101

27^th June 07

Line – Up

Lead/Vocals                                         Tim

Bass                                                     Richie

Drums                                                  Scott (Richie’s son)

Some groups’ lead off with one number, others let two or more run into each other. 101 belonged to the latter. From The Jam’s ‘Going Underground’ with Tim applying the appropriate Cockney inflection to the vocals, evolving to The Clash’s ‘London’s Calling’ and finally The Killers’ ‘When we were young?’. All songs were well played, if not, lacking a touch of urgency and emphasis, with the rhythm unit providing a tight enough support to Tim’s vocals and guitar solos.

Surprise No. 1 was a jump back in time to Led Zeppelin’s ‘Heartbreaker’. I’m sure Tim will agree that he is no Robert Plant, but on the whole the song won through despite a little unintended feedback. The next song by the Manic Street Preachers, ‘Tolerate This’, I thought, as it started, suited Tim’s vocal range, until he was asked for the high notes, which I suggest he dipped out on rather than go for it. Again another song well played and finished with the end refrain. Two Nirvana songs followed. ‘Come as You Are’ and ‘Teen Spirit’. The first displayed the groups tightness and obvious familiarity of playing regularly together, I thought the tempo was a touch quick on the first song and could have been gutsier. ‘Teen Spirit’ on the other hand was to me the best number so far, with my observations on the previous song quickly redeemed. A little more aggression on the voice though Tim! The excellent build up in the introduction to ‘Chasing Cars’ by Snow Patrol, produced a very well done song!!

Surprise 2 was the current release by The White Stripes, ‘Icky Thump’, and apart from one momentary lapse in timing in the first verse, well done, although I don’t know what the die-hard Classic Rock audience made of it.

I don’t know what to do with myself’ by Dusty Springfield in the guise of The White Stripes, kicked off the second set. If there were a bravery award for song selection, 101 would get it. Although well done, I was starting to wonder whether there was any pattern to the set list, especially when the next song was another White Stripes number, ‘Black Night?’, significant with the typical driving drum rhythm.

 There followed Led Zeppelin’s ‘Kashmir’. Now I love this song, so I feel this gives me the right to be picky. On the whole the song was fine and any criticism would be levelled at what was not there rather than what was. I just feel, Tim, would be better assisted by a rhythm guitarist and/or guest Robert Plant clone, to fill on those areas where solo work is needed to be backed up by the same eastern driving riff.

The Foo Fighter’s version of Gerry Rafferty’s ‘Baker Street’ came next. A decent enough intro. with nice changes in volume control. Everyone was pretty much together in this one, with perhaps the guitar being a little harsh than it needed to be.

Razorlight’s ‘America’ followed and again, well played, with the guitar work being nicely muted.

Another jump, then, to ‘Wish you were here’ and blending into ‘Another Brick in the Wall’ by Pink Floyd. This was obviously a couplet that 101 are very used to playing, as both songs were well played and sang, with Richie’s harmonies kicking in, to my view, for the first time to great effect. Staying for one in the same period , Led Zeppelins ‘Immigrant Song’, followed. Musicianship-wise this was excellent, despite my reservations about the vocals. The Stereophonics ‘Just Looking’ quickly followed, again well performed. Request time produced Green Day’s ‘Basket Case’ which was very much suited to Tim’s vocals and the groups energetic performance.

As an encore we got ‘Stairway to Heaven’ by Led Zeppelin. Tim’s guitar work was excellent on this one, but was a little disappointed through the second refrain – I just felt something was missing. Black Sabbath’s ‘War Pigs’ was excellent!! There followed ‘Blitzkrieg Bop’ by The Ramones. Now I don’t know whether this is a usual finishing song but it may have been better suited earlier in the second set.

Overall 101 treated us to a very full and extremely varied menu of songs, all played extremely well, with a few some of us had never heard before, let alone in The Quaker. They are a very entertaining unit and certainly worth seeing. The variation and jumping from one era of styles to another to me was a little disconcerting as there seemed to be no flow to the performance, perhaps that was with intent.

Gazinho