Ricky Warwick - Brudenell Social Club, Leeds - July 21 2013 (Live Review)

There’s something about rock 'n' roll being stripped back to a singer and acoustic guitar that just works. Leeds' Brudenell Social Club showcased some of Britain’s best when Ricky Warwick (the Almighty, Thin Lizzy, Black Star Riders) and Terrorvision duo Tony Wright and Milton Evans stopped by.

For the Terrorvision pair a gig in Leeds is not far off being home turf, and they were suitably well supported. Wright took centre stage, cajoling the crowd and oozing the enthusiasm of a seasoned performer. Before long he had the audience at his feet singing with him on Alice, What’s the Matter? and My House. Evans alternated between guitar and keyboards, as well as adding some backing vocals, and they seemed very much at home on the Brudenell stage, constantly joking and playing to the crowd. 

If Terrorvision had the local angle covered, Warwick brought over 20 years' experience as one of Britain’s best-loved frontmen. Speaking to Stereoboard in May, he promised an evening of music and story telling, but not “sit down and feel my pain singer-songwriter crap”.

He duly delivered, opening with tracks from each of his major projects. Thin Lizzy’s Jailbreak was eased in beside covers and tracks from the Almighty, Black Star Riders and Warwick’s solo albums to keep fans old and new satisfied.

The Almighty's Wild and Wonderful, Jesus Loves You But I Don’t and Free ‘n’ Easy delivered as much punch with Warwick battering away on his acoustic guitar as they did in their original formats.

Warwick's habit of treating the audience to unrepeatable rock 'n' roll stories before covers of Iron Maiden’s Running Free and Motorhead’s Ace of Spades established a strong connection with the audience, although it was worrying how many long haired, denim-clad rockers sang along with an inimitable version of Britney Spears’ Oops I Did It Again.

Warwick included two odes to his hometown in the form of Belfast Confetti and The Arms of Belfast Town, but the biggest cheers were reserved for new material from Black Star Riders and Thin Lizzy’s The Boys Are Back In Town, for which the iconic lead riff was replaced by the audience singing along in the absence of a second guitar. Finishing with Bruce Springsteen’s Born To Run, Warwick left the Leeds crowd chanting for more, but luckily it won’t be long before he’s back in town touring the launch of ‘All Hell Breaks Loose’ with Black Star Riders.

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