First time in the Wilde Theatre, part of the South Hill Park complex that includes a small cinema and cellar bar (where on my first visit to South Hill Park enjoyed a gig by folk duo Ninebarrow).

Despite being all seating, and let’s be honest, as rockers get older the allure of seat at a gig is a big draw, the venue was around half full. It was a school night, however, one really hopes live music can carry on as bands like Cats In Space and support Willie Dowling have always been in it for the right reasons – the music and for their fans. They do need to make a living though and if you have chance and the monetary means get along to one of their remaining gigs as you won’t be disappointed.

Right, off the soapbox and onto the show…Willie Dowling I have seen live a few times in the Dowling Poole and perhaps most bizarrely, a launch event for Tony Hawkes and his book/attempt to have a number 1 anywhere in the world.

He chose Albania and Sir Norman Wisdom as the singer, with Willie the songwriter I seem to recall. Anyway, back on topic, it was the first chance to see Willie Dowling perform solo, although he was ably supported by bassist Andy Lewis and his Invisible Band i.e. backing tapes. As he explained the cost of taking a drummer on tour was high and something he’s like to do in the future if funds permit.

A setlist skewed to his new album, the rather fine ‘The Simpleton’, we were treated to ‘I Killed My Imaginary Friend’, a tale of his first love ‘The Ballad of Sadie Goldman’ (one of the new album’s stand out tracks), ‘The Cure’ and the title track. He has an entertaining between song patter, including introducing himself at the start saying ‘Hi I am Jeff Lynne’.

Towards the end of his set we had ‘Fuck You Goodbye’. Dedicated to and written about Donald Trump, here is one song Trump I am sure could use at his rallies without a cease and desist notice that seems to come with any song he choses for his rallies. Jackdaw 4′s ‘Frobisher’s Last Stand’ fits the set’s piano led theme well and always sounds good performed live.

The real treat for fans was the final song of the set, the Grip’s ‘The Ballad of Vera Daydream’. Takes you right back to the mid-80s and buying the album on vinyl after a rave Kerrang! review.

Willie Dowling is a perfect opener for the Cats In Space, sharing a lot of their musical influences and sounds. He has a headlining tour in February, so one for your 2025 gig diary.

Finally get to see Cats In Space live and in a perfect theatre setting for their show. After a short time travel themed intro (their new album ‘Time Machine’ is out on October 25), they launch into a rousing version of ‘Too Many Gods’. That’s some start to any gig!

Next up, the title track from the forthcoming album, and fair play to Cats In Space as they included five songs off the new album, of which only the title track is currently available. Skipping over ‘Clown In Your Nightmare’ which had disturbing clown visuals – creepy buggers at the best of times – ‘Kickstart The Sun’ was another piece of classy hard rock.

Then we have three new songs of which ‘Velvet Rush’ has a gentler, Queen like feel and ‘Immortal’ will become a live favourite for sure, with its infectious chorus and lively backbeat. ‘Occam’s Razor’ is another I feel will become an instant Cats classic and loved the guitars and keys on this one.

Photo by Viv Roberts

In singer Damien Edwards (who kept reminding me of Queen’s Roger Taylor and Blue Oyster Cult’s Eric Bloom for some reason!) they have the purrfect frontman who works a crowd with ease and has a range & a half vocally. The whole band work so well together, and as my gig companion commented they sound tight and you’d think they had been together for years, instead of just under a decade.

Romping along the home straight of the main set we had a thunderous ‘Thunder In The Night’, then Jeff Brown took centre stage to sing the intro of ‘Greatest Story Never Told’. What a song to end the set on, full of the band’s trademark vocal harmonies, plenty of bombast and pomp, with quieter moments for the audience to get their collective breath back.

The screen behind drummer Steevi Bacon, could be a bit distracting at times as you’d be engrossed in the visuals but a neat stage prop, part of a stage set they had obviously put some thought and planning into.

Encore time gave us a fantastic ‘Hologram Man’, which was a cue for the audience to get on their feet and boogie, although the audience gave the band a well deserved standing ovation at the end of the main set.

‘I Fell Out Of Love Eith Rock n Roll’ saw the night end on a high note. Due to various reasons it has taken some years for me to finally see Cats In Space live and so glad I have. They are consummate musicians, tighter musically than the proverbial duck’s arse and know how to out on a show, which many bands don’t.

Go see them, buy their new album and fall in love again with rock ‘n’ roll…

Review by Jason Ritchie
Photos by Doug Anderson (unless stated)

Album review (Time Machine, 2024)
Album review (Fire In The Night Live, 2024)

Feature (GRTR!@20)

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

Next session: Sunday 19 January

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David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 24 November 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 26 November 2024.

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)