Adam Ant The Anthems Tour - Bristol Hippodrome Live Music Review
Posted on: 2017-05-16
Our rating:
The last time Bristol had seen this many pirates gathering in a pub was around the 1600's. Only tonight the most famous pirate since Jack Sparrow was in town, the one and only Jolly Roger himself!
The lights dim, and the build up music begins to play. The tension mounts and every fan in the hall is waiting with bated breath to see their hero appear. Up come the lights, the band enter stage and there he is in all his finery, Adam Ant, one of the biggest artists of the 80's with 22 single releases from 1980 - 1989 to his name, and here he is in 2017.
This 'Prince charming' still looks mighty 'dandy' to me. The polite crowd jump up from their seats and turn into a gathering worthy of any crew belonging to an old ship bearing the Skull and Crossbones.
The band rip into Vive Le Rock and Beat My Guest and as 'Ant Music' chants across the hall the crowd are gripped with Ant Fever and starting to sing with their leader.
Adam swoops around the stage, still with the swagger of a younger man, and is looking fit and well dressed in his favourite leathers and boots. The exceptional band are branded with Antz t shirts and bandannas and so are the fans, some wearing the white stripe across the nose which Adam was famous for back in the day.
As the anthems continue, one of the more cheesy hits " Prince Charming " is given a third guitar with Adam also wielding an axe and has a heavy rock sound with amazing vocals performed by his band of men.
There is something for all the fans in this show, with Zerox and Car Trouble and going into the more commercial Puss in Boots. But the show stopper mid set had to be 'Kings of the Wild Frontier' and all the band move to the back of stage and play drums along with the two resident drummers. The sound is powerful and feels better now than it ever was. Just the visual of watching two drummers makes this show unique and a trade mark that Adam has used since the 70's.
Then, as the night heats up, Adam takes his jacket off to cheers from all the ladies in the crowd. All show in between songs women of all ages shout " I love you Adam" something I rarely hear at these type of gigs. He obviously has not lost his sex appeal that he has carried from the start. He is chatty with the crowd and seems happy to be performing and loving life.
The last number of the night sends the crowd into a wild frenzy as they play "Stand and Deliver". Although a very commercial song it goes on and on with Adam holding the mic to the roaring crowd who sing it like a sea shanty.
The lights go down as the band disappear off stage. On their return Adam tells us he wants to perform the songs from 1977 when he first played Bristol, so we hear "Lady, the incredible" and my favourite (possibly the best number of the night) "Fall in" and lastly "Physical (you're so)".
This was a truly memorable night, and the fans of yesteryear and present have been given a real treat. Mr Ant did not let us down. 'Ant music for sex people' lives on as long as Adam continues to perform. Like the character Peter Pan, Adam Ant seems to get younger by the year so I imagine the dandy highwayman will be hanging around for a while yet.
5/5
Words and pictures by Andrea Hutchins & Mike Headington
Article by:
Born and bred in Weston-super-Mare, Mike has played in bands over the last 30 years and has an avid interest in a wide range of music genres. With a passion for live music he spends endless nights watching all types of bands, both famous and not so famous. With a love of Bristol’s infamous venues and the thriving music scene he also follows the local football club in red with a passion. His mission statement is...Keep it real, keep it live and Keep on Rocking!!
