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STEELEYE SPAN - THE BOTTOM
LINE, After Jim Morrison died, the remaining Doors soldiered on for two LPs before giving up the ghost. The Pogues put out two albums after the loss of Shane MacGowan before calling it quits. No one was as synonymous with a band as Maddy Prior was with Steeleye Span. She left a few years ago, and Steeleye kept going, releasing Horkstow Grange two years ago. The album was good, but had an autumnal acoustic flavor to it. When I went to see Steeleye at The Bottom Line on Thursday, they were about to release their second post-Maddy album. Would this be their winter, joining the Doors and the Pogues? I am thrilled to report that Steeleye is very much alive, and not about to go anywhere. In fact, this band was a lot more fun than the last time I saw them in 1995. Actually, it's a totally different band. Gay Woods, Tim Harries and Peter Knight are returnees, but Rick Kemp has rejoined them on bass and, most importantly, Dave Mattacks is on drums. This is a band that is having fun. The on-stage chemistry is magnificent, and it certainly extends to the music. Gay does a fine job being the primary frontperson, exhibiting a quick wit and an immense likeability. The only time I missed Maddy was during Dark Eyed Sailor, where I kept thinking of the wonderful harmony between Gay and Maddy. On songs such as Prickly Bush, the voices blended magnificently. Mattacks really brought so much to the songs, particularly on John Of Ditchford, a rocker from the new album whose title character seems to be a descendent of Sir James the Rose. Another new song, sung by Tim Harries and described as being about an "Elizabethan psycho" called Staring Robin, is as close to punk as Steeleye has ever approached. He is a worthy addition to the Steeleye Rogues' Gallery, joining Long Lankin, Longbone and a host of others. But more than anything, this show was fun. The normally taciturn Mattacks was enjoying himself more than I have ever seen him do in Fairport. He was in hysterics during I Wish That I Never Was Wed and Old Maid In The Garrett, in which Gay had a high old time acting out the lyrics. After the show, I said to Mattacks that I had never seen him having so much fun, to which he replied "Yes! What does that tell you?" It sure showed in the explosive drumming. The bass playing of Rick Kemp was also a great addition. Kemp stood way off to the side, in the shadows, but his contribution could not be ignored. I had hoped that his presence might mean the performance of songs such as Deep In The Darkest Night or Somewhere Along The Road, but he chose to stay in the background. This version of Steeleye is looser and less reverential toward older material than previous versions. Gay plays with tunes and lyrics freely, and the album versions are left in the dust. Steeleye Span has truly been reborn, and I am confident they will well outlive the Doors and Pogues. Don't miss them.
Late show = same except "One True Love" replaces "Who Told The Butcher"
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