to their late great friend Lemmy on their new album with a cover of Motörhead's classic song 'Born To Raise Hell' - featuring Motörhead's Phil Campbell, Saxon's Biff Byford, and G'N'R's Duff McKagan.
But Girlschool (these days featuring ex-Rock Goddess bassist Tracey Lamb) always keep the fans happy by playing classics from their early days like 'Emergency', 'Nothing To Lose', 'Kick It Down', 'Hit And Run', and 'Take It All Away' etc - so everyone will be going home happy!
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