Glam

• History of Glam
  • History of Glam 2
• Pantheon of Glam
  • Alice Cooper
  • Poison
  • Hanoi Rocks
  • Mötley Crüe
  • Guns N'Roses
  • Dogs D'Amour
  • Quireboys
• Live Reviews
• Glam Quiz
• Dress CC
• Meat Loaf

Hanoi Rocks + Soho Dolls

Glasgow Cathouse and Newcastle Carling Academy, 26th and 28th February 2008

'We're a great f*cking band!' yells a sweaty, emaciated Mike Monroe from the risibly tiny stage of the Glasgow Cathouse.

He doesn't need to tell us, the adoring crowd of wizened glam casualties, awestruck babyglams and assorted members of local bands, gathered together to witness the ultimate '80s glam legends in action. Except of course that this is exactly the tired image the new, reborn Hanoi Rocks are eager to dispel, plugging their new album, Street Poetry, relentlessly and weighting the set heavily towards the three post-noughties releases.

As predicted, 'This One's For Rock'n'Roll' and the rebellious 'Teenage Revolution' (bit late for most of us, but I'll let that one go) sound great live, fantastic uplifting, singalong anthems that really get the crowd going, and hearing the stand out track from Twelve Shots on the Rocks, 'A Day Late, A Dollar Short' segue into the gorgeous guitar solo from 'Million Miles Away' ('This one's for Razzle,' Mike proclaims) brings a lump to the throat. But these aren't the songs I've waited over half my life to hear: it's 'Back To Mystery City', 'Malibu Beach', Oriental Beat', 'High School', 'Tragedy', 'Boulevard of Broken Dreams' and 'Don't You Ever Leave Me' I really want, and thankfully the band deliver blistering versions that stand as a glorious reminder of why Hanoi Rocks are the greatest band that never were.

The sound is better at Newcastle and the stage a lot bigger. This is good news for support act Soho Dolls as well. This slick retro/electro outfit really blossom in the Toon, treating us to a toe-tapping, double-bass-slapping synthesis of sexy sounds which mix the sass of Goldfrapp with the pounding beats of Depeche Mode and the style of the Mighty Boosh (think 'Future Sailors').

The bigger stage is also good news for Mike and, in particular, for the other members of the band, who risk decapitation every time their erratic frontman wields his mic stand on the fun size Cathouse platform. Flailing his skinny arms and legs, Mike truly is the clumsiest man in rock, constantly entangled in his mic wire, dropping his tambourine and juggling harmonicas. With his ping pong ball eyes bulging and wide mouth split in an infections grin, he's like a gorgeous, glittering, rubbery muppet – and his hairstyle hasn't changed since 1983. No wonder he's my hero…

In contrast, the surly, sultry, supercool presence that is Andy McCoy is entirely in control, ripping out the famous lixx seemingly effortlessly, hat pulled low over his trainwreck of a face like a glam metal Keith Richards.

While Glasgow's encore takes in the raunchy 'Taxi Driver', in Newcastle we get the upbeat, grinding 'Motorvatin', both gigs climaxing with a triumphant 'Up Around the Bend'. And then it's all over – again. But given that, back in the mists of time when I first discovered Hanoi Rocks (buying Two Steps From the Move at a car boot sale, fact fans) I never in a million years dreamed that I'd ever get to see them live, after two gigs in one week, I can hardly complain.

With three new albums under their glittery, studded belts, it looks as if the raggedy bunch of Finnish musicians who carried the sleazy, self-destructive and unashamedly entertaining standard of the New York Dolls into the 1980s is set to march on into the 21st century for a good while yet.

Your comments