The Wildhearts / Ferocious Dog / The Amorettes - Koko, London (UK) - 02 December 2018

First support, The Amorettes, complete with new bass player very much owned the stage and, listening, I thought of both Suzi Quatro and AC/DC, which can't be bad.




Main support Ferocious Dog were a strange mix of the Levellers, the Pogues and, with the striking Mohican of their vocalist, and the hopping and jumping it was difficult to take your eyes off the stage. The insistent Irish folk beat energy got the audience clapping and dancing without prompting. The fiddle is a big part of the sound, able to communicate emotions of joy and sadness par excellence. Their phenomena is more of a sound rather than discernible songs, at least to the new recruit, but there's no doubt that they get the crowd going.




Wildhearts did a pretty long set, primarily made up of 'Earth v the Wildhearts', before an encore of largely greatest hits, but it seemed to be over in a flash. This is testament to a great gig. The crowd were screaming 'Shitsville LONDON' to the very first song, By 'Love Stuff' the crowd are flat out singing unprompted. Ginger himself looks well and, after well reported voice problems his vocals are well up to the job tonight which was very good news. While he looks like he's concentrating for the first few songs, it's not long before he clearly begins to enjoy it.

It's a heavier show and while Ginger's songwriting is clearly capable of a mean pop hook, songs like 'Miles Away Girl' are given heavy artillery treatment with the result they are likely to rip your head off rather than produce anything effete. Determined to join in the crowd sing before Ginger even starts and Ginger tells them to 'Keep Going it's nice!. I think I hear a few strains of Status Quo's 'Caroline' from Ginger leaving the bass player a little bemused, before we launch into 'Headfuck' with a blistering solo from CJ. The crowd shouted the title of the song loudly and repeatedly enough to turn this review blue if quoted. There's also a super heavy version of 'Suckerpunch' and powerful drums in 'Love You Till I Don't' albeit that the start was lighter and full of harmonies.




So that was it, we were already at the encore, yet it felt like we had only been there for ten minutes. Fortunately, there were still seven songs to go including the meaty riffs of my favourite 'Vanilla Radio' and the super infectious 'Nothing ever changes but the Shoes'. Ginger is well into his stride and really enjoying it now, he must be relieved given his vocal problems that everything has gone swimmingly tonight and he's having a party with the finish line in sight. By 'Anthem' he's dancing through the song. Once we get to 'Geordie in Wonderland' there's enough slurred singing and swaying in the crowd for any respectable NYE.




There are quite a few crowdsurfers in '29 x The Pain'. The crowd are shouting 'HEY HEY HEY HEY' for 'I Wanna Go Where the People Go' another inclusive party song during which Ginger loses his bandana and shakes his dreads round in a repeating circle. He shouts 'Happy Xmas' as he leaves the stage. Given recent events it was great to see this event happen and go so well. Remembering this gig will hopefully help him to do the same.

Review and photos by Dawn Osborne