Thin Lizzy/FM/The Treatment

O2 Academy, Bournemouth

The Current reformed lined up of Thin Lizzy have been performing together for a few years now. They are some what of a rock super group featuring Ricky Warwick(The Almighty/New Model Army), Marco Medoza(Whitesnake), Damon Johnson(Alice Cooper) as well as the three original members Scott Gorham(Guitar), Brian Downey(Drums) and Darren Wharton(Keyboards).

While on the road together this band have started writing new material but out of respect for Phil Lynott it will not be released under the Thin Lizzy name so it was announced that at the end of this tour that this band would cease touring and that they would announce future plans early in the new year, so with that in mind the show was going to be extra special.

The Treatment 1–2–3–4–5–6–7–8

The selection of tonight’s support bands feature two very different extremes within the rock music genre, the first band “The Treatment” a five piece young band from Cambridge, who take their sound and style from that of early Def Leppard along with similar other bands of the time. They arrive onstage with colossal amounts of energy and do everything possible to get the audience warmed up, their twin electric guitar attack provides some decent early volume, performing well crafted songs from their debut album “This Might Hurt”. As the band’s short set approached the end their hard work paid off and the audience were suddenly with them throwing their hands above their heads applauding in appreciation. With some cracking songs such as “The Doctor” and “Shake The Mountain” I am very confident that we will be hearing a lot more from them in the future gracing the pages of the rock music press and performing a summer festivals.

FM 1–2–3–4–5–6–7

Next up were “FM” who were formed in 1984 by two former members (Merv Goldsworthy + Pete Jupp) of “Samson” a band that featured Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson back in 1980. FM in the 1980’s toured with many top acts such as Magnum, Status Quo, Bon Jovi, Meat Loaf, Europe and they also released their debut album “Indiscreet” featuring the single “Frozen Heart”. Tonight the band seem to be a complete contrast to that of The Treatment, their classic rock sound seems to be much more palatable to many older members of the audience. The band provide some excellent musicianship combining keyboards and guitars with Steve Overland’s excellent powerful vocals impressing everyone in this large old building. Their style of AOR soft rock can be easily compared with the likes of acts such as Mike and The Mechanics or Foreigner. The band’s very pleasing 30 minute set features newer material from recent releases such “Over You” as well as older material including “That Girl” from “Indiscreet”. Their set ended with a reworking of the classic “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” made famous by Marvin Gaye which went down well with the crowd as they gave the band a decent reception as they left the stage.

Thin Lizzy 1–2–3–4–5–6–7–8–9–10–11–12–13

At 9:30pm it was time for the mighty Thin Lizzy to take to the stage, the packed the floor of the O2 Academy gave the band a rapturous welcome as they arrived on stage, the volume seemed to go up a notch as they band launched into their first number. There are always going to be critics of the band that compare this line up to the originals, and yes they are right that nothing will compare to those early shows featuring the legendary Phil Lynott. However this line up are keeping the spirit of the original band alive in the best way the know how in a dignified and respectful was with the full backing of Lynott’s family. The songs are all massive with and as each one is being performed they are breathing new life introducing the material to an audience they may have never got to see these great songs performed live.The best known tracks such as “Whiskey In The Jar” and “The Boys Are Back In Town” obviously got the best crowd reaction but it was the other little gems such as “Still In Love With You” and “Suicide” that impressed the most with some really amazing spine tingling guitar work from Scott Gorham and Damon Johnson. The near two hour set closed with a 2 song encore “Rosalie” and “Black Rose” and by listening to all the positive comments on the way out most everyone in the place was thrilled to have been here to witness such a great gig.

Set List
The Rocker
Are You Ready
Jailbreak
Don’t Believe A Word
Killer On The Loose
Chinatown
Dancing In The Moonlight
Massacre
Angel Of Death
Still In Love With You
Whiskey In The Jar
Sha La La
Suicide
Cowboy Song
The Boys Are Back In Town
Rosalie
Black Rose