Review by Damien Doherty for MPM
It’s that time of year again when the world descends on Dublin to commemorate the late great Phil Lynott. And it’s a big one this year, being the 40th Anniversary of Philo’s passing. Organiser Lloyd Barber has laid on a splendid affair with gig’s at the Button Factory and the 3Arena on the 3rd and 4th respectively with an ensemble cast of the great and the legendary.
Saturday night at the Button Factory eases us into the weekend with some of the best in Thin Lizzy tribute bands. The venue is packed by the time Corks’ Live Lizzy hit the stage. These stalwarts know their gig, the performance is tight as Paul, Alan, Hugh and Tim make their way through the best of the Lizzy back catalog. Second band of the night hail all the way from Trondheim in Norway and have been doing this for over thirty years now, and it shows. Aptly they launch into Dedication as their opener, and the crowd are in their hands from that point on as singer Frode leads the charge. A poignant moment in their set is their rendition of Still in Love With You which he dedicates with love to his brother who had passed away.
Suitably warmed up for Sunday, we march into the freezing night. It’s time to head to homes and hotels, for a nightcap, or maybe for a good sleep in preparation for the big one.
The 3Arena is laid out in it’s smaller format tonight, but nonetheless it is packed, a crowd of several thousand here from doors opening, a very near sell out. Opening act are none other than Grand Slam, the band formed by Phil and Laurence Archer in 1984 shortly after the break up of Thin Lizzy. The band have reformed on and off over the years with Archer remaining the only original member. Singer Mike Dyer is a man brimming with energy and enthusiasm as he runs around the stage whipping up the crowd. Their five song set kicks off with Nineteen as Dyer extolls his pride in being allowed to sing Lynotts compositions. Harlem is much heavier than the original; Archer, along with bassist Rocky Newton, drummer Benjy Reid, and keyboard player Andy Fuller really rocking out on this one. Military Man and Crazy continue bringing the energy, and the set is rounded off with a beautiful rendition of Sisters of Mercy.
Next up is “The Rockers” set, the one I along with a lot of others are most excited in seeing, with a leather-clad line-up of legends taking to the stage. Led out by possibly the hardest working man in rock at the minute, Mr. Ricky Warwick, they launch into Are You Ready, are we ever!! Joining Ricky on stage are G’n’R and former Lizzy guitarist Richard Fortus; former Black Star Riders and Lizzy bassist Marco Mendoza; drum maestro Grant Nicholas, and rounding it out, from Brian Downeys Alive and Dangerous, the Polish guitar wizard and honorary Irishman Michal Kulbaka.
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Warwick is at his absolute best tonight, vocally unrivalled and like a man possessed as he owns the stage demanding our attention and respect. Jailbreak and Do Anything You Want To have the entire floor jumping, while pounding drums from Nicholas along with twin guitars from our axe slingers herald the onset of Massacre. And the short set is rounded out by the double header of Cowboy Song and Boys Are Back in Town as Kulbaka and Fortus riff in perfect unison. Michal has been destined for this stage, great to see his talent showcased in front of the world. It’s a short but unforgettable set, leaving ear’s ringing and heart’s singing. Thankfully up next is a performance to get our (mainly aging) heart rates back to safer levels.
Now I tend to be wary of orchestral accompaniments to rock performances, they just don’t have enough distorted guitars for me, but it has to be said that the RTE Concert Orchestra performing with various guest singers is a treat tonight. Joining them first is Peter M. Smith, star of the stage play “Moonlight”, and doppelganger for Philo. His three-song set of A Song For While I’m Away, Dublin, and Still in Love With You are truly magical and poignantly heart-breaking in equal measure.
Darren Wharton takes the stage and recalls jamming The Sun Goes Down as everyone’s hands reach for the sky, clapping along as the Lizzy keyboardist nails it. A calmer Mike Dyer joins next for Rosalie and Whiskey in The Jar, then it’s Rickys time to strut his stuff again with Dancing in The Moonlight and Don’t Believe a Word at one point turning and giving a cheeky arse-wiggle to set the ladies pulses a fluttering. Finally a squad of what must have been over one hundred kids all resplendent in matching Dennis the Menace themed Philo t-shirts perform a rousing Boys Are Back in Town to close out this section of the night.
Lloyd Barber and Dave Fanning (the man who was the soundtrack to my youth when I should have been studying in my room, but giving me a solid foundation in musical education), take to the stage to discuss the event and also to share anecdotes about the great man, before the final act of tonight take the stage – Darren Whartons Renegade. Marc Roberts kicks off the familiar keyboard intro for Angel of Death, the song written by Lynott/Wharton for the Renegade album. Jailbreak, Are you Ready and Don’t Believe a Word may have been played already, but no one is complaining, especially when followed up with Emerald and Chinatown. Between songs Darren gives a fond shout out to Gus Curtis who was Phils close friend and personal assistant, and recalls his audition where Phil enquired as to his preferred football team. The response – Man Utd. being favorably received by the singer. There’s a little bit of good natured booing on mention of the red devils which Darren blows off by emphasising that no one is permitted to argue with Phil tonight. Messrs. Vinny Burns and Andy Moore try to blow the roof off the venue with the guitar heavy trio of Cold Sweat, Massacre, and Suicide; and Nigel Clutterbuck and Greg Morgan are as tight as a drum (excuse the pun) on my favourite Lizzy track Black Rose.
There’s no such thing as too much Cowboy Song/Boys Are Back in Town, then Laurence Archer and Peter M. Smith rejoin for penultimate tune Rosalie. And it’s a veryspecial final performance of the night as Darren and the boys are joined by the man who was there at the very beginning, playing on the song that he is probably best known for, Whiskey in The Jar – The living legend Eric Bell. It’s great to see him on stage and looking so well, a superb finale to this last couple of days.
Warm hearted and full of joy we depart into the cold night. Take a bow Lloyd Barber and all the performers and organizing team. This was truly a memorable night and one that will be hard to beat. Phil’s memory is truly alive in Dublin tonight.
