Big night for home-coming heroes
Gary Fitzpatrick • Published 10 Feb 2012 09:30
Review: Big Country, The Alhambra, 7th February.
AS Big Country singer Mike Peters pointed out to the audience a lot has happened to the band since they were last at the Alhambra just over a year ago.
Then they were taking the first tentative steps on the come-back trail unsure of what kind of reception there would be to a band whose great successes came in the early '80s.
These insecurities proved to be misplaced and the band have been thriving, enjoying great acclaim on the festival circuit and looking forward to bringing out an album later this year.
Not surprisingly there is a smile back on the face of Big Country and their fans were out in force to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their classic album 'The Crossing'.
The band made the most of their day back in the toon revisiting some old haunts of yesteryear such as the Glen, where they played their first gig at the Pavilion.
Their arrival on the Alhambra stage immediately fired up an icy winter's night and before embarking on 'The Crossing' they warmed up their fans with 'Angle Park' - a song named after a house in Townhill Road - then 'East of Eden' and their last single 'Another Country'.
Inevitably, it was 'In a Big Country' that really got the party started and the crowd in front of the stage was now bouncing big time - the only way to spend a cold Tuesday night in February.
The ever-popular 'Chance' began with Mike Peters singing up on the balcony before disappearing downstairs and re-emerging in the middle of the throng, eventually making it back on to the stage.
'Inwards', '1000 Stars', 'Harvest Home' were all enthusiastically received and for 'The Storm' they were joined on stage by Christine Beveridge from Lochgelly, who had done backing vocals on the album.
It was a typically appreciative touch from a band who have kept in touch with their local roots. Even though the toon contingent is outnumbered these days, Mike Peters told the crowd Big Country will always be a Dunfermline band and that Stuart Adamson will always be alongside them on stage.
The night was a great tribute to the brilliant writing talents of Stuart, whose spirit lives on through the band as they move on to a new phase. The Big Country sound is epitomised in Bruce Watson who was ably supported on guitar by son Jamie.
Bassist Tony Butler and drummer Mark Brzezicki still provide a tremendous backbone and in the ebullient Mike Peters they have found a front-man who has breathed new life into the band.
'Fields of Fire', 'Wonderland', 'Look Away' and 'Tracks of My Tears' - Stuart's favourite song - brought the concert to a tremendous climax. A very happy homecoming and great to hear Stuart's songs echo across his home town late on Tuesday night.
*Fans of Stuart should check out the website www.stuart-adamson.co.uk
This article appeared in Dunfermline Press 10 Feb 12
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