STEVE ‘N’ SEAGULLS | LIVE REVIEW
The Globe, Cardiff, Wed 16 Nov
The gig was a sell-out. Fans were queuing down the street. It seems that country band Steve ‘n’ Seagulls have quite a following. And the Finnish five-piece have an impeccable taste in music. From Iron Maiden to Metallica to the Foo Fighters, whoever they play, they play well. And after each song the crowd didn’t just clap, they roared.
The ‘barnyard boys’ are renowned for their bluegrass versions of well-known hard rock and metal songs and their CDs make interesting listening – but there is always a difference between a studio recording and a live set. Some songs took to the live bluegrass treatment more than others – Gary Moore’s Celtic-feel Over The Hills And Far Away, Deep Purple’s Burn (with accordion) and, strangely, AC/DC’s Thunderstruck. Unfortunately, the grass had been trimmed and other numbers came across as nothing more than heavy rock. Not that this bothered the audience. Steve ‘n’ Seagulls could have sung the Yellow Pages and brought the house down.
Part of the band’s charm is their country look and their Wurzel-like humour – their latest CD has the title Brothers In Farms – but this humour did not translate to the stage. There’s no denying that Steve ‘n’ Seagulls can handle their instruments, and quieter moments allowed vocalist Herman to come into his own. But when the bluegrass novelty subsides they are just another covers band. I had expected a little more.
words LYNDA NASH