Review: The Ginger Wildheart Band, Exchange

The trouble with going to gigs in the current fevered climate is that there’s always a fear at the back of your mind that you’ll miss some earth-shattering political event. So while the Labour Party decides whether it’s going to demonstrate its commitment to democracy by stitching up its own leader, the Exchange rapidly fills with punters for a top-value three-band bill. Famously mercurial Ginger Wildheart being an outspoken Corbyn supporter, there’s a real danger that his mood on this first night of a lengthy tour could turn very dark very quickly.

But, hey, we’re here to rock. And Massive Wagons are living the NWOBHM dream, with a dash of rock’n’roll, at 7.45pm in a packed Bristol club.  This lot are not afraid of a proper guitar solo performed on an actual Flying V, while belter Baz Mills has a touch of the Biff Byfords about his voice on occasion. They’re not exactly polished, and set closer Fe Fi Fo Fum is a strong contender for the accolade of daftest song ever written, but swiftly win us over with luxuriant beardage and sheer enthusiasm.

It’s easy to see why Ginger finds Fort Worth’s Ryan Hamilton and the Traitors so appealing. They trade in that peculiarly American brand of catchy, sunny, witty pop-rock that succeeds in snaring the smart-alecky college crowd while keeping rockers onside, rather like a more rootsy Cheap Trick. Ryan himself rocks the 1976 keg party look with headband and magnificent sleeveless Styx T-shirt, which is worthy of a round of applause in itself. The Traitors quickly get into gear after a somewhat hesitant start, Ryan’s easy audience rapport and eagerness to learn new English swearwords (Bristol rises to the challenge with ‘cockwomble’, which appears to flummox the poor Texan fella) endearing him to what can often be a rather partisan Ginger Wildheart crowd who are mostly unfamiliar with his material. They could have made a bit more of the harmony vocals, but there’s no arguing with the quality of those songs.

You can never be quite sure which Ginger Wildheart you’re going to get. Remember that ill-tempered show at the Fleece a few years back? Mercifully, regardless of what’s going on in the outside world, he couldn’t be jollier tonight, remarking that he’s “having more fun than a man of my age has any right to have”. There’s no sign of first night nerves or under-rehearsal as the volume is turned up to eleven-and-a-half and he’s backed by an ace band comprising regular drummer Denzel, Hey! Hello! bassist Toshi and old mucker Conny Bloom from Sweden’s splendid Electric Boys – a man who really knows how to dress like a rock star (or an 18th century fop, or possibly a pirate).

Few musicians are quite as prolific as Ginger, so only the diehard mega-fans, of whom there are many, are likely to recognise everything, but he’s put together a well-judged set showcasing his many different songwriting styles. The show really kicks into gear with Sonic Shake – the big stompalong terrace anthem that opens the Silver Ginger 5 album and whisks us back to the glory days of Slade and The Sweet. The epic Valor Del Corazon from 2006 is revisited twice, notably for Mother City – a prime slice of widescreen American-style rock with a huge chorus. And for the paid-up fanclub members, there’s plenty from his G.A.S.S. project, including That’s a Nasty Habit You’ve Got There and epic set closer Ostracide. The latter represents what the man himself has described as his prog-punk side, but alas only a minority of punters seem to recognise it.

There’s also rather more latterday Wildhearts material than one might have anticipated (six songs, if I’m not mistaken), from Mazel Tov Cocktail to the euphoric Top of the World and a gargantuan Vanilla Radio. Having been summoned back to the stage by a crowd rendition of Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me, they eventually conclude with 29 x The Pain – the old Wildhearts B-side that became a band anthem. By this time, Ginger’s guitar has drifted painfully out of tune in the heat and he kicks over his microphone stand and collapses to the floor, leaving the rest of us to finish the song. Job done. If he enjoys the rest of the tour as much as this show, he could be quite unbearably perky by the end of the month.

Read more: Metal & Prog Picks: July 2016