Nazareth played the Duchess in York last night. I was there to see them for the first time in over thirty years with the last occasion being the Malice in Wonderland tour. And very pleased to report that the (mostly) old dogs (I mean Big Dogz……) most certainly can still howl and in a very good way indeed.
First the venue as I’d not been there before either. The Duchess I guess is what you’d call a “proper” club. Almost missed it completely. Through the door, down the stairs in to a smallish room with a low ceiling. This was half way through the support band’s slot and a Spartan crowd at that point made getting a beer very easy. One did wonder about finding a good vantage point with the stage not being that high and sod’s law of course dictating that the tall dudes will stand right in front of you.
Fortunately (depending on your point of view) the place wasn’t packed out and a reasonable view was secured just in front of stage right. A guess would be that somewhere between 250-300 formed a small but mostly enthusiastic crowd.
After the longest intro tape I think I’ve ever heard Messers McCafferty, P. Agnew, Murrison and L. Agnew stroll on and it’s straight in to the opener of Silver Dollar Forger. Something of a personal favourite so very welcome. The vocal mix seemed a bit iffy for the first few numbers though even so it’s plainly obvious that Dan retains that distinctive, unique voice and can belt it out just as good as ever.
The sound gets better after a few songs and time goes by quickly. Great to see a truly legendary band (forgive cliché) “up close and personal” still doing their stuff both sounding and looking good. Pete Agnew bounces around a bit (well, as much as the tiny stage allows) looking like everyone’s favourite uncle. Jimmy Murrison knocks out the riffs at the opposite side with Lee Agnew solid on the kit. And once the vocal mix gets sorted out one of rock’s most powerful voices shines through. For a man of about 175 years old or so Dan McCafferty most certainly can still growl and hit the notes he did in his “youth.”
The set list is pretty varied with a fair mixture of old stuff, new stuff, classics and surprises. With an on-stage time (including encore) of somewhere around a hour and three quarters there can be no complaints over a £20 ticket price (well, apart from the Ticket Web fee).
The main set was brought to a close Bad Bad Boy, Whisky Drinkin Woman and a magnificent Hair Of The Dog……………….the crowd want more…………….and they get it. A triple encore of three classics – Razamanaz, Love Hurts and Broken Down Angel sends people home happy. Stoming gig boys. Do come back and do it again.
Walking out of the Duchess and over the road some breed of local river fowl was waddling along the pavement (duck, geese, I’m not up on stuff like that). It’s a fair way from the river Ouse for a duck so perhaps he (or she) heard Nazareth were in town and wandered up to check them out.
Oh, set list. I think it was as below though there might be one or two missed out.:
Silver Dollar Forger
Big Dogz Gonna Howl
This Month’s Messiah
Sunshine
Turn On Your Receiver
See Me
My White Bicycle
Radio
When Jesus Comes To Save The World Again
This Flight Tonight
Bad Bad Boy
Whisky Drinkin Woman
Hair Of The Dog
===========
Razamanaz
Love Hurts
Broken Down Angel
If you’re reading this and perhaps not familiar with Nazareth but want to start I’d suggest starting with Hair of the Dog. Check it out. Or me it’s their best.