WORDS JANET HARDING / IMAGES WARREN MILLAR
It’s a home town headline tonight for Standin Man. Legends locally, it’s safe to say Warrington is proud of these guys! The solo project of Dean Fairhurst (Sly Digs) is really gaining momentum now, and it is a rare sight to see a band of this calibre in such an intimate and up close venue. Due to start a European tour with Vintage Trouble next week, then support slots with the Who’s stadium tour, tonight truly is a gift to be treasured. There’s already a buzz in the air which has spilled out onto the street outside our venue, and as I arrive it’s already busy and groups of people chat excitedly, waiting to go inside. It’s going to be real rock n roll/ psychedelia and we just cannot wait!
Support – Collusion
Joshua Johnson – lead vocal/guitar
Ryan Peake – lead guitar
Lindley Hunter – bass/backing vocals
Alex Whitaker – drums
Collusion are a pretty new band in the current format, but some members have played together for many years; nevertheless, this current format is new but already making waves. I first saw them at the recent Music Festival and don’t mind saying I was instantly drawn to them – very atmospheric sounds. So tonight with this slightly longer set I’m happy.
Beginning with a real musical bang, rapid fire drumming, melodic bass lines, a jagged guitar and a vocal that brings interest and character, I get retro feels, but still fresh and original, reminiscent of Fleetwood Mac. As the set progresses we travel a wide variety of influences and sounds…I get the Jam, Billy Brag…then the angst that’s often present in the vocal is very Radiohead like, or even a grunge sound. It all works, and brilliantly. Super focused, it’s a very clean and tight performance with an incredible sound and as a crowd we’ve taken to this immediately. A rich and varied, full set of mostly originals but the few covers have been made their own…even ‘Plug in Baby’ by Muse, which they totally smashed. A banging and intense sound, very diverse, loved it again guys!
Set List:
1. On your Own
2. Precious Time
3. Close to your Heart
4. The Overpass
5. Sunset Blindside
6. Back to Black
7. Plug in Baby
8. Morning Hill
9. Johnny B Goode
10. Ride the Waves
Standin Man – Headline
Dean Fairhurst – lead vocal/guitar
Joe Kavaney – lead guitar/backing vocals Drums-
Peter Flemming – drums
Paul Glover – bass
Right from the very beginning of this set the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. This continues throughout. Atmospheric, psychedelic, dreamlike, hazy feels, then a definite sound pierces through. An utter explosion of sound, the energies are intense, boundless, and infectious and this is fascinating to watch. Our band members put so much in, the passion is obvious. Throwing themselves about the stage, guitars held high, legs often in the air. The beats being fired out of this drum kit…textured, building, layered sounds, mind blowing instrumentals; it’s enveloping, go getting and amazing to be engulfed by. Eastern sounds, trippy and hypnotic…to real banging, hard and fast rock n roll, a late 60s feel. The vocal is a gravel tone, filled with expression; notes are extended and lyrics are exaggerated. Anthem worthy songs, which could (and will) fill any stadium, and a real nostalgia fuelling feel as a whole tonight. An obvious influence is the Beatles, but when a cover of ‘Eleanor Rigby’ is performed it’s stand out, turning this well known song into something new – rockier, edgier, faster paced; it’s incredible.
As a band Standin Man really do depict that feel of ‘cool’ rock stars, so comfortable on stage, they just belong there, and fill this entire building with their presence, and the sounds genuinely are all encompassing. I dare anyone to try and be still at a Standin Man gig, it just can’t be done. Utterly mesmerising and mind blowing performance. I’ve a feeling in the not too distant future this will be the gig we all talk about, proudly saying we were there!
Epic, earth shattering – I just don’t have the words, but thank you, Standin Man, for doing what you do! Huge shout out for the sound tech, as this was an incredible gig, and the sound was spot on.
Set List:
1/ Feelin’ In the Dark
2/ Angry Young Man
3/ Colour of Money
4/ Be Your Own Messiah
5/ All that I’ve been looking for
6/ Cover- Eleanor Rigby
7/ Rum & Tonic
8/ Every Inch of Light (DF Acoustic)
9/ White Heat Happiness
10/ Changin’ Wind
Encore:
11/ Good Times, Bad Times – cover
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Warren is a live music and festival photographer based in Cheshire and covers gigs/festivals mostly in the North West of England. He has been photographing live music for over 10 years and has covered major artists and festivals