The Review...


Judie played Bilston on Saturday 23rd January 1999. Unfortunately I couldn't go to the concert personally, but I have been sent the following review by Sue Haley, who I've managed to convert into a Judie Fan ? ;-)

All photographs on this page were taken by Sue, except where indicated otherwise.

The Venue:

Robin R'n'B Club 2 in Bilston, Wolverhampton




We arrived early, having heard that there was a Creperie on the premises! We could hear sound-checks going on in the club at the back as we ate our banana, chocolate and almond pancakes. When the doors to the club open at 8pm the Creperie stops serving and plastic glasses are provided for those who still have drinks to take through.




The club had very little seating but we were lucky to get a table right opposite the stage, which seemed bigger than the stage at Ronnie Scott's but, even with no support band equipment, was still not large enough for Judie's band to set up all their kit! We very soon found Jamie who was looking after the merchandise and we bought the Secret Agent CD, two tee shirts, a Tzuke lapel badge with the emblem meaning "I shall not be defeated" and a tour programme. Nice to see one or two of Davie’s photos in there. We then waited what seemed like an age for the show to start but it was worth it as this meant no support band and more Judie!!!




The Show:

Judie’s band came onstage to applause followed by Judie herself looking radiant in rich sage green velvet. Looking fit, she has recovered her full voice power too, only slightly marred by illness on her last tour. Judie demonstrated her incredible range from gentle and sensitive ballads to what she calls with a smile ‘noisy’ songs. High notes, low notes, Judie hits them all beautifully! She generously withdraws on a number of occasions to let the band shine.


In the first set which lasted around 50 minutes we heard:
Tonight*
Fly
Fuel Injection*
Man And A Gun
Secret Agent*

"Give us a crisp" I heard Judie say to someone near the stage. {She had second thoughts though as it could have affected her throat.}

Two Mountains
 with a rousing drum solo followed by a stirring bass & lead duet. "duet" sounds altogether the wrong word for the powerful music that we heard but I can’t think of another word that is technically correct! ;-)

Both Alone*
Swallowing*
Stay With Me Till Dawn

 In the second set which lasted over an hour we heard:
Dancing On Charcoal*
One Day I Will Live In France
That’s Where My Heart Used To Be*
Judie says this may be put out as a single and has already been played on the radio!!!

Let Me Be The Pearl
Included a brilliant keyboard solo followed by a lead solo and a drum solo WOW!!!!

Wonderland
Vivien
Sukarita
 Included an instrumental passage in which the entire band shone!

Bring The Rain
 Judie says she wrote this when she was fourteen years old but that they do it differently now. The keyboard begins a Hopalong Cassidy type intro but with a grin that tells us he’s just kidding. A keyboard solo later ensures that he is forgiven!

and two encores:
Joan Of Arc
Bully*
Judie introduces Jamie who adds to the vocals on this track. This was an excellent track to end on and I woke up on Sunday morning with the chant still ringing in my head!! One of my favourites and I recall she sang it at Ronnie Scott’s back in October. It’s much better live than on the CD - you have to be there!

* denotes tracks on the new Secret Agent album

And afterwards:

Those who were patient while Judie freshened up were able to chat to her for a short while and get autographs and photos. As we waited I looked around the assembled company. "What does a Judie Tzuke fan look like" I mused. Well, you could point to just about anyone in the street or at a club or pub and they could have been there! From jeans and tie-dyed to leather, evening length skirts to leggings, denim jackets to leopard-skin, Judie and her band appeal to everyone. Let’s hope the single, if it happens, does well. As we left the club we noticed a chippie was open just across the road and when we got to the door, half the audience was in there!! We didn’t wait as we had a longish drive home (and more chippies on the way!) Altogether we had a thoroughly good evening and if you still have time to book tickets for the tour, don’t hang about - DO IT!




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