My Man Of The MatchThe band were kind enough to play Who Scared You for me in the stronger 2nd part of their set which I enjoyed as it is one of my all time fave tracks since I first heard it on WSITGM in 1972.
They followed it with a very competent bluesy version of LA Woman in which drums and guitar came to the fore very nicely and gets the crowd going rather well.
One of the strongest parts of the gig was the latter half and one of the best moments I found was not even a proper Doors song.
I really enjoyed Ghost Song/Peace Frog which all four recreated very well with an honourable mention to the bands Ray who added some nice touches.
For me the highlights of the show were mostly in that 2nd half which had a very good Changeling, the aforementioned Ghost Song, an enjoyable WSY, a nice bit of COTL and a very lively Roadhouse Blues.
Spanish Caravan was a bit patchy but was offset by a very decent Light My Fire where all Doors Trib bands get a chance to show off.
And all 3 musical members were up for the task and did a damn good job and the 4th impressed me by interspersing Summertime into the middle section and later Graveyard Poem.
Most impressive though was Andy on Gibson SG guitar who did an excellent job throughout LMF.
I said earlier that I thought Jason the old Doors Alive guitar player did Robby best well this lad, though not getting to the levels of Jason, did a bloody good job and for me both drunkenly on the night and a week later writing this listening to the tape was without doubt the Star Of The Show.
Not more than on the bands version of The End.
Some excellent keyboards Raywork and the drumming throughout the song was very JD which I liked and Grant did sterling work with both vocals and some nice bits of poetry which has appeared on the live versions.
But the guitar work was really something to hear throughout The End.
It’s another yardstick to measure a Doors trib band and although WTMO was not as good as it could have been The End was really good.
I must admit they finished a bit flat with Love Street and Touch Me, a song I never thought that brilliant and should have done something a bit more meaty but by then according to Mark I was too drunk to hold my pint without spilling it so I doubt I was that bothered.
Well no doubt they have a very capable guitar player and a damn good drummer.
Their keyboard player does a damn good job but I would like to see him get a bit more forceful in songs like WTMO after all Ray was never shy at hogging the limelight in a band that was keyboard rather than guitar driven.
Grant does a good job vocally but needs to work on some of those parts where he loses it a bit.
So where do SD stand as far as I am concerned in the pantheon of Doors trib bands I have seen and heard?
Doors Alive who were probably THE best Doors trib band until the loss of Jason their guitar player are still at the top of the pile musically and vocally.
BUT these guys certainly have something in the Doors
re-enactment sector.
I never think that any of these guys ever can recreate a real Doors gig as that is impossible but always enjoy this stuff for what it is.
A good night out, a few beers and some good music played by some guys who are like me fans of a great band.
And to be honest if these guys continue to explore the 4 segments of my favourite band then Doors Alive may well have competition next year.
I sincerely hope so as I admit I like these guys and would recommend them highly to any Doors fans who wants to have a good Doorsy night out.
##### One final thought………..I understand why Doors tributes use American accents and get into the role of the person they are re enacting but for the life of me I don’t understand why they swear as much.
I am sure Jim was no saint or prude but I don’t think he said motherfucker as often as the Trib bands seem to think.
Alex Patton.
Based on my drunken recollection of the night and a cheat of listening to the tape of the gig a week later.
