Post by wingsj0 on Feb 4, 2006 20:38:50 GMT
Ian Hunter - GALAXY THEATRE, SANTA ANA CA USA - By Phil Holbrook.
As part of my holiday to visit my sister who lives in San Diego, it was great news when I found out that Ian would be playing some gigs when I would be there.
I could only attend one of the gigs so I opted for the Galaxy Theatre in Santa Ana, just an hour from my sister’s house.
My daughter Ellen and I arrived at the theatre at around 5:30 pm and we could hear the band doing the sound check. I always enjoy hearing the sound check as occasionally Ian will do songs not in the set for that evening’s performance.
At around 6:10, we were allowed into the building and we were shown to our table, where we ordered a meal before the show. It was ok but very poor by American standards. A few beers though improved the food situation! Unfortunately at this show we had to sit through two support bands who were less than memorable but I guess everyone has to start somewhere.
Ian and the American Rant band took to the stage at around 9:45 and it was the first time I had seen this particular line-up. Only Steve Holley was familiar to me but by the time the band were doing “Once Bitten” they seemed like old friends. New guitarist Mark Bosch followed in Andy’s footsteps very well and like Andy, Mark seems to be an extremely good, technical guitarist, but then Ian has always worked with great guitar players There were no surprises in the set-list and it seemed very similar to the songs played on last year’s UK tour. I was waiting for the new song “Pencil In My Pocket” which Ian had done a few days earlier in New York, but it was not to come. The audience (many of whom had been deprived of seeing Ian for many years) was lapping it up and the full house appreciated every minute with the band coming back for two encores, with the show ending around 12:15. A few drunks tried their best to spoil the show for others but generally the audience was really into the music.
Graham Maby on bass is more static than Gus, but he provided solid backing along with probably the best time keeper in the business, Steve Holley.
Ian really seemed to enjoy the show but was surprisingly quiet between songs, with song introductions and story telling being kept to a minimum. The sound quality was excellent and the whole band worked tirelessly for the whole show.
Unfortunately with American security being tighter than English, we didn’t get to meet Ian and the band after the show, but we drove home very happy that my hero had conquered LA once again.
Phil Holbrook
Pleasure Doing Business With You - Phil's Ian Hunter Rant Band fan site, the best on the net.
members.tripod.com/~phil_holbrook/
Please note all articles on this site are (C) to The Beat Goes On And On Fanzine and may not be used without permission.
As part of my holiday to visit my sister who lives in San Diego, it was great news when I found out that Ian would be playing some gigs when I would be there.
I could only attend one of the gigs so I opted for the Galaxy Theatre in Santa Ana, just an hour from my sister’s house.
My daughter Ellen and I arrived at the theatre at around 5:30 pm and we could hear the band doing the sound check. I always enjoy hearing the sound check as occasionally Ian will do songs not in the set for that evening’s performance.
At around 6:10, we were allowed into the building and we were shown to our table, where we ordered a meal before the show. It was ok but very poor by American standards. A few beers though improved the food situation! Unfortunately at this show we had to sit through two support bands who were less than memorable but I guess everyone has to start somewhere.
Ian and the American Rant band took to the stage at around 9:45 and it was the first time I had seen this particular line-up. Only Steve Holley was familiar to me but by the time the band were doing “Once Bitten” they seemed like old friends. New guitarist Mark Bosch followed in Andy’s footsteps very well and like Andy, Mark seems to be an extremely good, technical guitarist, but then Ian has always worked with great guitar players There were no surprises in the set-list and it seemed very similar to the songs played on last year’s UK tour. I was waiting for the new song “Pencil In My Pocket” which Ian had done a few days earlier in New York, but it was not to come. The audience (many of whom had been deprived of seeing Ian for many years) was lapping it up and the full house appreciated every minute with the band coming back for two encores, with the show ending around 12:15. A few drunks tried their best to spoil the show for others but generally the audience was really into the music.
Graham Maby on bass is more static than Gus, but he provided solid backing along with probably the best time keeper in the business, Steve Holley.
Ian really seemed to enjoy the show but was surprisingly quiet between songs, with song introductions and story telling being kept to a minimum. The sound quality was excellent and the whole band worked tirelessly for the whole show.
Unfortunately with American security being tighter than English, we didn’t get to meet Ian and the band after the show, but we drove home very happy that my hero had conquered LA once again.
Phil Holbrook
Pleasure Doing Business With You - Phil's Ian Hunter Rant Band fan site, the best on the net.
members.tripod.com/~phil_holbrook/
Please note all articles on this site are (C) to The Beat Goes On And On Fanzine and may not be used without permission.