(Review by Russell).
Sunday afternoon, Hall Two,
standing room only three floors up. Clearly some had heard of Polar Bear and
some had heard of Shiver. Local heroes Shiver with guest vocalists are Geordie Heroes (drummer Joost Hendrickx awarded
Honourary Geordie status). Home grown, the trio – Chris Sharkey (guitar), Andy
Champion (electric bass) and Hendrickx – recently took their music on the
road and this Gatehsead International Jazz Festival appearance held extra
appeal with guest vocalists Zoe Gilby
and John Turrell invited to join them on stage.
The trio kicked-off in fine style
taking no prisoners with a searing Hammerhead
Blues. Chris Sharkey spoke of the tune’s genesis: proud of his Geordie
roots, acknowledging the region’s largely lost heavy industrial base – coal,
steel, shipbuilding – hence Hammerhead.
This was meat and drink to bassist Andy Champion, locking onto steam hammer
riffs, the accumulated dust of long gone industries blown away in a sustained
attack with Hendrickx. Sharkey, restless on fret board and stage, developed
ideas at lightening speed, then a change of direction, then another, pedal
board pressed into action. The lean left hander (powder blue Strat) moved this
way then that returning to the pedal board to signal ‘diversion ahead’.
Champion had his share of the
electronic hardware (Hendrickx’s kit similarly wired) and put the boot in with
some staggering bass playing. The Mayfair Ballroom in Newcastle fell victim to
‘progress’, demolished some years ago to make way for an all under one roof
‘experience’ of chain restaurants, pubs and multiplex cinema. Sharkey lamented
its loss – from the foxtrot dance band era to the days of pretty boy/ugly
(delete as appropriate) heavy metal bands. So, we got Quickstep. It was quick alright, Shiver style! What next? Sharkey
introduced the afternoon’s guest vocalists. The pre-gig assumption was we would
hear two vocalists and indeed we did. Make that four vocalists (more of that
later!). The principal guests – Zoe Gilby (her late dad Mike once a formidable
member of the trumpet section at the
Heard they were, sections written
to accommodate the voice, other sections full on power trio and vocals! Tyneside has a history of
collaborative projects. Many moons ago before Sting became a global megastar he
worked on a ‘rock opera’, for want of a better term. Here at Sage Gateshead
Chris Sharkey premiered something of a ‘stadium power metal-scored operatic
opus’. John Turrell’s soulful voice an inspired choice for this project, Zoe
Gilby explored new territory with an astonishing, brave performance, the
screaming rock goddess! An intense Gilby – Hendrickx vocal/drums feature heard
Gilby utterly uninhibited, urged on by Hendrickx. Quite remarkable. So, it can
be said Shiver came up with something different! The four vocalists? Turrell and Gilby and…Sharkey and Champion. Well, well,
well! Backing vocals but nevertheless vocals. Whatever next?!
Russell.
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