mr kuepper out front of another reformed band for this festival
though in this case sharing the stage and the limelight with chris bailey
by all accounts still not the best of friends and so here for one reason only
resurrect this seminal band from way, way back and blow away some cobwebs
ek must have been well relieved to be relieved of the vocal duties at least in this band
allowing him to concentrate fully on the fine art of axeman extraordinaire
it's an impressive sight seeing him with a marshall stack at his disposal
and i suspect a motivating factor in getting this band back on the road
(though presumably some well-earned cash would help the cause)
the saints are the warm-up act on the main stage for the big one
there's a huge crowd in attendance and clearly some serious saints fans
quite a few fuelled-up chaps around me singing along note-perfect
drawing a few sideways glances from others - typically their sons
a slimmed down chris bailey also in fine voice and performing well
though not at all very complimentary about various matters
security arrangements, weather, audiences all drawing his ire
mostly in comparison to what he is used to internationally
so for me just much better he shuts up and does his job thanks
leaving me to look on and listen to some fine guitar-playing
ek in a posture almost permanently pointed to his left
which i suspect had something to do with singer on his right
the rhythm section pretty well ignored by the main men
and putting together a very solid bottom end to fill out the sound
but again it seems this band has also suffered with the volume control
it's just too damn quiet - it's ok - but it should be all over us down here
i'm not alone in this department with a number of shouts to turn it up
a futile gesture - is it noise restrictions on the island - or support band blues?
stranded and know your product are cranked out convincingly
great to see ek giving his all (does he know less) and thrashing away
hopefully expunging any pent-up desire to once again play these tunes
for i'm not sure that this is where he really wants to be musically
in a way he looks quite alone up there on the stage with this band
it's all done very successfully but i'm not sure of it's longevity
with not too much recorded material (for the original lineup)
and ek's itch to continually keep moving it seems short-term
by the end of the set the audience are giving due applause
i doubt any saints fan here would be less than delirious
and for me - great to see - tick - another first on this day
