Family – Shepherds Bush
Empire – 1st February 2013
This must rank as the most
unlikely and unexpected of band reunions. Family have a 14xCD career
retrospective box set coming out and have taken the (possibly rash) decision to
celebrate / promote its release by playing their first gigs since making their
last stand at Leicester Polytechnic in 1973.
There is a mixture of
anticipation and Friday night boisterousness as 1970s Leicester City footballer
Frank Worthington introduces the band, calling them “Leicester’s answer to
Elvis Presley!” Well, possibly they were!
The 21st Century
version of Family has a core line-up of the irrepressible Roger Chapman on
vocals, Jim Cregan on guitar (Charlie Witney has retired to a Greek island and
was reluctant to return for only two gigs), Poli Palmer on vibes and Rob
Townsend on drums. They are augmented by additional musicians who Chappo has
dubbed the “in-laws”.
As soon as the band commence
with Top Of The Hill it becomes clear that irrespective of who is or isn’t onstage,
this is still Family. Also it’s quickly apparent that these won’t be a couple
of quickly dashed off gigs –obviously some serious rehearsal time has been
spent.
Chappo promises not to use
bad language, and then gloats that Leicester City have beat Cardiff: “anything
to f*** Andy Fairweather-Low up!” He then proceeds to make some potentially
slanderous comments about the late John Barry which I can’t possibly repeat
here.
For two hours Shepherds Bush
Empire becomes Heaven for fans of Family. Drawing up the set list must have
been a nightmare – not so much what to play as what to leave out! The classics
are lovingly wheeled out. Who can argue with No Mule’s Fool, Sat’dy Barfly,
Burlesque, In My Own Time, The Weaver’s Answer, My Friend The Sun and Sweet
Desiree? Chappo admits that he can no longer reach the high notes in My Friend
The Sun so the audience oblige instead. Apparently Linda Lewis was coming the
next night to help out.
The question that wasn’t on
everybody’s lips but doubtless was in many minds was ‘what next’. This band are
clearly tour ready and it would be a terrible shame if more gigs didn’t follow.
How about it chaps? And bring Charlie next time!
Mark Kelly
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