Everybody wants a piece of the action.
Everybody needs a main attraction.
I’ve done what everybody needs.
Satisfaction guarantees.
From an early age, I was always into rock and one of the first bands to register as I began to take music seriously was The Sweet. Now, 50 years later, and with only one member remaining from the classic lineup, I tasted something Sweet for the second time.
It’s a credit to Andy Scott that he doesn’t just roll out the old favourites. Sure, a lot were on view but also more recent and even new tracks from their forthcoming album. Yes, we all remember the Glam Rock images but there was always much more to Sweet than the commercial image promoted in the 70s with the (still marvellous) tunes from Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman. Having moved away from their writers in the mid 70s, a bold direction after so much success, we saw the harder rock which is still being produced today.
Although Scott is the only remaining (and living) member of the most commercially successful lineup, this is still Sweet. The spirit is the same, the energy is the same, and the sound is the same. On vocals and guitar was Paul Manzi who after standing in for Tony O’Hora on tour in 2014, became a full-time member four years ago and boy can this guy front a band. Then, on bass, and outed by Scott as a West Bromwich Albion fan to the enemy in Wolverhampton, we had the excellent Lee Small. Completing the five-piece is Tom Cory (Keys and Guitar) and Adam Booth (Drums). Phenomenal.
The Action began with that very same-named banging tune and that action did not stop all night. New York Groove (from the acclaimed 2020 album, Isolation Boulevard) followed this before Hell Raiser, Burn on the Flame and The Six Teens. The latter two from the 1974 outing, Desolation Boulevard.
Mid set, Scott took a break, leaving the rest of the band to a trio of early hits in Co-Co, Funny Funny and Poppa Joe. After saying to the audience that when he heard them in rehearsals, they sounded so good he didn’t want to interfere, I did question the explanation as the last time I saw Sweet in 2005, I am sure these tunes were treated with derision. However, they went down a storm with the crowd, as did the run in to the end with Teenage Rampage, Wig Wam Bam, Little Willy, Love is Like Oxygen and Fox on the Run. Rounding off, Sweet gave the crowd what they were waiting for with a Blockbuster finale then a Ballroom Blitz of explosive proportions.
A new album is promised for 2024 with hopefully more shows on the road. Catch them while you can, Sweet still deliver.
Cheers.
Antony N Britt - Author 