Down’n’Outz – Live at the Hammersmith Odeon 2009

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5 Stars

*Well folks, this says a lot, doesn’t it? I wonder where they got the idea for the band logo*.

When Mott the Hoople reformed for five nights at the Hammersmith Odeon in a freezing cold November 2009, the support bands were different every night. But on the last night, the audience was in for a real treat. Long time Mott the Hoople and anything to do with that band fan Joe Elliott of Def Leppard formed a band for a one-off appearance playing the songs from Mott the Hoople’s subsidiary bands, such as Ian Hunter’s solo work, the British Lions, and Mott. He pulled some golden threads and got some of the best musicians in the business to join him for this one-off celebration, including players from The Quireboys, Raw Glory, and The Union.

The song selection for their 45-minute set was faultless. Opening up with a thundering version of ‘Golden Opportunity,’ the opening track of Ian Hunter’s Overnight Angels album from 1977, allowed the musicians to stretch out and show their intent.

*Joe Elliott was obviously the inspiration for the band through*
*his love of anything Mott the Hoople related. But it does show*
*what a good all round bloke he is that he gathered around him*
*such good people for the band and was more than happy to*
*spread the credit throughout, including all the songwriters.*

Next up comes the gritty title track from that album with Joe Elliott living the dream, spitting out the vocals. Next comes the British Lions’ song ‘One More Chance to Run,’ with a name check to John Fiddler, who wrote the song and who was in the audience. Morgan Fisher, the keyboard player for Mott the Hoople, Mott, and the British Lions was also in the audience, turning it all into a real rock’n’roll family party.

Then the band stormed into the aptly titled ‘Storm,’ and by then they had their collective grip on the music and pulled out all the stops. Everything pulled the three guitar attack in unison, with heavy drum and bass guitar sound and pitch-perfect harmonies, all being rocked like a hurricane.

My personnel favorite track is next, a rampaging version of Mott’s ‘Shouting and Pointing.’ Then, just when you thought it could not get any better, Spike is brought out to sing lead vocals on ‘Career (No Such Thing as Rock’n’Roll).’ Spikes hits it right on the button with blistering guitar solos backing him up.

From then on, it’s rock’n’roll all the way. ‘England Rocks’ and final number ‘Good Times’ raise the roof of the good old Odeon.

*The Down’n’Outz were a blast live with their heavy front line of three guitarists, keyboards, bass and drums.*
*The songs literally batter their way into your skull.*

It left a huge hole on stage for Mott the Hoople to follow, but they finally did bring the audience back on their side.

*Joe Elliot lets fly on lead guitar. This is what these songs are made for.*

Of course, this was not the only outing for the Down’n’Outz. It was too good a band to be just brushed away. Whenever their schedule permitted, the Down’n’Outz are dusted down and go out again. They have already released three studio albums and a stunning live album, and they tour whenever the planets align.

Ronnie Garrity, the original bass player, found his schedule just too hectic and bowed out a year or so ago to be replaced by the voluptuous black leather-clad Share Ross from Vixen, which gives the band a very appealing live presence.