Live at the Beacon Theatre, New York City, USA, April 10th 2019
The show was tremendous. If you were a fan from back in the 70s, you got absolutely everything you wanted and more—a cracking performance of songs, including some that you thought you would never hear again live. One after another, these classics rolled through like a freight train. Some are better known to the general public than others, but there were more gems unearthed last night than from a South African diamond mine.
The Ultimate Ring Master.
To begin with, 79-3/4-year-old Ian Hunter was in magnificent form. I’ve seen him play live over fifty times and sometimes the voice gets a little ragged, a bit frayed, but not last night. As a singer/songwriter ages, he’ll write songs that incorporate less challenging melodies so that the notes are all accessible night after night. To hear him bang out songs, of which the most recent was 45 years ago, with such power and conviction made me want to get a blood transfusion from him. If I’m anywhere within shouting distance of that at age 80, I will consider myself a very lucky man, indeed.
Morgan Fisher was a revelation. Back in 1974, fans considered him the low member of the totem pole in terms of band recognition. Though a very worthy musician, he was ‘the new guy’ and was shunted off to the side of the stage. In videos from their ‘golden age of rock and roll’ culled from TV concerts, you might catch a quick glimpse of him here and there, but the visual focus was always on the other band members.
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Well, no more. He commanded stage left and his playing, such an integral part of MTH’s grand last couple of years, pushed out to the forefront. Perhaps his famous jacket with the signature keyboard lapels has had to be mended a couple of times since then, but it’s a reminder of a glam era that has never been properly replicated.
Ariel Bender was, there is no better way to say this, Ariel fucking Bender, one of the most entertaining live guitarists ever to walk the planks. I’m afraid that the passage of the years and hard living have eroded his chops to an extent, or maybe that’s just me comparing him to the guy I saw back in 1974 and whose untamed prowess on the MTH live album makes this my favorite live album of all time. But Ariel is still a force of nature to be reckoned with up there.
on his guitar.
The Rant Band is very familiar to any of Ian’s solo career fans of the last dozen years and rolls like a perfectly tuned sports car through any of the winding turns and dynamics that the material calls for, from heartfelt ballads to roaring rockers. I would pick out highlights of the set, but the entire concert was nothing but a series of highlights, from the dimming of the lights to the band leaving to a thunderous ovation at the end of ‘All the Young Dudes.’ For ninety minutes, the old dudes and dudesses in the audience were all young again, and that’s a rare gift to be bestowed.
Set list:
American Pie / The Golden Age of Rock’n’Roll. One of the greatest openings to a rock’n’roll concert ever. Ian Hunter on vocals and Morgan Fisher playing the ivories as American Pie rolls out until, with a crash of thunder, the whole band crashes in and the lights come ablaze. Mott the Hoople rockin’. The crazed guitar solo from Ariel Bender is as wacky as ever.
Lounge Lizard. A surprise choice as the first time that most of us ever heard this song was back in 1975 when it was released on Ian Hunter’s debut solo album. Mott the Hoople had recorded it first but left it in the vaults until it was dug out for one of the many Mott the Hoople compilation albums released after the band had imploded.
the world. Morgan Fisher has his bottle of Champagne chilled and ready
for the next glass.
Alice. A nice surprise from the Hoople album.
Honaloochie Boogie. The first siting of a hit single in the set. By now, the band are grooving.
Rest in Peace. Time for the band to settle and Morgan Fisher to shine on the piano.
I Wish I Was Your Mother—a Classic Ian Hunter Song. Always well received from the Mott album.
Pearl’n’Roy. A fan favorite that brought a riotous reaction when the introduction rang out. Off The Hoople album.
Sucker. The heaviest that Mott the Hoople rock. This song has got attitude in abundance. Off the All The Young Dudes album.
Sweet Jane. Mott the Hoople turned this song into one of their standard-bearers. Originally written by Lou Reed for the Velvet Underground, also off All The Young Dudes album.
Rose. One last chance in the set for a quick breather as things slow down for Rose. Morgan Fisher gets the chance to shine again on his keyboards.
Walkin’ With A Mountain. From here to the end of the set, Mott the Hoople throws caution to the wind and just rocks. Walkin’ With a Mountain is an old Mott the Hoople number written by Ian Hunter for the album Mad Shadows in 1970. As soon as Ariel Bender joined the band, he took this number to his heart and turned it into his showpiece, with the band leaving him free to go off on a shredding solo. Always one of the highlights of any Mott the Hoople set. The fact remained true on this night.
Roll Away The Stone. Mott the Hoople’s most successful single, actually outselling All The Young Dudes! At the Beacon Theatre it had the whole audience jumping, whilst the band could barely contain their joy. “There’s gonna be a rock-a-billy party on Saturday night. Are you gonna be there? Well, I got my invite!”
Marionette, Perhaps the finest song to ever come out from the Ian Hunter / Mott the Hoople pen. An angry tirade against record company suits. The band by now are on a rampage. When Mott the Hoople used to play this back in 1974 with Queen as their support band, it certainly gave Freddie Mercury some ideas.
Medley, consisting of Jerkin’ Crocus / You Really Got Me / One of the Boys / Rock And Roll Queen / Crash Street Kids / Death May Be Your Santa Claus / Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin On / Mean Woman Blues / Johnny B. Goode / Violence / Cleveland Rocks / New York Rocks.
hearts and worshipped his every move.
Nobody could believe that Mott the Hoople were fulfilling every fan’s dreams and performing the medley again. Medley is a collection of Mott the Hoople’s most rock’n’roll tracks combined with some choice covers. Glorious.
Encore.
All The Way From Memphis. The rampaging All The Way From Memphis with its dynamic piano intro leading into raging guitar licks and Ian Hunter’s furious vocals. “Forgot my six-string razor and hit the sky.” A tale of the tribulations Mott the Hoople went through getting to the last gig of an American tour in Memphis. Classic Mott the Hoople.
Saturday Gigs. Ian Hunter’s tribute to all the Mott the Hoople fans, The Sea Divers, the story of Mott the Hoople over the years.
All The Young Dudes, written by David Bowie and given to Mott the Hoople in 1972, saved the band from splitting up when it was a huge success. Still today, it’s Mott the Hoople’s most recognizable song and a fine way to finish the evening with everyone singing along.
Band members:
Ian Hunter: Vocals, guitar (Maltese cross on one song!)
Morgan Fisher: Piano, vocals
Ariel Bender: Guitar, vocals
Steve Holley: Drums, vocals
Mark Bosch: Guitar, vocals
James Mastro: Guitar, saxophone, mandolin, vocals
Dennis Debrizzi: Keyboards, vocals
Jesse Patterson: vocals on ATYD
Jakob Dylan: Guitar, vocals on ATYD
Written by Christopher Semal
All photos by Harpic, Our Mistress of the Lens.
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