Original Chevy are on fire at Leamington reunion gig

This was the third reunion show in recent years by Leamington rock legends Chevy - but the first with the original line up that recorded the bands 1980 album The Taker.

Support was provided by The Lamps, a two-piece acoustic version of the larger plugged in band The Electric Lamps. Their impressive set of blues, country and rock and roll covers included I Hear You Knocking, Folsom City Blues and a unique interpretation of Voodoo Child. A Hayseed Dixie style Walk This Way ended a really good set full of tight vocal harmonies and acoustic guitar interplay.

Chevy took the stage to a heroes reception and once again rolled (and rocked!) away the years, playing the whole of The Taker album and other Chevy classics. Two of the things that stand out with this band are the excellent four-way vocal harmonies and the (at times Thin Lizzy style) twin lead guitar attack - both of which were on fine form at this show.

Individually, the band also have strength throughout. Martin Cure on lead vocals is a real rock star, posturing and working the audience to perfection and that voice still really rocks. Bob Poole, surely one of the smartest looking bass players around these days, supplies the solid groove and back beat along with Andy (Chas) Chaplin on the sticks, while the fab two of Steve Walwyn and Paul Shanahan share the fabulous rhythm and lead guitar work.

The Chevy set stormed into life with powerful album opener and title track The Taker, followed by the oh-so-catchy You Got Me Running. Elsewhere the pace really built for a storming Rock City - and introduced as “two songs about cars”, a belting Fast Car and the band’s anthem Chevy.

A real highlight was fan favourite and also the band’s epic Skybird, a soaring (sorry!) number with spectacular axe work. Another treat at this show was the one-album track the band had not played on their last two reunion shows, Turn On the Light. For The Wind Of Change, vocalist Martin left the stage and, backed up by Bob and Andy, it was guitar duel time for Steve and Paul.

A gem of a gig - band on fire, sound spot on, great atmosphere and the fun the band were having was obvious. I hope very much this is not the last time they tread the boards.

Andrew Lock