Live in 2023: Franck Carducci & The Fantastic Squad - Seaside Social & Labour Club, Sandfields, Port Talbot on Wednesday 16th August 2023

 

I'll start off by saying that this Review won't follow my usual template.

Why?

Because I forgot to write down the setlist. Yes, I do physically try and write down the setlist for each gig I review in a pad - I'm old school like that. But One song in to the main event and I got so carried up in the magic I forgot to write down the songs that were played.

So, I will include the setlist from the next gig in Southampton. The majority of the songs were identical I have been informed since.

Just to say Franck and I  have history for this gig!! The first time I've got to see Franck and the Squad.

I was due to see him twice over the last 3 years but on each time I've had Covid. Talk about bloody annoying.  But here we are, third time lucky and the night has finally arrived.

I've never seen a gig here in the Social Club despite having spent considerable time here in Sandfields where my wife comes from. My bad really. The stage is upstairs and is perfect for what we are about to receive, with it's built up front edge leading down to the dance floor which allows the artists to come down into the dance floor whilst still being somewhat elevated.

A decent crowd has arrived there tonight, maybe enticed by local hero Brian Karrot who is providing the support slot with his band. 

The Sun King

Don't Breathe It In

After a short break Franck and The Fantastic Squad take to the stage. Arriving on the stage to a tape containing snippets of Gabriel, Van Halen and Supertramp, it gives you a taste of the influences which have made a stamp on Franck's music.

For gig goers of a certain vintage, of which I am definitely one, I can remember the shows of Alice Cooper, Kiss, Alex Harvey, Queen etc. The days of a good old fashioned SHOW!! An Event!! A Larger Than Life Experience.  And Franck & The Squad brought back the Good Old Days tonight. By the bucketload.

Now, if you had to create a Rock band back in the 70s, what would be your template?

Charismatic Lead Singer &  Bass Player - Tick  

   Drummer who can actually sing too - Tick

Solid and Visually attractive Keyboard player - Tick

Visually Magnetic Multi Instrumentalist who could also sing lead Vocals - Tick

Lead Guitar Rock God - Tick

Achilles

Franck and the Fantastic Squad tick every box. But, I hear you cry, this isn't the 70s!!!

My answer to that would be - The Template Still Works.  Like the template for a Fender Stratocaster still works. You can add your tweaks and changes but the design still works. Even in a contemporary setting with contemporary sounds.

So we have Franck Carducci - Lead Vocals, Bass & Acoustic Guitar

Lea Fernandez - Drums & Vocals

Cedric Selzer - Keyboards & Vocals

Mary Reynaud - Lead & Backing Vocals, Guitar, Tambourine, Tuned Percussion & Theremin

Barth Sky - Lead Guitar & Vocals

Artificial Paradises

At the moment, Franck has three studio albums

Oddity (2011)  Torn Apart (2015)  The Answer (2019)

and two live albums

Tearing The Tour Apart 92015)  The Answer Live (2023)

and an acoustic album with Mary entitled Naked (2023)

I have seen some people call this show a Rock n Roll Circus - I find this slightly derogatory as it's a cohesive show, not a collection of different acts. Plus, I can't abide the Circus!!

The show is well paced. It kicks off with a rocker in Slave To Rock n Roll and from there ebbs and flows in darkness, light and dynamism for almost 2 hours.

Slave to Rock n Roll

There are, of course, built in set pieces which allow all of the members of the band to shine, especially Mary Reynaud who is just luminescent throughout the whole performance.

Franck even goes solo for one song, Sweet Cassandra, which is a good indication of one of my Albums of 2023 - Naked - his acoustic album with Mary Reynaud which is an absolute joy.

S & M

The live shows are drawn from the three albums. With songs ranging from short and sharp to lengthy epics there really is something for everyone on a Franck album if you're into your Classic Rock

As I said earlier, I got so carried away in the show I forgot to take down the setlist - so this is from their gig the following night in Southampton

Musically, the band were on superb form and the award for making the most of his time in the spotlight went to Barth Sky as he displayed his skills throughout every song and relished his time soloing - often down near the crowd and lapped up the applause like a great Rock God should.

A Brief Tale Of Time

The Angel

There are two fabulous show stopping songs in which Mary Reynaud shines like the star she is. Firstly we have the as yet unrecorded Angel, not only a showcase for Mary's vocal ability but also figuratively and literally a chance to spread her wings and let her voice soar to the heavens. A truly awesome moment.

If anybody was going to steal the show from Franck tonight it was Mary Reynaud.

Visually, she is so Magnetic. Beautiful Gallic looks help but with her costume changes, theatricality and superb voice and musicianship, you just couldn't take your eyes off her. And the show was structured to give her ample time for her costume changes and to weave her spell amongst the audience.

She also took advantage on several occasions to get down and closer to the audience.

The second Show Stopping Moment comes in the shape of the epic Alice's Eerie Dream which sees Mary take on the character of Alice. I'll say no more or I'll spoil the surprise in store. Suffice to say it's pretty unforgettable.

Alice's Eerie Dream

The show tonight just flew at the speed of light and soon we were down to the final song as Franck and the band quit the stage to come down into the audience and play an acapella version of  The Road To Nowhere.

I doubt if Port Talbot had seen anything like Franck and the Squad before but they are coming back in 2024. On St David's Day no less. And yes, Franck understands the importance of the date in Wales. His reply to me when I asked him about it was PARTY PARTY!! You Bet, Franck!!

Twitter - @FranckCarducci

click for the Official Franck Carducci Website

Live in 2023: An Extraordinary Life - Celebrating the Music of John Wetton - Part 2

 

Time for Part 2

With the audience now refreshed and ready to go, it kicked off with a video of Chris Braide from the Downes Braide Association and a video of them singing the ASIA classic, The Smile Has Left Your Eyes. We were now dealing with John Wettton music that I love!

The Smile Has Left Your Eyes

Then, an even bigger surprise as John's time with Roxy Music was celebrated with some members of The Orchestra and 4 guest musicians - from Squeeze, Chris Difford and from Roxy Music/Bryan Ferry guitarist Phil Manzanera, Bassist Supreme Guy Pratt and on drums for the first time in about 20 years the Ex Yes/Genesis/King Crimson drummer - Dr Bill Bruford!!!

They played a spirited version of Let's Stick Together and then were gone!! I would loved to have heard more from these guys but it wasn't to be.

Let's Stick Together

They also came up with the line of the night - 'this is the only song tonight you'll hear in 4/4' 

Now we were in for the the ASIA part of the evening and John as a songwriter - most often with Geoff Downes. You had to be back there in '82 to really appreciate the impact of ASIA on the music world. Remember, different times then. Information was hard to come by. You had to wait for music papers such as Melody Maker or Sounds to get any information at all. Or the BBC Saturday Rock Show with Alan Freeman then Tommy Vance. 

Drama had seen new wind put into the YES sails with the arrival of Buggles Trevor Horn & Geoff Downes but nobody expected ASIA. I was interested in what John was going to do after the demise of UK and used to look for any info I could get. Soon, the word started coming out of a Supergroup with members of ELP, YES & King Crimson. And finally ASIA was revealed. They signed to Geffen Records and to say they were successful was the understatement of 1982. The album flew! Sold by the lorryload and became one of the biggest albums in the USA for 1982. It even had hit singles. It was certainly John's most successful project and he was magnificent as front man with that fabulous voice, movie star looks and writing songs to die for.!

So, back to the gig - The Rock Academy Orchestra came back to the stage and gave excellent performances of ASIA songs Ride Easy & Voice Of America.

Ride Easy

VOICE OF AMERICA

I hear a huge rumble and huge applause as Geoff Downes came onto the stage accompanied by Jay Schellen and Billy Sherwood from YES, Harry Whitley, Martin Orford on Flute John Mitchell and Renaissance lead vocalist Annie Haslam and gave a stunning performance of the final song from the first ICON album (2005) (John's duo project with Geoff Downes) In The End which has Annie duetting with John Wetton on the recorded version- not a dry eye in the house - well, my house at least.

IN THE END

RUBICON

With Annie leaving the stage it was time for the second Icon song of the night, from the second album we were treated to Rubicon.

We now had the 'new' ASIA with Geoff on Keys, John Mitchell on Guitar, Billy on Bass, Jay on Drums and Harry Whitley on Lead Vocals and Keys. And as Jerry said at the end of the set, Yes, I'd pay good money to see that line up on the road.

They kicked off with 

Only Time Will Tell. 

To hear these classic ASIA songs again live sent shivers down my spine and the band played as if they'd been playing together for years. Harry fitted in just perfectly.

When you go back and listen to those UK, ICON & ASIA albums you realise what a magnificent voice John Wetton had - he really was at his best with ASIA. He finally found his home I think after years of musically wandering.

MY OWN TIME

Time for more tears in the Macwood Fleet house, Trading Boundaries and all around the world via the live stream as the band played the ASIA song, which has now become John's own Epitaph - An Extraordinary Life.

AN EXTRAORDINARY LIFE

With one song from this set to go from the band, they choose to rock it out and launch into Sole Survivor from the first ASIA album.

Jerry then come back onto the stage to tell us that there are 2 songs yet to be played with are inextricably linked to John Wetton.

The Rock Academy guys then come on accompanied by David Cross, Mel Collins, David Kilminster and current King Crimson guitarist Jakko Jakszyk for an epic performance of Starless

STARLESS

An in  the end - there can be only one!!

The 'new ASIA; boys came back and gave it the full treatment.

Yes, it was time for The Heat Of The Moment

THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT

And, that was it!! John had been truly celebrated tonight, the great and the good showed up to pay their respects and the World wide audience was given a night they'll never forget. They really couldn't have done any better if they'd thrown millions at it. Tonight turned out to be the perfect time and the perfect place.

The winner in the end was Music.

click for the JOHN WETTON LEGACY website

click here to donate to Macmillan

click here to see Part One of the review