Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *
Some journeys are never meant to end; there is always time for a new chapter, even in the most long and incredible of stories there is always time for one more nugget of information to be told and savoured. Within the circles of rock, Big Country’s story could have ended when much respected former vocalist Stuart Adamson sadly passed on as the new century began. No one would have blamed anybody as Stuart was a colossus, a man whose presence can still be keenly felt by many as they listen to his voice through the back catalogue.
A couple of years ago Mike Peters of The Alarm, a dear friend of Stuart’s, joined guitarist Bruce Watson, drummer Mark Brzezicki and Tony Butler and the group toured as one again, the result was magical. Roll on a couple of years and Big Country has released a superb new album, very much in keeping with the way Stuart saw the band, and decided to tour again. Whilst Stuart can never be replaced in the eyes of the people who follow the group, this is most certainly not Stuart being substituted, the album, The Journey and certainly the incredible night at the 02 Academy in Liverpool was more of a commemoration, a coming together of the much loved past and the bright new future.
From the start of the gig, the music filled the room and had the audience bouncing joyfully. The longer the set went on, the sweatier, more incredible the reaction of the crowd to the new tracks and the sincere homage paid to the past. The new album took centre stage and tracks as sublime as In A Broken Promised Land, Angels and Promises, a fantastic version of Hurt and Another Country were well received and enjoyed.
The night as well as the album was dedicated to the memory of a fallen comrade and in songs such as Look Away, Look Away, Fields of Fire and the climax to the night In A Big Country were greeted heroically and given due deference by all.
The cheerful demeanour and incredible work ethic Mike Peters brings to the stage, whether as part of The Alarm or the nights where he brings his musical knowledge to the forefront of Big Country, is infectious. The playful father/son teasing between legendary Bruce Watson and his lad Jamie is heartening; Mark Brzezicki has rarely looked as content aside from his time in From The Jam and bass player extraordinaire Derek Forbes appeared to be like a man who found out there was a level lurking above cloud nine and stepped onto it with pleasure. No doubt the much missed Stuart Adamson would have been pleased to see the music played so well but he would have revelled in the dedication to him and seeing his old friend Mike enjoy being on stage with Mark and Bruce, swapping honest bountiful smiles and playing some kiss-arse rock.
Big Country always knew how to make a crowd enjoy themselves, to come away smiling from a gig knowing that what they had seen was real and not some stage illusion and whilst a fallen friend was in everybody’s thoughts, the audience left the O2 Academy knowing that what they had seen was pure, decent, respectful and above all an excellent night out.
Ian D. Hall