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He's been an ex-pat for many years now, but Cannock's Voice of Rock Glenn Hughes has been seen frequently back on these shores in recent years. Only last Autumn he brought his solo band over for a tour, just as the debut album from his supergroup Black Country Communion hit the shelves, and now that he has finished recording a new album with Bonamassa and co, he's back again with his Scandinavian sidemen for an extensive tour of his homeland.
There was no support for this date at Birkenhead's Pacific Road Arts Centre; a venue that was under threat of closure only last year, but has seen several notable artists take to its stage of late. Hughes is arguably the most legendary of these, but even he could not fill this hall, a fairly large venue capable of holding about 1000 comfortably. Perhaps the fans are saving for Black Country Communion, who are hitting the UK in July and playing along the North Wales coast, at Llandudno, but all the same, a somewhat disappointing turnout for an artist of this calibre.
Hughes and his pals came on stage quite early at 8:15 and set the tone for the night by opening with 'Muscle and Blood' from the Hughes/Thrall album. Glenn tends to vary his set quite a lot from tour to tour, and this time around (sorry!) he gave us a lot of harder-rocking cuts, pulled from the Trapeze days as well as classic Purple favourites. He did mention mid-set that he is currently leaning back toward the harder material, although no matter how weighty he always manages to get that bit funky. As with last year's gig at Holmfirth, it was a lesson in how to be heavy and how to rock without having to turn everything up to 11 and distort it to the max – he has a beast of a drummer in Pontus Engborg, a quite excellent guitarist in Soren Anderson and a fine keyboard player in Anders Olinder. Though Hughes goes to great lengths to involve all of the guys in the show, namechecking them all and ensuring they get a cheer, there's no doubt who the main man is. Storming all over the stage, pulling 'guitar gurns' and pulling out virtuoso bass runs, as well as showing all present that The Voice Of Rock is still in great shape, the ex-Purple man gave a performance that belied his 58 years.
A nice touch came mid-set when he pointed out two of his long-time fans: a couple from the Wirral who once ran a fan club for Hughes and published a fanzine during the days when Glenn was still battling his demons. He thanked them from the stage for sticking by him and believing in him when many had given up, for those people to see their hero in top form and in their home town too, must have been immensely satisfying.
Everyone who showed at this gig were immensely satisfied however, with a set full of classics powerfully delivered, this was a top-notch show from one of the true greats of the rock scene. Despite the low turnout, he acknowledged the efforts made by people to come out “during difficult economic times” and still managed to squeeze in a plug for his 'other' project!
If you are saving your money to see BCC, it will be excellent, but don't overlook Hughes solo either as he will deliver the goods live no matter who is alongside him.
Set list
Muscle And Blood
Touch My Life
Orion
Sail Away
First Step Of Love
Medusa
You Got Soul
Keepin' Time
Can't Stop The Flood
You Keep On Moving
Stormbringer
Soul Mover
Addiction
Burn
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