MOTORHEAD
+ ROSE TATTOO
+ AIRBOURNE
Enmore Theatre, Sydney. October 5, 2007It might well be just your humble reviewer's opinion, but with the end of the Melbourne's (late and great) Powdermonkeys - whose former drummer Timmy Jack Ray was in attendance - genuinely punishing rock-n-roll with fearsome punk attitude may be long gone and the fodder for the musical equivalent of "the urban legend".
However, two British and Australian pioneers of the aforementioned music are still around. That'd be Motorhead (the incredibly influential British legends whom are infrequently referred to here at 'Bar) and Rose Tattoo. Both have decided to grace the stages of Australia and, in the case of Motorhead, return to Australia for their first headline tour in more than a decade. (There was a support to LA glam rockers vut tonight they're headlining.)
Also on tonight's bill were young AC/DC inspired upstarts (or depending on your opinion of the band) disciples (from Victoria's "Shipwreck Coast" town of Warrnambool) Airbourne; whom unfortunately your reviewer missed, but would expect the band (on previous sightings in Sydney) to have delivered a scorching set including original songs such as 'Girls in Black' and 'Runnin' Wild' (the former, the title of their debut CDLP).
Unfortunately your reviewer, also missed much of the 'Tatts set, which would be our first sighting of the band performing live with guitarist Dai Pritchard (whom has replaced the late great Peter Wells [RIP]), we were however fortunate enough to catch the band tearing through 'Tatts classics 'Remedy', 'Assault and Battery' and 'Nice Boys' which would have well and truly impressed many, whom would hardly have required any conversion to the 'Tatts long running cause.
So it was the turn of Motorhead and upon on their arrival to the stage vocalist/bassist and only remaining original band member Lemmy Kilmister informed the crowd: "We are Motorhead and we play rock-n-roll". They delivered on such a claim and the band would deliver and amazing set of rock-n-roll played with punishing ferocity.
The night featured Motorhead classics 'Metropolis', 'Capricorn', 'Iron Fist', 'Killed by Death' and post 'Philthy' Phil Wurzel and Fast' Eddie Clarke-era tracks like 'Sacrifice' and 'Just ëCause You Got The Power'. For the encores, the old-time blues song 'Whorehouse Blues' (where guitarist Phil Campbell and drummer Mikkey Dee played a couple of acoustic guitars and a stripped-down drum kit and Lemmy picked up the blues harp),then 'Ace Of Spades', 'Overkill' and 'Bomber'.
Along with your reviewer, much of the crowd would have wanted the original Motorhead line-up to appear; but Phil Campbell and Mikkey Dee proved throughout that they are more than capable replacements with Phil Campbell delivering some at times searing lead guitar work and Mikkey Dee breaking out at one stage for a time honoured rock-n-roll drum solo.
In the case of their current tour, Motorhead won't sleep 'till Challenge Stadium, Perth; but after the band all but laid waste to the Enmore Theatre, Sydney fans will long treasure Motorhead's memorable stand tonight.
