We were promised something rather special by the Brewsters to mark The Angels 50th Anniversary but beforehand I’m not sure many saw the departure of frontman Dave Gleeson after 12 years in the hot seat as part of that. Nor I’ll wager the announcement that Nick Norton who began drumming for the band the same year that Dave joined in 2011 would be the new vocalist. Nor did we foresee that John’s son Tom Brewster, would take up that vacant drum stool. The Angels now have two sets of Brewster Brothers – John and Rick on guitar, and Sam (who joined the band in 2013) on bass, alongside Tom on drums.
The Angels though is always about the music and tonight John is sadly absent taking some time off to recover from a bout of ill health, though he tells me he’s on the mend. So tonight not only does Perth get their first experience of Nick Norton as frontman he’s also in at the deep end playing guitar too! So two sets a new lead singer, new guitarist, new drummer and to go along with the classics some deeper cuts from the band too! It’s an interesting evening for sure, at Perth’s iconic Charles Hotel.
Most people here tonight have been following the band for decades and would be here rain or shine and there’s a good crowd as well as a healthy smattering of the younger folk coming out to see the Legendary band. Some I spoke to weren’t even aware that Dave had parted company, but judging by the crowd reaction The Angels can always count on the Perth crowds no matter what the line-up. Nick of course has it all to prove and whilst he may not have the theatrics of Doc or the charisma of Dave on tonight’s showing he’s certainly stepped up to the mark holding down the guitar as well as a new lead vocalist role. Time will tell, all we can say is that the Charles crowd loved what they heard.
Opening up with ‘City Out of Control’ from ‘Night Attack’, we know we’re in for something a little different and ‘Who Rings the Bell’ from ‘Beyond Salvation’ is a track I’ve always had a soft spot for. And it’s those songs along with rarities like ‘Don’t Waste My Time from ‘Howling’ that take the edge off the fact that we have neither Dave nor John tonight. What I love about The Charles though is that the majority of the crowd here tonight, shall we say, of a certain age know even the lesser played tracks!
Stood stage left I’m mesmerized by Rick’s craftsmanship and how he bends those strings on ‘Shadowboxer’ which comes after a wonderful run of ‘Who Rings the Bell’, ‘Shoot It Up’ the sole representative from ‘Watch the Red’, and ‘Out of the Blue’ also from No Exit. So whilst the lesser played songs are a treat it’s perhaps only fair on Nick that the majority of material tonight is still from those landmark albums ‘No Exit’ and ‘Face to Face’.
‘Coming Down’ as usual ignites the crowd and a rather tasty ‘Night Attack which has probably only been played 20 odd times is a nice surprise. Rick takes to keys for a great cover of ‘We Gotta Get Outta This Place’ and there’s a wonderful elongated solo from the man himself at the end of what has always been one of my favourite Angels tracks ‘Face the Day’.
We roll out in style for ‘Take a Long Line’ and ‘See Your Face’ and the Stonesy ‘Be With You’. The audience claps there way through ‘Marseilles’ before the band are off briefly for the encores. Tonight it’s ‘Mr. Damage’ where the difference between Dave and Nick is perhaps most noticeable and an absolutely show stopping (literally) version of my favourite Angels song to close: ‘Can’t Shake It’. It’s always a perfect night in Perth when The Angels are in town.
