The Hamsters & The Wildhearts

Two of the best gigs of the year... no really... but for different reasons... The Hamsters are about to start their 2004 tour and we look forward to seeing them again in January. A Hamsters concert is a special electric blues rock occasion and unlike the Wildhearts they usually have no support... so it is very good value for money! It will be a 'regular' set and feature songs from the new album as well as the usual mix of ZZ Top and Hendrix material.

Here are some Wildhearts photos to click on and enjoy at a larger size. I may try to put up a video movie clip of the Wildhearts gig so come back soon.

Meanwhile, go to the Home Page (click above left) to download and see our wmv video movie clip of The Hamsters playing Hendrix live on tour 2003.

These are the first batch so I will try to get some of the other members of the band in due course. It all takes time and I have other things to do... other websites to look after. And it's all a waste of time because no-one lets me know whether they like this jollop or not.

Anyway to the gig itself. As with the first time I saw them the gig is good value with 3 bands. On this one of the warm-up gigs, we were rude enough to arrive too late to see much of the first band.. an all-girl outfit The Darlings, who looked quite good and like the next band, I can't remember the name! If anything they did not fit - too poppy. I liked that daft band from Aberdeen Psycho AGo Go they had on last time... crap songs but very funny to watch.

The second bunch were good... could have mistaken them for the Wildhearts what with the style of the music and the singer's haircut. Why are support bands so bashful about telling us who they are? This was especially worthwhile because they were only here for the night and another line up were scheduled for the rest of the tour. Amen were up for the full tour... shame because these guys were good. I would see them again.

They did not bother with any special intro's, just strolled on and launched into the latest hit single... Karma In North, then TV Tan... wham bam right between the eyes. Only then did the great Ginger stop for one of his popular in-between song chats. This was special he said because it was Easter Sunday and he thanked us for coming along even though there was some good stuff on the telly... like a Harry Secombe Show Special or something. What a wag... this is what distinguishes the WH, the banter. No 'ello 'ow u doin' or 'awrurdy2rawk' crapola... He is a funny guy and someone should make a boot just with his chat on it...

This went until we got to the encore part where he went on rather cynically about 'this is the part where we go off and pretend'... we were in for a treat though, the first ever time the new single 'So Into You' was played or so he said 'I like it better than the single' which he had plugged earlier... along with the programme. Then another new song... Top of the World. All great stuff but I like everyone would have preferred more of the old chestnuts. But then last year I recall hearing Vanilla Radio for the first time and not being as bowled over by it as I was this time....

All too soon it was over... till next time. So don't miss out your loyal MK Pitz fans next time you are on tour guys!

Set List:

Karma

TV Tan

Suckerpunch

Sick of Drugs

OCD

Vanilla Radio

Jones

Caffeine Bomb

People Go

My Baby is a HF

Caprice

29 x The Pain

So Into You

Top of the World

Love U Till I Don't

The Hamsters at the Pitz 2003

At last I have got around to putting up some of my photos of The Hamsters gig at the Milton Keynes Pitz a few months ago... We have seen this band three times now and will always go along when they come to town. This was a special gig because they were filming for a DVD. Hence the huge backdrop video screen... made a splendid gig even more exceptional... that says a lot for the Woughton Centre venue. Always a good crowd who appreciate entertaining bands.... and it doesn't cost a packet either.

Here we go with more to follow maybe even a snippet of video... click on each thumbnails to enlarge...

Slim shows off one of his custom guitar - inscribed with 'Burnin Vermin' - during the Hendrix part of the set.

A close up a Slim's handiwork during an interlude of slide guitar... nice!

The whole band - how come Tres Hombres (Three Geezers) from Southend make such a fine racket...?

During the latter stages of the gig the handsome bass guitarist Zsa Zsa points out Slim's machine head... or is he pointing out exit stage right?

In case you didn't know the Hamsters are really three bands in one. They are firstly a classy original-material Southern Blues Rock band - 'southern' as in hailing from Southend (home to such other class acts as Dr Feelgood), second they are a ZZ Top tribute band and finally, a Hendrix tribute. Genuine affection for their music, their roots, their audience of die-hard supporters means they are nevertheless unique. What I also like about them is their refusal to compromise about doing their own thing. They are not and never will be a 'hip' band. Though they deserve bigger fame and glory they do well enough.

What also endears them to me and many others is their sense of humour. Well, what would you expect naming themselves The Hamsters... not very macho is it. But you can only get away with it if you are tight and talented.

The usual format of the gig in contrast to some others such as The WH is that they do two sets with a 'refreshment break'. In each they play a mix of tributes and originals - in that night is was some of the fine material off their 'They Live By Night' CD as recorded live in 2002.