CONCERTS

 

In a time where so few British groups reach Poland (this year however is exceptionally ‘fat’ with Mungo Jerry and the Rubettes performing) you can add the British group Slade who toured in the summer. The Torwar hall (not the ideal venue for this sort of event) in Warsaw hosted two concerts by the group on the 4th and 5th of August.

There isn’t much that can be written about the music that Slade served up, they started and finished with a mix of standard rock and roll boogie songs. In between they treated the audience for their greatest hits such as "Gudbuy T 'Jane” and "Cum on Feel the Noize"

Anyone who knew of Slade and their recordings beforehand would have felt satisfied as the group carefully recreated their album sound.

Slade’s uncomplicated productions were given a new, more attractive dimension by the incredibly powerful amplification the 22,000 watt sound system provided which was excellent at this high volume. Slade’s show is a spectacle of colourful spotlights, strobes, pyrotechnic effects and of course the musicians themselves – colourfully dressed all integral to and a part of a Slade concert.

Apart from the pseudo improvisation of Jim Lea’s violin solo spot there were actually no musical surprises, but there was the constant movement of the band members on stage. The shaved "bald" guitarist Dave Hill repeatedly climbed the wall of loudspeakers to play his simple solos while standing aloft.

Long-haired singer and guitarist Noddy Holder paced back and forth across the walkway into the crowd. easily establishing contact with the Warsaw audience who happily allowed themselves to join the fun and sing along with a few hits together with Holder.

I personally would prefer to hear a concert of performers with greater artistic ambitions. However, on the other hand, the Slade show - quite characteristic of the British stage - was definitely worth seeing and hearing.

 

Wiesław Królikowski ~ Jazz Monthly