Y&T Oxford Academy 13-11-15



First up at the very un rock'n roll time of 6.45 were Voodoo Vegas who I recently rave reviewed their new 4 track ep Hypnotise.

After an acoustic support with Kip Winger recently this was the full on electric set with the band firing on all cylinders from the off to a very limited sized crowd.

Tied Up from the new ep is riff heavy and has a real swagger to it with vocalist Lawrence Case's at the stage edge and giving it all even though he was getting very little back.

Both guitarist's Meryl Hamilton and Jon Dawson showed a clean pair of fingers in their soloing and able back up from the booming bass of Ash Moulton and Jonno Smyth on drums.

Finishing their 30 minute set with first album stand out King Without A Crown,that finished with an extended guitar solo from Meryl,and they were gone.

I was lucky enough to bump into Lawrence as the gig finished and he admitted that it had been tough going on so early with such a small crowd and he confirmed the band have been recording a new album in Madrid for release in 2016.
One to look out for.

Y&T return for their annual autumn tour with this year actually being their 10th annual trip back to the UK and I have been fortunate to see 9 out of 10.I had a ticket for the other but a heart procedure the day before meant I missed it.
Sadly my better half Shazz missed this year due to a recent op but seeing her face as I returned home with a drum stick was priceless!!

Every year I rave about how good Y&T are and then every year they return and go one step better.This year was no different with a 2 hour 10 minute set drawn from their 40 year career that was highlight after highlight.


Here is what they played.
Hurricane
L.A.Rocks
Lucy
Black Tiger
Rhythm Or Not
Mean Streak
Lonely Side Of Town
Dirty Girl
Midnight In Tokyo
Take You To The Limit
Cold Day In Hell
Eyes Of A Stranger
My Way Or The Highway (first verse and chorus)
Contagious
Bar Room Boogie
I Want Your Money

Summertime Girls
Rescue Me
I'm Coming Home

Encores of Keep On Runnin'
Forever

Oxford was the last date of a 29 date European tour and even after a horrendous ferry journey from Dublin the previous day the joy of playing live and their incredible bond and friendship shines from every pore and every knowing wink and smile!!

It could have been the first rehearsal not the last of 6 weeks on the road with Dave Meniketti's cheeky banter as always a feature and plenty of on stage humour from all.

Dave Meniketti is one of the greatest frontmen/vocalist/guitarist's we have ever been lucky enough to see.His vocal range is superb and his guitar playing is of the highest calibre with emotion in every note.

The rest of the band are as always on top form.John Nymann on guitar riffs away and show's on his solo during Dirty Girl that he is a classy player.
The rhythm team of Mike Vanderhule on drums,who never appears to sweat even after 2 hours,is a powerhouse and Brad Lang has fitted into Phil Kennemore's shoes like the top pro he is and his playing and stage persona is a perfect fit for the band

As like previous tour's there are changes to the set list as Lucy get's an airing for the couple who have seen 9 shows on this run and the quick blast through part of My Way Or The Highway even seemed to take Dave by surprise and he started it!!




A welcome return for Keep On Runnin' in the encores helped the crowd clear their lungs and Bar Room Boogie is welcomed like a long lost friend as Dave plays at frontman.

I Believe In You had been moved to mid set and has been extended to nearly 10 minutes with Dave wringing every last nuance of emotion from the solo and the standing ovation and cheering went on and on.Simply incredible.

As the band ripped through Forever the band's crew started taking Mike's drum kit apart meaning by the end of the song it was about half the original size!!Bass speakers and microphone stand's also had an early finish before we bellowed our approval at one of rock's music's finest band's and they promised to return next year.

With an early curfew I returned home to hear about the atrocities that had taken place in Paris.
I had been to a rock show like the fan's who had been to see the Eagles Of Death Metal yet they were savagely gunned down.

Here at Rockgig our thoughts and prayer's go to everyone affected by the senseless slaughter in Paris.


























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