VAIN

THE WHISKY A GO-GO

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA

Friday 1st May 2015

VAIN BLOW AWAY THE AUDIENCE AT THE WHISKEY IN A RARE VISIT TO ONE OF ROCKS ICONIC VENUES..

SETLIST - (apologies for any omissions we were enjoying the show too much) SECRETS | LOVE DRUG | ICY | GREENER | DOWN FOR THE THIRD TIME | 1000 DEGREES | WORSHIP YOU | NO RESPECT | SMOKE AND SHADOWS | WHO'S WATCHING YOU | XXX | BEAT THE BULLET

It has long been my opinion that one of the greatest records of the late eighties Rock scene was the stunning, steamy sleaze rock of Vain’s debut ‘No Respect’ and if you play that album these days – like we have of course been doing all week in the lead up to this show, it still stands up remarkably well. It’s not you standard Sunset strip rock – there’s more attitude, more sex and more smoke and shadows…  

If you dig deeper in the catalogue – it’s almost as good as that first bite, though sadly it’s a catalogue that could have been much bigger with the right breaks and the right label... still all that said and done its water under the bridge and tonight is all about the music.

It might have been 25 years ago we last saw them but in the hazy dim lights of the whisky it only takes a drink or a squint of the eyes for it to be 1989 again. The packed house is a sight for sore eyes too, man this feels like coming home!
Over the years Vain have lost nothing at all ‘live’ and they hit the Whisky stage like long lost sons and conquering heroes. After all those years Davy is still clad in leather trousers and barefoot and his voice hasn’t changed at all, it’s still indescribably unique.

On stage too it’s great to see the original line-up of the band, they may have lost a bit of hair, but none of their chops as they cut through a set-list that combines the best of that classic ‘No Respect’ album as well as highlights from the great lost follow-up ‘All Those Strangers’ (available on CD and on Cassette Tape (!) upstairs) and the rest of the catalogue including the rather fine ‘Enough Rope’ from 2011.

If you haven’t heard the band before then you really are missing out – these guys were one of the best  bands to emerge from that rampant late eighties rock scene, and whilst they may not have had the accolades of some that came earlier they  made a mark on so many that came afterwards. Vain you see were just that little bit different, hailing from San Francisco, which was perhaps better known for its Metal scene they took the ‘sex’ and the ‘Glam’ that had been harnessed by the likes of Marc Bolan and just ran with it – to create a sound that was just far more soulful than their contemporaries and far more fun.   

Tonight the Whisky stage seems far too small for them, especially when Davy starts crawling around upon it. And the band is not only in fine form it genuinely seems like they are having the best fun up there, and the crowd and their very vocal love just make it the perfect storm.

If ever you wanted to see a band from back in the day shake off the years, play up a storm and leave everyone in the house wanting more – tonight was that night.

INTERVIEW WITH DAVY VAIN COMING NEXT WEEK

by the Rockpit