Big Country - The Kings of Emotion

Most people that know me will know of my love for music. I first got into to Big Country midway through the euphoria of their debut album, The Crossing, Quite fitting then that almost 30 years later I saw them perform this album in its entirety at the Olympia in Dublin last Friday.

I've followed this band for many years, made many friends with their loyal fans and spent numerous nights in Dunfermline, Scotland, the birthplace of Big Country.

Sadly, I missed Big Country in Birmingham this year because of other commitments but being the magnetic force that they are I was compelled to see them perform... and what a performance!

From the opening baseline of Angle Park, a song about a former mental institution in Dunfermline, to the finishing encores of Smokey Robinson's Tracks of my Tears, Neil Young's Rockin' in the Free World and a reprisal of In a Big Country, they had me beaming from ear to ear.

In between they performed the songs from The Crossing and those B-Sides I, as a fan, have been yearning to hear performed live. Balcony and The Crossing were a trip down memory lane, a lane where 12" vinyls were the only way to get the added bonus tracks of ones favourite band.

Other favourites plucked from the vast Big Country catalogue included East of Eden, Look Away, Wonderland, Another Country and the superb Restless Natives.

The band, now fronted by Mike Peters [The Alarm] and duel guitar turnaround of father and son Bruce and Jamie Watson, haven't lost what made them. Their live performances with the dear departed Stuart Adamson were part of my eighties, nineties and noughties upbringing. 2012 and they are still belting out seriously good rock n' roll music and filling venues, such as the Olympia with their electric, nae eclectic, style.

A special shout-out to Jamie Watson, he's had to fill his father's boots on the rhythm section, he's done so with great ease. He is now part of the Big Country furniture and I have nothing but admiration for him.

Even Irish rockers U2 paid homage, leaving the band a note that said "Welcome to Dublin. From the U2'ers" and a crate of Champagne in their dressing room.

If you think Big Country were a one album wonder, you are in a minority - just ask the sellout crowd in Dublin.

Thoroughly enjoyable night. I just hope they continue to flourish and prosper.

Bob Fiddaman

Here's Big Country performing The Crossing.

Fid


ORDER THE PAPERBACK 'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman US and CANADA HERE OR UK HERE


AUSTRALIAN ORDERS HERE

Big Country - Busting A Nut In Birmingham

There have been many highlights that span the career of Celtic rockers Big Country, supporting the Rolling Stones, playing Knebworth Park, plying their trade to thousands of Russians in Moscow.

Last night saw the rejuvenated combo, comprising of Mike Peters [Vocals and guitar], Bruce Watson [Guitar], Jamie Watson [Guitar], Tony Butler [Bass] and Mark Brzezicki [Drums], perform to a packed audience at the O2 Academy in my hometown, Birmingham.

As a 46 year old I thought the days of sweating at concerts had long passed me by, in fact I was contemplating hanging at the back of the crowd as my days of bopping [frenzied pogoing] were last seen at Milton Keynes Bowl for an AC/DC gig.

Big Country have always given you value for money, be it with their vast catalogue or their concerts.

Last night they proved that you are never too old to rock. From the opening number of "1000 Stars", frontman, Peters, had the crowd eating from the palm of his hand. Bruce Watson took over the role of lead guitar, a role vacated by the untimely death in 2001 of former frontman Stuart Adamson.

Watson, along with his son Jamie, steered the ship throughout the set, a ship that was rocked from side to side by the 2,000 strong crowd.

Classics such as "Harvest Home", "Fields of Fire", "In A Big Country", "Wonderland" and the 'sing-a-long' "Chance" were met with great appreciation. The anthemic "Porrohman" saw Mike Peters join the crowd before being lifted back to the relative safety of the stage.

As a Brummie, I always like to think that Birmingham is the heart of rock. Many bands like the Birmingham audiences as they just let their hair down and go for it. Last night Birmingham did Big Country proud...Big Country did themselves proud.

A 5 star ball-busting performance and one that will, hopefully, stay in the memory for many years to come. I only wish I could see more of them.

Big Country play Liverpool O2 Academy tonight and will be back touring again in April.

Don't miss them!

Fan footage from last night's gig in Birmingham:




Fid

ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING

BIG COUNTRY - RESTLESS NATIVES IN BRUM

My excitement is at fever pitch as I prepare to set off to tonight's Big Country gig at the O2 Academy in Birmingham.

I've liked this band for many years, travelled far and wide to see them perform, met many great friends along the way.

Many readers of this blog will think Bob Fiddaman has turned into some sort of line-dancing freak. Not yet.

Big Country are, and always have been, a straight down the middle rock band, who pull out all the stops when performing live. I have sweated with them all back in the 80's and 90's, a non-stop sea of heads [and bodies] jumping up and down to the raucous and thumping guitar sounds, solid drums and punching bass.

Sadly, lead vocalist, Stuart Adamson, passed away in 2001 and, to many, Big Country did too.

A 25 year anniversary mini-tour in 2007 saw remaining members Bruce Watson, Tony Butler and Mark Brzezicki hit the stage again to whet the appetites of the masses. It was the benchmark of what we have today in 2011.

Mike Peters, frontman for Welsh rockers, The Alarm, takes up the vocals whilst the fruit of Bruce Watson's loins, Jamie Watson, adds and extra guitar to the unique sound that is Big Country.

If you have never caught Big Country in live performance then try and catch them, you won't be disappointed.

Forget dieting after overindulging in Christmas fayre. Grab a ticket, head to the front of the stage and I guarantee you will lose many pounds through jumping up and down and rockin' out.

Big Country hit the Birmingham O2 Academy stage later tonight.

Fid

ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING

Im Memory of Stuart Adamson

Image: multinet.no


For the late William Stuart Adamson. You'll always be where the heart is. Cheers Big Man

8 years gone but still very much in the hearts of the adoring fans of Big Country.



BIG MAN

Such pleasure you gave me with your prose
Now you have been flung just akin to the rose.
The hills seem so distant, the clouds have departed
Into the valleys of the broken hearted.


With your back against the wall all you saw was pain
Not even the Big Man could find strength to abstain.
The perils of booze was clear, the despair became threefold
Now all that’s left is memoirs of a chronicle left untold.


It must have been so lonesome, you must have felt so sad,
Trying to evaluate the good from the bad.
The choice was not yours, which I can recognize
So short your years devoid of compromise.


The angels are singing, home came their own
Upon the hills with your name cast in stone.
Thanks for all you gave me in that all you knew
But most of all Big Man thanks for being you



© BOB FIDDAMAN



ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING