10 Year Party – Dean Swift – 18 December 1999
To celebrate tens years of the current core line-up of Praying Mantis the
band decided to hold an invite only party (Hence I didn't put it in the news
page, sorry).
The band did no rehearsals for the gig since they are still busy working on
he next album. About 7 songs are now in a pre-mix stat of completion, so before
Mantis played the main set they put the tape on. Unfortunately it wasn't very
loud compared to the packed pub. So I didn't really pick up an impressions about
it. One song sounded like a "Remember My Name" type slow song. Apparently Dennis
has written two songs and co-wrote one with Chris. Chris has done 6 altogether.
Tino about two. And Tony has done the lyrics and melody for one song.
Tony had been due to come down and record during the previous week but
unfortunately he had been laid out with a cold. It was very unclear if he would
make the gig or not. Luckily he did and I thought he sang very well. I couldn't
really tell he was feeling ill (A feeling I see in others about me all the time
so I am sure he still felt very rough.)
The band set up their gear and played a warm up around 7pm. It was very
obvious they hadn't played the songs since the tour of November 98. By the time
they played the official set at 9pm though the one time play through and almost
completely sorted them out. Amazing! Lovers To The Grave on the warm up had
proved the most difficult but although the band noticed a few problems and spent
a few minutes remembering who was playing which harmony they were still pretty
good.
Leon Lawson was back on the keyboards and I know ten days before the gig he
had not played the songs and couldn't remember them at all. He had had to get a
set list and re-learn all the parts from scratch. Being a guitarist until 6
months before the last Mantis tour, he was still in the early stages of playing
keyboards. He was a quick learner and having an extra year of practising Rick
Wakeman and Patrick Moraz techniques he was looking forward to playing even more
this time.
It was also the first time he had played Lovers To The Grave. Not that he had
caused any of the problems in the warm-up. They seem to have been mainly lyrical
problems. Very surprising since Tino and Chris had only been singing them during
the summer. It was interesting to see the difference between how Steve Carroll
handled this song and how Dennis did it. Perhaps I am remembering a different
song but in the fast section I seem to recall both Steve and Tino were on the
arpeggios half way up the neck of the guitar but Dennis seemed to play a
completely different backing at that point. Both sounded great.
The Dean Swift is a 30m?x20m? box room with the bar taking up large amount of
space in the centre of the back wall. The band were therefore positioned on the
long side in front of it. Leon on the far left in one section. Dennis next in
another and then Bruce, Tony, Chris and Tino in the main section.
The mix or lack of it was actually very good. I was positioned slightly to
the left of Dennis and I didn't get the full effect of Tino but everyone else
was perfect. For the main set the pub was packed (Even though the guest list
looked to have limited numbers and the pub was officially closed for the night)
After the Mantis set we got a few covers from a sort of Paddy Goes To
Holyhead/Mantis. The drummer and singer from Paddy's join Tino and Chris both
also in Paddies.
Steve Mann who used to be in Lionheart and MSG took over Dennis's guitar. And
Leon remained on keyboards. Tony and his Wife Jaz did a few backing vocals on a
couple of songs and a great deal of fun was had by all.
Phil Moog of UFO was in the audience and they tried to get him to play Doctor
Doctor with the band. Unfortunately the Paddies drummer didn't know it so it
didn't happen. I am told a couple of members of Tank were in the audience too
but I didn't notice them myself.
Dennis had most of his family there including the daughter that was pictured
on Only The Children Cry. I would never have guessed she was there if I hadn't
asked as obviously she is no longer a child and has had a haircut.
Bruce's new wife was in the audience to.
Warm Up
Children Of The Earth
Can't See The Angels
A Cry For The New World
Lovers To The Grave
Turn The Tables
Main Set
Can't See The Angels
A Cry For The New World
Lovers To The Grave
Children Of The Earth (There was a classic moment in this in which Bruce
forgot they slow part near "Time has no meaning times tells no lies" and Dennis
had to grab his shoulder to slow the drum fill down! Tino had a guitar solo to
play so could only smile while the rest of the band creased up. At the end of it
he then had a good laugh at Bruce too.)
Turn The Tables
Smoke On The Water
Rock'n'Roll