Gun Live at the Wylam Brewery, Newcastle (UK) 11th December 2024
It`s hard to believe that it`s been 30 years since Scottish Rockers Gun cracked the Top 10 with their banging cover of Cameo`s ‘Word Up’ together with their chart busting ‘Swagger’ album that earned them a rather nice shiny silver disc.
There`s been a lot of water under the bridge since then with band splits and reunions and the departure of lead singer Mark Rankin who was replaced by bassist Dante Gizzi, who stepped up to the microphone a fair few years ago now.
Having toured extensively over the years with the likes of the Rolling Stones and Bon Jovi, Gun know a thing or two about playing to an audience and they really pulled it all out of the hat at this fine venue set in a real working brewery of all places.
Certainly Gun appear reenergized and that is borne out by them returning to the Top 10 again for the first time in three decades with their latest album, ‘Hombres’ which sees them in potent form kicking off with the bass pounding ‘Lucky Guy’ from that very album before returning to more familiar territory with ‘Vicious Heart’ and ‘Don`t Say It`s Over’ from their classic ‘Swagger’ disc.
Lead singer Dante and lead guitarist Jules may well be the focal point for the band but they are ably supported by bassist Andy Carr who adds some rather excellent backing vocals and lead guitarist Ruaraidh MacFarlane, who complements Jools perfectly while Paul McManus keeps everything tight at the back.
Dante proudly announced that they have two songs on the soundtrack to the new Samuel L Jackson film, ‘Damaged’ before launching into ‘Falling’ and ‘Pride’.
With Gun classics coming thick and fast from ‘Money (Everybody Loves Her)’, ‘Steal Your Fire’ and of course the rabble rousing groove of ‘Word Up’ they shook the brewery to its very core.
A beautiful acoustic rendition of ‘Taking On The World’ opened the encores before the big guns fired the final salute in ‘Better Days’ and ‘Shame On You.’ Exceptional.
Review and Photos By Mick Burgess
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