George Thorogood

Press, 7 December 1985, Page 8

George Thorogood

George THorogood and The Destroyers, at the Christchurch Town Hall last evening. Reviewed by Tony Green. George THorogood will never be one for pushing back the frontiers of popular music. In fact, with a basic repertoire of just three songs, the man is living proof of the famous quote

“rock’n’roll ain’t a mind expander, it’s a pants expander.” At the Town Hall last evening, however, a packed crowd voiced their support for his brand of bluesy rock music, with many of them even leaving their seats to boogie in the aisles (much to the dismay of officialdom). Thorogood and his band, Tbe Delaware Destroyers, blitzed the speakers with sotneKJhumping rock’n’roll, relffltiessjboogie, and slabs of the' famous .Bo

rhythm (not surprising, as Diddley has played many gigs, including Live Aid, with the band). The stage was sparse — a lonely drum kit with the legend “The Original Sixpiece Quartet” on the front, and very basic lighting gave the austere surrounds a hint of the pub setting that obviously remains their roots. But as the initial rush of excitement wore off, the band started sounding just a little one-dimensional. The pacing of the set was diabolical, as one fast song ran into the other, with little or no respite, and Thorogood’s vocal prowess is little more than adequate. Admittedly, he coaxed some truly amazing sounds from the slide guitar he strapped on half-way through, but the only other bright spot in the sound was the enthusiastic saxophone of Hank Carter.

But the crowd, many of whom had obviously spent some time getting in the right frame of mind for this gig, were only interested in “raging,” and rage they did, as tae band ran through all their best known songs, and some choice cover versions. Best of all was “One Bourbon, one Scotch, one Beer,” a good insight into the Destroyers’ philosophy of life, no doubt.

“Bad To The Bone,” “Madison Blues” and the Chuck Berry, standard, “No Particular Place To Go” roused even more support, and the night ended with two frenzied encores.

So, in spite of their obvious limits, the Destroyers leave Christchurch with a lot of new fans. But your reviewer, who passed up the fine new Auckland band, The Bird Nest Roys, to attend' last evening, can’t help feeling rather shortchange|.