Wilko Johnson & VATA - Stockton ARC 20/4/12

What a night! driving through a monsoon to get to the appropriately named venue. Once inside, what a fantastic night! First chance this year to catch up with the VATA lads & Martin and get the lowdown on some of their antics of their 1st European tour: saying no more…. And a chance to catch up with Andrew and Keith (manager) from The Mentulls on what’s becoming a rare night off for the band.

Anyway, VATA up first, and having a blast opening for Wilko. Only a 30 minute set, but Virgil has got it down to an art, cramming in as much and as varied material as he can to showcase what the band can do. Working Man, the great opener, then Scuttlebuttin’ setting the place alight; Don’t Shake My Hand letting Stockton catch it’s breath as well as collective dropped jaw-bones. Heart and soul went into ‘88 and everything else Virgil has went into the closer, Silver Giver.

Then, Wilko was up; entirely different approach. Where Virgil uses a pedalboard the size of my 1st train set, the only thing between Wilko and his amp is an orange, curly lead that seems to double as his bungee. Everytime he’s not at the microphone, he’s doing his trademark walk to the edge of the stage, seemingly to be pulled back by this lead before bouncing off in another direction, staccato riffs and machine-gun chops to the fore.

Wilko has such a stage personna and that old stuff, charisma, it would be nigh impossible to share a stage with him, but the one guy who can is Norman Watt-Roy, bassist extraordinaire. next to Wilko’s “choppy” style, you’d think it was Norman’s bass that was carrying the lead a good part of the time and from the featured solo spots, I have to say he’s up there as one of the best, World Class bassists I’ve heard in any genre. These two are held together, not by a hammer, like Gabba, but by something a little more refined in the form of Dylan Howe.

Don’t ask me for a set list; even though Wilko and the band have played on my doorstep at Shildon Civic a couple of times, this has been my first exposure. A couple of songs I did know, and some I recognised, but it didn’t stop me from having a great night and I’d recommend to anyone; don’t worry about the disparity between the ages and styles of the two bands - Go out and try and catch what’s left of this tour. It’s rock’n'roll at its best. Get it? Got it? Then Go and see it!!!!

Mike

Not sure of audience capacity as they can alter seating arrangements. This night was "theatre style" so I'd estimate 400 minimum.