Review of:

 Liquor & Poker:

 Woughton Centre (The Pitz), Milton Keynes on Sunday 25^th August 2004

 This was a gig that truly matched the power, energy, musical virtuosity and stage presence of this great rock tribute band to the max! Ok, so a Sunday afternoon is not perhaps the best time to go see a gig but those who did were in for a real treat!

 The Woughton Centre is perhaps Milton Keynes foremost live music establishments and is the home to the regular nationally known “Pitz” sessions. For a start, Woughton offers a substantial stage, great lights and an excellent sound system with acoustics to match.

 The good sized audience were a mixed bag with Mums, Dads and toddlers in tow, the usual rock folk in abundance and the odd stranger who popped in for an afternoon swim in the Leisure Centre part of the complex.

 Anticipation filled the air as the band let rip with their usual and much loved eclectic mix of 80’ rock classic hits delivered in the sublime and much praised “Liquour & Poker” style.

 It wasn’t long before people were starting to tap their feet, clap their hands, shake their heads and any other extremities available to what I for one believe is quite an infectious mix of sound.

 For this gig the band were not confined in a dingy corner of a pub or hidden behind the odd pillar, they had room and lots of it which made the visual element of their performances shine to the fore.

 The guitar duel between Ade and Simon; in what is now becoming more and more an essential element of their live performances, was simply breathtaking and a joy to watch and hear. This was one duel that had a lot of people talking about it at the bar and rightly so.

 It was also good be able to see John this time. Usually he is somewhat hidden behind his enormous drum kit, but not this time. He was set up on a higher part of the stage presiding over the occasion like a demi-god of beats and a god of drums he most certainly is. If he can’t get your booty shaking, then I guess you are already dead!

 Along with John on Drums, Mark on bass presided with his usual dependable and highly effective low notes fully complimenting the trilogy of L&P axemen.

 No gig is ever complete without the frontman and lead singer Leon adding his distinctive vocals to the occasion and adding in the odd effervescent ad-lib and audience acknowledger.

 This was one fun, good-time gig and as a passive listener I was somewhat happily and enthusiastically exhausted at the end of it.

 The real thing about L&P is that they deliver exactly what’s on the label time and time again and always manage to pull out of the bottle just a little something extra.

For those of us that see the band on a regular basis (and their following is ever growing) , it is not something you tire of or get bored with. It is a real treat and pleasure every single time.

I suppose I could not end this review without mention of RobTaylor from the “Peartree Bridge Family” who was seriously injured in a bike accident last week. L&P dedicated a song to him at the gig and rightly so. We all wish him a speedy recovery and our thoughts and prayers are with him.

 Gaby