Live Review : Three Nights, Three Venues, Three Singers.

John Corabi @ Waterloo, Blackpool on November 30th 2022
Danny Vaughn @ Eleven, Stoke on December 1st 2022
Spike @ Motorsport Lounge, Llanduddno on December 2nd 2022

Bit of an odd week this one. Three consecutive acoustic gigs, by three artists who are both the same as each other yet also very much different to each other. Rather than individual reviews I thought it might be fun to do a compare and contrast. Let’s start with the similarities first. All three started their careers in the 80s, peaked in the 90s and are still working (both with and without other band members) to this day. All three have terrific vocal skills. All three have a lifetime of stories to tell. There is also, I discover, a lot of crossover between them but I’ll bring that up as it happens, in the meantime let’s get started.  

John Corabi’s support act should have been Rob Wylde (Tigertailz, Midnite City) but he didn’t make it. Traffic or something. Anyway, it turns out that Beth Blade (who I always thought was from South Wales) actually lives just up the road and was coming to the gig as a punter anyway, so she bolted down her tea and took to the stage for us. She has a good voice and her guitar playing is good too. It’s all very melodious and I like it. The crowd are liking it too. There’s a cover of Janis Joplin’s ‘Piece Of My Heart’ that is particularly well done, and kind of sets the tone even though she puts her own stamp on it. Partway through the set we hear the sad news about the death of Christine McVie so Beth sings ‘Rhiannon’ and dedicates it to her. Overall it was a decent performance considering it was last-minute and unrehearsed, so well done Beth for stepping into the breach.  

John Corabi is Mr Rock N Roll. I knew this anyway, but Danny Vaughn tells me he is on the following night so who am I to argue? He has a large back catalogue of work to draw on, and also a number of stories about his life and the things he’s seen, places he’s been. No spoilers but he’s got a book out that collates some of these stories and…. Look, just go and buy it OK? You’ll love every word! He has one of those voices that, when he’s on form, gets right inside you and rips your heart out and tonight is actually one of the best performances I’ve ever seen him give. Every note is spot-on, every anecdote is fresh and funny (even the ones I’ve heard before) and yet again I marvel that this wonderful man, who has played in arenas to tens of thousands, is equally at home on a small stage in Blackpool where he just relies on the power of his voice and his personality to have a great time.  He starts with ‘Love I Don't Need You Anymore’ and rips through a set that is chock full of absolutely banging songs. There's ‘Father Mother Son’ from the Scream album, a couple of Dead Daisies tunes, the inevitable Crue moment (Hooligans Holiday turned into a down=home swamp cowbot=y song – no really), a couple of covers and it’s all held together with those liquid gold vocals. Finally we get his signature song ‘Man In The Moon’ - I love this song, I wore that Scream album out back in the day! After the set John stays and chats, does photos and signs stuff into the wee small hours because like I said, he is Mr Rock N Roll. Always. 

The following night I get to Eleven only to find that again the support act is a no-show. This is a bonus because despite having a stinking cold and working his way through a whole packet of throat lozenges Danny Vaughn plays for the best part of two hours for us. He starts with a song dedicated to Christine, Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Don't Stop’ and then goes into the set proper. This is a feature of this tour, each night the setlist has been chosen by his fans and it’s different every night. Those who have requested songs get a shout-out, and the rest of us silently kick ourselves for not participating in this and getting our own favourite songs played. Danny is another artist with a huge back catalogue to choose from and the fans at Eleven have eclectic taste! The whole spectrum is covered from the early days with Waysted’s ‘Heaven Tonight’ right through to ‘The Shadow of King John’ from his most recent solo release “Myths Legends and Lies”. There’s a cover of Extreme’s ‘Hole Hearted’ which demonstrates that he’s no slouch on the guitar, and through it all there is the voice. This is the other thing that connects my three heroes this week, they all have a voice. Danny’s is clearer and purer (despite the lozenges) and rather than the hurricane that is Corabi’s, his is like waves lapping on a sandy shore. It’s warmth and sunshine and sheer joy and I never tire of listening to it. He touches on Snake Oil and Harmony, his collaboration with Dan Reed that is currently on ice, and mentions that he would love to do a similar project with John Corabi at some point. Yes, yes goes my inner fangirl, this needs to happen! Tyketto will also be back on the road this year with a new line-up and a new album, there should be news about this coming very soon. But in the meantime, back to the set and that achingly beautiful voice. Of course it ends with ‘Forever Young’ and the crowd sings along for every note. It’s rousing and exciting and has that knack of making you feel like you are part of something much bigger, much better.  

The support at the Motorsport Lounge actually turned up, which was nice. He is a Midlands based chap called Jason Hunt. He’s been around for a while but I wasn't aware of him before, so his set was a pleasant surprise.  He plays a big red semi acoustic guitar and has gritty vocals, and the song is a mixture of his own songs and a couple of covers. It's a kind of country jangly sound, a bit Dylan, a bit Petty, even a little rockabilly in places. Pure Americana and I love it. It’s very laid-back speakeasy music. He does a cover of honky-tonk woman and makes it his own, and I grabbed a CD off him because I’d really like to hear what this sounds like with full band behind it.  

So finally Spike. Having left The Quireboys under a cloud earlier last year he has continued in his own inimitable style with long-term collaborator Chris Heilmann providing back-up guitar. Tonight is Chris’s birthday and we start by singing happy birthday to him. It’s all kind of downhill after that! No that’s unfair, because despite being something of a shambles of a performer Spike is warm, good-humoured and yet again the possessor of a unique and wonderful voice. He starts with Lindisfarne’s ‘Run For Home’ and wow that voice sends shivers down my spine. OK, so the timing may not be quite as precise and occasionally the set stops so Spike can start again and correct a mistake or add in the bit he’s forgotten, but that’s kind of what makes watching him so special. We get his self-deprecating humour: ”I need to tune this guitar, erm does anyone know how to tune a guitar?” The choice of songs again is a little off-message, leaving aside his rock roots and leaning more towards the easy listening. There are Rolling Stones covers, a bit of Motown, a 70s Elkie Brooks classic, you get the idea. Between songs the banter continues unabated, mostly at his own expense and showcasing his offbeat humour. There’s a tune he did with Bonnie Tyler, and some Lonnie Donegan, and he plays most of the right notes, although not necessarily in the right order. Apparently on his “late night songbook” album most of the songs were chosen by his mum and knowing that, it all starts to make sense. There are false starts and wrong chords and forgotten words but he does it with so much charm that while we do notice we also forgive. There’s a short break that goes on for longer than intended and then in the second half Spike tells us we're going to have sing-along songs so starts it with ‘House of The Rising Sun’. He also lets us know that there is new music being recorded with original Quireboys Guy Bailey and Nigel Mogg and the first (charity) single is available on the merch stand. Proceeds go to an ex-servicemen’s charity. Back to the music and there’s a Rod Stewart song. In the meantime, the between-song banter and stories are getting messier - apparently Prince’s “Nothing Compares To U” is not a love song, it’s about giving up smoking! The performance may be incorrect but it’s not unprofessional, somehow he always manages to save it. Unfortunately due to a rather more extended than planned break the set was somewhat curtailed du to venue curfew but overall it was a lovely night of nostalgia, humour and good music. Spike is never going to be perfect, but watching him is always fun. 

So there you have it. In these days of backing tracks and autotune it was refreshing to spend three consecutive nights in the company of three men who are all masters of the vocal craft.