Steve Conte UK Tour Review

Moho Live, Northern Quarter, Manchester, Dec 12th, 2010

Having missed out on the last UK tour, I was hell bent on seeing this Steve Conte & the Crazy Truth this time around. His schedule favoured my current northern base, with dates planned in York, Sheffield and Manchester. Unfortunately, suffering with a massive case of 'Man-Flu', I'd already missed the York show and the Sheffield date was cancelled due to a death in the family of the venue manager.

So, with plenty of rest and Jack Daniel's inside of me, I'd recovered sufficiently to venture out, just time enough to catch the band on their penultimate show of the current tour, in Manchester, supported by The Melodramas.

The Melodramas are possibly the UK's best kept secret right now, but I have a very good feeling that this will not be the case in a year or two. They are set to be massive! Backed by Mark 'Smutz' Smith of 'C-Management', they have the attitude, looks, talent, ambition and drive to really hit the big-time, they really do.

The stage is set for their show, and having purposely not listened to anything by them in advance, I was quite looking forward to seeing if they matched all of the media hype. Was I in for a very nice surprise? Oh Yes!! These young guys know how to put a show together, delivering time after time, classic brit-pop, power-punk, riffage and classy keyboard licks...absolute quality, through and through!!

In places they reminded me loosely of The Doors, mixed with Sparks and just a touch of Strokes, but played with a passion and intensity that is extremely rare in young bands these days....sure, they have the look, sure they have the songs and sure they have the appeal....so why are they virtually unheard of? Well, the answer to that is quite simple, they are grooming, pruning and tuning themselves for an all-out assault, and when they finally come knocking, the world will be at their feet!! Go get 'em!!

The audience, although realtively small in numbers were vocal and more than interested in watching the 40 minute set, and the standard of musicianship on display at times was criminally good! Kudos Guys, see ya next time!

Ok, time for a quick venture outside for a quick chat and cigarette before the main-man comes to do his work.

Steve Conte, musician, songwriter, guitarist with...hmmm, it's probably easier to list those that he's not played with, current lead player in the fabulous Michael Monroe Band, and New York Doll is in town and ready to ignite the blue-touchpaper for his penultimate UK show. It's the end of a pretty gruelling week, and he's in good spirits before the show. He promised a surprise as well...Hmm, interesting.

Opening to a now filling venue, Steve hits the stage looking like a rock-star....he's got the swagger, the attitude, the looks....damn it! He has got the lot!

The band are as tight as you could ever want or need and the songs are 'up there' with the best of 'em! He's a class act, a bluesy-rocker with enough brit attitude to remind you of the great players from the 60's and 70's....when rock n roll produced it's finest moments in song-writing and guitar playing....he's drawn heavy influence from this era, and it shows!

The crowd are loving each and every minute of this hour-long set, which covers his debut album 'The Crazy Truth' and adds-in some very nice improvisation and soloing, backed again by a really tight rockin' beat section....this is rock n roll as the Devil planned it!

The surprise? Well, staying close-by in the city centre, his team mate from the Michael Monroe Band, Ginger Wildheart joins Conte on-stage for a rendition of "Surrender" & "Somebody's Gonna Get Their Head Kicked In"....and it's all over too soon!! This was one of those rare shows that you want to go on forever, great stuff Steve!!

By the way, it IS Bollocks, not Bullocks....ok?

 

Rockson ♪ ♪♪