Enuff Z'Nuff - Last Great Dreamers

For the second time in little over six months, these two bands joined forces for some UK dates. However, there were some notable lineup changes for both bands.

Last Great Dreamers temporarily have a Lost Great Dreamer - vocalist/guitarist Marc Valentine - and are undertaking these dates as a three piece. Great credit to them that Valentine’s unavailability didn’t result in them pulling out at late notice, with guitarist Slyder admirably taking over the lead vocal duties. So tonight’s performance had a different dynamic, perhaps a bit punkier at times, with some seldom played songs included in the set.

For anyone unfamiliar with the band, I guess you’d maybe describe them as power pop, but with a very British sound. Their set was full of energy and variety, with highlights (to these ears) being uptempo opener ‘Crash Landing In Teenage Heaven’, ‘Turn It Up’ driven by some hard hitting drums and chanted backing vocals from Tim and Rik, the instantly singalongable (is that a word) ‘Far From Home’, ‘Glitterball Apocalypse’, ‘I Think I Like It’ and rocker ‘Primitive Man’. They wrap up the set with ‘Oblivion Kids’.

Marc will return after this round of gigs, so take the opportunity to see this alternative version of the band while you can and hear some tracks that rarely feature in their set lists.

Enuff Z’Nuff also have a different lineup tonight after the recent departure of guitarist Tony Fennell. In comes Alex Kane who was in the band in the very early, pre-debut album, days. And he’s a great addition - full of energy, engages well with the audience and his playing and vocals fit in perfectly.

They open up with ‘Metalheart’ quickly followed by ‘Kiss The Clown’ and ‘Heaven or Hell’ It’s hard not to be caught up by the enthusiasm of Alex and drummer Daniel Hill, who’s normally smiling like a Cheshire cat at the back. Bannermans has a low brick ceiling and I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who feared for Alex’s head as he bounced around the stage, often missing the ceiling by millimetres!

‘Baby Loves You’, notably absent last time around, typifies what’s great about Enuff Z’Nuff - big catchy singalong choruses with great melodies. ‘Diamond Boy’ picks up the pace before Chip slows things down again by introducing the grinding ‘In The Grove’ which features some solid drumming from Daniel and great guitar work by Tory Stoffregen. This leads into a short guitar solo, before Chip takes the solo over, also on Tory’s guitar from behind him - a bit of showmanship.

Bowie’s ‘Jean Genie’ is played fairly true to the original before things slow again for ‘Wheels’, another tune with a big chorus and singalong backing vocals. Two more from their last album next, ‘Where Did You Go’ and ‘We’re All The Same’ - one of tonight’s highlights.

The band jam for a few minutes, with both guitarists taking solos, then they’re joined on stage by the guys from Last Great Dreamers to provide backing vocal support on Chip’s “smash hit” ballad ‘Fly High Michelle’.

‘New Thing’, surely one of the very best pop rock tunes of the 80s, has pretty much everyone in room singing along, with Tory’s guitar squealing in all the right places. The guys rounded the night off with another cracker, ‘The World Is A Gutter’.

The band plan to record a new album next year, so hopefully we’ll see some UK dates to promote it.

LH