Monkey magic there

by Victoria Watson, Evening Chronicle

The Blow Monkeys at The Cluny, Sunday, August 31, 2008.

AFTER an 18-year break, The Blow Monkeys made an energetic return with two performances in one day on Sunday. The group started its mammoth day with an appearance at Glasgow’s Retrofest then travelled down to Newcastle for a highly appreciated gig at The Cluny.

Local band The Vaudeville Class entertained the crowd before the main event and I have to say, look out for this band, it is on the up.

But the night belonged to The Blow Monkeys who previewed songs from new album Devil’s Tavern (released next Monday) and also entertained with some classic tracks, including It Doesn’t Have To Be This Way. In the 80s, this band was one of the first to write about Aids in Digging Your Scene but time has seen the band – and its writer and lead singer Dr Robert – mellow somewhat. Gravel-voiced Robert remains deeper than your average songwriter and the new songs still have some of his trademark reflection. However, new song Travellin’ Soul, dedicated to Robert’s wife, really shows his softer side.

The packed set-list really demonstrated the variety of the band’s tracks and showed how, more than 20 years after success in the UK and America, there is still no other band like it. The original line-up of Dr Robert, Neville Henry, Mick Anker and Tony Kiley still blend together in a beautiful way. I particularly loved Neville’s saxophone playing. During Heaven I actually felt as though I was ascending with them. In the intimate setting of The Cluny, there was a real connection between the band and the audience.

It seemed rather obvious that The Blow Monkeys have retained their loyal following even during their long hiatus. However, the band is not all about ballads, as the lads picked up the pace for the finale. It’s safe to say The Blow Monkeys blew the roof off The Cluny!