Photograph by Ian D. Hall.
Originally published by L.S. Media. January 9th 2011.
Apart from a reunion tour in 2007, the band Big Country has been out of the public eye for the best part of a decade. With their lives being shook by the untimely passing of former band mate Stuart Adamson it is reassuring and a pleasure to see the other three original members and their two very special guests play to packed out venues and getting the reviews that a band of such stature deserves.
The band opened up a thrilling, sweaty and power ridden set with a couple of songs from their 1983 debut album The Crossing, the crowd almost drowning out drummer Mark Brzezicki, bass player Bruce Watson and guitarist extraordinaire Bruce Watson as they played 1000 Stars and Harvest Home.
Always known as a busy man, Mike Peters has taken over the duties of front man for this reunion tour, almost at the insistence of Bruce Watson, and even though his own band, The Alarm, celebrate their 30th anniversary in May, he poured his heart and soul into giving the packed out Academy a night out that would dispel all the winter blues and give the people of Liverpool a much needed reason to party.
It is testament to Mike Peters, both as a musician and as a human being that he acknowledged former vocalist Stuart Adamson impact on the music business in the 1980’s and how as a fan himself he used to watch the band play in venues all over Britain and see the genuine warmth that the audiences had for the band and for Stuart.
The band produced some of the most memorable songs during their tenure as one of the top bands from the eighties and early nineties. As is the convention at these gatherings the band left no stone unturned as they gave the Liverpool audience a virtuoso performance with songs like the wonderful Porrah Man, the top ten hit Look Away, the poignant Driving to Damascus and the incredible Steeltown all being cheered on by an ever animated and urging crowd.
Before the gig, guitarist Bruce Watson praised his son Jamie and his ability, it was with obvious pride that the two men shared a stage together and for a young man Jamie proved that he has the talent and the temperament to go a long way in the music business.
The band bought a fine evening’s entertainment to a close with the stirring Restless Natives and In a Big Country, both songs had the crowd at their most serene as they took over the vocal duties from a grateful Mike Peters.
One of the major groups of the 80’s are back with a bang, they, nor their fans, will ever forget the contribution that Stuart made to the band but it seems that they can look forward with pride for what they have and will achieve in the future.
Ian D. Hall