VATA Tour (Page 5 of 11)

Lyn - I do believe this gig is a double header, so you should get a longer set than you are anticipating from VATA.

Say hi to the guys from me and Maxx, and also if you get a chance pass on our regards to Simon, who will be on the drumstool for Billy. You may remember him as Oli Brown's old drummer - lovely guy - haven't seen him for ages.

Oh - and best take a hard hat for the falling masonry. 
Enjoy!
Ian

Good feature on Virgil & the lads; well deserved. Interesting to read on Virgil's choice and range of tools.

Mike

Damn right and looking forward to it.

Great video Martin.  Saw you with your camera back there - the band dynamics looked great from the front as well 

Maggie

Just heard from The Brook in Southampton that tonight's show is cancelled but rescheduled for some time in April so hope nothing untoward has happened    .  Never mind, I've got the boys' CD which I can play VERY LOUD.

Sandy's present to Martin will have to stay with me for a little while longer it seems.

Well, what a week-end!!! Had the pleasure of spending most of it with the VATA lads: 2 gigs in County Durham and the first time since 1986 I’ve seen the same band on consecutive nights. That was a guy called Alice Cooper, so good company to be in. Alice at the time did 2 nights at Newcastle City Hall whereas VATA had two, very different venues, in Hartlepool and Ferryhill (even the Brits are now going “Where??????”).

Taking Hartlepool first, the lads played here earlier this year, and stormed the place, so Tommy was keen to get them back, and they didn’t disappoint. From the wounded bear growling opening of “Working Man” to the dying notes of “Silver Giver” 90 minutes later Virgil, Gabriel and Jack gave it their all – if they had any disappointment about the cancelled gig with Billy Walton a couple of days earlier, they worked it out on stage at the Cameron’s.. “Bad Girl”, Backstebber” and “88” came in quick succession and got the audience going before Virgil hit the afterburners and launched into his SRV tribute to the sound of jaws clanging on the floor. He then slowed it down for “Don’t Shake My Hand”, coaxing some sweet notes from the Fender before cranking it up again and giving it some abuse for “The Storm” incorporating “Voodoo Chile”. This was slightly shortened so the guys could be joined on stage by Andrew Pipe from The Mentulls for a searing call-and-response jam. It must be almost déjà-vu for Martin, seeing someone as young and gifted as Andrew. “Silver Giver” closed the set, but the lads were called back on stage twice for encores which included, a new to me, “Green Light Girl”. I was going to ask Jack where he kept meeting these interesting ladies, till I found out it’s a Doyle Bramhall cover, and a great take it is. In all, a great night again, and have to make mention of the sound-guys at Hartlepool and their great work, it was crystal sharp from my vantage point. Some going, in a low-ceiling, small stage bar/club (think “roadhouse” over the pond).

On to night 2, Mainsforth Community Centre and working out, my 10th VATA show. What a show it was: going in and chatting to the guys beforehand, the glint they had in their eyes, I knew something special was on the cards. Mainsforth is a 1920’s dancehall come theatre, so the guys were let loose on a big stage in a big, booming room; maybe not for the first time, but tonight, they weren’t backing and they weren’t supporting, it was THEIRS and they were going to make the most of it. Mustachioed Gary Grainger from Bishop FM did an opening set for the lads, some well picked (and chosen) acoustic Americana; ZZ Top, Grateful Dead, Little Feat, Janis Joplin, Steve Miller were among the selection. Good listening to get the “new meat” audience in the mood.

Wow, VATA didn’t hold back. Gabriel’s drumming messed with everyone’s heart rhythm while Jack’s bass was fluttering the diaphragms , then Virgil kicked-off and the “Working Man” opening riff sounded more like the Jurassic Park T-Rex than the previous night’s wounded bear. From then on, it was “business as usual” in terms of the set list, but Virgil had a stage to own, and he set about it in fine style – not running about like he was on fire, but prowling to the edge to check out this strange phenomenon – people dancing!!! It wasn’t just Virgil and the good folk of Ferryhill enjoying themselves, Gabe and Jack were having a high ol’ time too. Then came “The Strorm” and “Voodoo Chile”; I know Virgil is good, damn good to be precise, but this night, he went right through the zone and took everyone with him. “Silver Giver” set closer and a great encore left the crowd wanting more right until curfew time.  There aren’t many bands come to Ferryhill, Mainsforth, which is a shame as it’s a cracking venue, but there’s even fewer make such a mark as VATA did. Bill made a bold decision inviting the band, so hats off to him, and a big show of appreciation to the guys on the sound desk for letting VATA roar.

Post-gig, I was telling Gabe that was my 10th show of theirs; he asked if I wasn’t bored with them. Any band that can pull off two such great shows, in such contrasting venues, I’d don’t think I’d be bored with well past 100 shows. See you in Newcastle, next month, for number 11.

Mike

What an excellent review, Mike! Thank you.

Alas, I still have to wait for early next year before I finally get to see these boys play live. Right now, there's no one whom I haven't seen before that I'm looking forward to seeing more than this band! 

Thanks folks,

I guess there's something about Virgil and the guys playing that brings the best out in me. Talking with friends in Ferryhill who were at the gig, they were absolutely stunned by what they saw and hope to have VATA back sometime.

Mike