Photograph by Stephen Wilson
KIRK BRANDON AND HIS CREW LIBERATE ORAN MOR FOR MEMORABLE GIG
Kirk Brandon and his Spear of Destiny team are back on the road to promote their latest release, a newly reworked version of the classic 1985 album World Service on its 35th anniversary, and how good do they tunes sound played live now?
Spear of Destiny arose like a phoenix from the ashes of Brandon’s previous band Theatre of Hate, and had a string of singles and albums from the 80s to the noughties, and this tour would see them play the World Service album, plus a mix of the big hitters afterwards.
Opening with World Service, Rocket Ship and Cole Younger, the legion of fans had plenty to entertain them with the classics flowing thick and fast, with Brandon owning the stage and giving every song 100%. Walk in My Shadow, Once in Her Lifetime and Mickey, all songs met with huge roars of approval from the 300 odd crowd, majority of them word perfect and filling most of the intimate venue in Glasgow’s West End. The first section of the set showcased the 1985 classic album, and left the rest of the set for more tracks from their back catalogue, dusted down and replayed for the fans.
The fantastic guitars of Adrian Portas sync with Brandon perfectly and drive the songs alongside the thumping bass of Craig Adams and drumming of Phil Martini, with Clive Osbourne on saxophone.
The band had an hour and 45 to cram as many tracks in as they could, and continued the evening with Harlan County, Solution, Their England, Playground and probably their most well-known track, the anthem Liberator, which had everyone in the hall on their toes. After a short break the band returned to the stage for one last track, Never Take Me Alive, and the evening was done.
Spear of Destiny are a great live band. The venue holds 400, it was three quarters full but easily felt like double that, the atmosphere was electric, the hall hot and sweaty, as every good gig should be, and everyone left with a smile on their face having relived their childhood yet again. The songs my well be on the wrong side of 30 plus years old but still sound fantastic played live, and with the energy of Brandon and his colleagues this is a gig to be witnessed while you can. Terrific stuff.
Review and Photographs by Stephen Wilson
