Pacific Road Arts Centre, Birkenhead.
17/5/2011
Glenn Hughes has been a very busy man in recent years, forming the hard rock supergroup Black Country Communion last year, with their 2nd album being released next month somehow the legendary vocalist still finds the time to do a UK solo tour. Performing in front of a half-full venue here in the Wirral, Hughes wastes no time pleasing the crowd as he opens the 14 songset with ‘Muscle and Blood’ from 1982′s Hughes/Thrall album, as the set progresses Hughes and his watertight backing band play songs that spans over 40 remarkable years covering songs from his time in Deep Purple and Trapeze as well as his own solo work.
Its a diverse set as far as the genre is concerned, what Hughes plays tonight ranges from Blues-rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal,and even Progressive Rock as shown in ‘You Got Soul’, it is where Hughes showcases his incredible vocal range almost reminiscent of Rush’s Geddy Lee in the 70′s. ‘Keepin’ Time’ sees Hughes dedicating the song to the late, great Gary Moore. There is also timefor a rather impressive drum solo which turns into a drum and bass solo as Hughes joins in towards the end.
As the set draws to a close theres still time for Hughes and his band to perform a 2-song encore which compromises of ‘Addiction’and the impressive Deep Purple song ‘Burn’. If tonight is anything to go by, theres no reason why you shouldn’t see Black CountryCommunion when they tour the UK in July, particularly when Hughes has delivered an excellent set. This is one performance that many people will reflect on for a long while.
Check out more on Glenn Hughes on the Laney Website - http://www.laney.co.uk/news/?p=1225
Words by Graeme Williams and images by “the Don”
