Gig review: Sweet and Slade, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall

By MALCOLM JACK
Published on 13/12/2012 02:25

WITH less than a third of the musicians who performed at this titans of 70s glam rock dual-headliner being original members of their respective bands’ classic line-ups, authenticity wasn’t exactly at a premium.

Sweet and Slade

Glasgow Royal Concert Hall

***

But that would be to miss the point of a show giving unfussy fans of a certain age excuse to sing along to abundant hits of their youth.

With their spangly matching tops, signature high vocals and long hair not exactly becoming of men of their vintage, The Sweet presented some tough gender calls from a distance. This incarnation, one of two currently active, is that led by guitarist Andy Scott.

He paid tribute to ex-bandmates Brian Connolly and Mick Tucker, but gave the pretence of not looking back, adding: “This is The Sweet 2012, and things do have a habit of moving forward.” A rumbling Block Buster! and the Wayne’s World-associated Ballroom Blitz were standouts.

Slade mustered twice as many original members – this being the model toured by flamboyant guitarist Dave Hill and drummer Don Powell since 1993. Mal McNulty’s raspy voice was more Brian Johnson than Noddy Holder, but carried the chorus-heavy canon well enough.

Fun-sized guitarist Hill remains a bundle of energy at 66: he hopped and high-kicked his way – all the more impressive in PVC trousers – through iconic numbers aplenty from Coz I Luv You to Cum On Feel The Noiz.

It being that time of year, this could only end one way: Santa hats on and arms slung around companions’ shoulders for Merry Xmas Everybody.