Love with Johnny Echols
Guest review by Stuart Silkstone.
How to describe Love? Variously labelled as ‘psychedelic rock’, ‘acid rock’, ‘psychedelic pop’ or ‘folk rock’ - all could apply to this unique band who shouldn’t be categorised, though it goes some way to explain why they were not a big commercial hit in their first incarnation between 1966 and 1969.
Now starting a UK tour, ‘Featuring Johnny Echols’ is a nod to the only original member of this talented, generation-spanning 5-piece. At 78 years old, it’s great to see guitarist Echols still able to showcase considerable ability - as well as a little bit of magic on the maracas and lead vocal on ‘Signed D.C.’
Hitting The Apex in Bury St Edmunds for the first of their 19 performance dates, we can forgive the line-up of four guitars and drums being a little loose on the opening two songs as they then rapidly improved for the rest of the set.
Opening with the Bacharach & David cover of ‘My Little Red Book’, taken from their eponymous 1966 debut album, this heralded a good representation of all their music from this period. However, with Forever Changes regarded as their masterpiece, tracks from this album were rightly to the fore. Standouts were ‘The Daily Planet’, ‘You Set The Scene’ and, top of the tree, ‘Live and Let Live’ - as well as (arguably!) the greatest song title ever: ‘Maybe the People Would be the Times or Between Clark and Hilldale’.
Cited as an influence on many artists, including Rolling Stones (who covered ‘She Comes in Colors’), Robert Plant, and Stone Roses, perhaps their most recognised song by modern audiences would be ‘Alone Again Or’, covered as it was by The Damned in the 1980s. Live, this song highlighted the ingenuity of the band with the horns on the original recording brilliantly recreated on lead guitar by, Mike Randle.
The harmony between all five on ‘Maybe the People Would be the Times…’ was also particularly impressive, and ‘Orange Skies’ - from the second album, ‘Da Capo’ - was certainly a crowd favourite, with a nod to original band member Bryan Maclean who passed away in the 1970’s. Enigmatic front man Arthur Lee, who passed away in 2006, also earned a fond mention from excellent frontman, Rusty Squeezebox (probably not his real name).
Yes, I’m a fan, but try to catch them on this tour. Their music continues to sound fresh and unconfined.
Special mention to the Apex who are not averse to putting on ‘curve ball’ acts and their staff were, as always, excellent. And finally, well done to the audience. On the night when England played their semi-final against Netherlands, there was a very good turnout - testament to the enduring love of Love.
Love with Johnny Echols was playing at The Apex in Bury St Edmunds.
If you missed the show, you can also catch them at Colchester Arts Centre on July 21.
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