Big Country - Roadmender Northampton

 Back at the Roadmender Northampton again for a much anticipated gig indeed. Formed in Dunfermline Scotland in 1981 by founder members Stuart Adamson and Bruce Watson. Another of those bands that I’ve just never got around to seeing .
Already a couple of chaps in the queue as we arrived an hour before doors. One in particular had come down from Nottingham and had seen the band some 241 times previously! We took our usual position on the barriers stage right and readied ourselves for the support band ‘Suburban Symphony’ from Skipton North Yorks.

Suburban Symphony

All is ready

They did a quick half hour set playing catch songs which I suppose you would call ‘Indie rock’. They went down well with the audience who had got in early.

 The Lead Vocalist was a bit of a Liam Gallagher lookalike especially with his parker zipped up to the neck .A good young band and definitely worth keeping an eye out for in the future.

The Big Country I grew up with in the early 80's featured the late great Stuart Adamson who we sadly lost in 2001. Drummer Mark Brzezicki is virtually an ever present though alongside Watson.
We also have a Watson junior in the shape of his son ‘Jamie’. A member of the band since 2010. Or rather tonight we didn’t .. Bruce read out a ‘mock sick note’ supposedly signed by his mother . The poor wee lad was suffering from a virus and therefore unable to join the band tonight.

Random Canadian

 The Big Country set had got of to one of the most bizarre of starts I've probably ever seen? A random chap armed with a carrier bag, wearing baseball cap on backwards and a strange shirt with England on it took to the stage. He claimed to have just arrived from Canada (without any trace of a Canadian accent) to see the band. Upon meeting his heroes they had suggested that he might like to go out and introduce them.

They hadn't perhaps expected him to deliver an 'Oscar like acceptance speech'  about his journey from Canada and the history of the band. Thankfully the band decided to cut him short and usher him to the side of the stage. It was like something from an Ali G episode and hilarious. He never stopped waving and playing his 'air guitar' all night. He certainly knew how to enjoy himself ! 

Simon Hough

Band in fully cry

But the sound… it’s all still there. That Celtic rock that could once fill arenas and I grew up listening too is still there unchanged. Watson fusing his guitar with the sounds and spirit of Scottish folk music, somehow obtaining the sound of traditional bagpipes and fiddles.

Simon Hough

By the time we get to the third song of the night 'Look Away'  the audience have got into full swing . Many are probably like me 50 somethings re-living their 80's heydays. Guitarist Bruce Watson is the voice of the band between songs. 'Anyone in from Scotland ?' he asks . Corby comes the reply. 'Well serves you 'f''ing right then comes his reply!

Filling the shoes of Adamson was always going to be a tough job, but Hough who has only been with the band since 2013 is doing a fantastic job since taking over from Mike Peters.

The Crossing Album

Bruce and Simon

Tonight is a celebration since releasing  'The Crossing' album in 1983. I still have the original vinyl some 35 years later safe and sound in my collection. The album is  covered in one way or the other given the limitations that have been thrown up by the illness that has struck today.

It's no arena tonight but the same intensity and passion is still burning. It's a great night an the Roadmender is rocking. Sadly the night ends to soon as is often the case and we have the encore fittingly enough of 'Big Country'.  Drummer Mark Brzezicki then delivers a very touching memorial to Stuart Adamson saying that he will be looking down on them tonight.

Bassist Scott Whitley

Full Set List