LITTLE BOB STORY
| Little Bob Story - McMordie Hall, Belfast 16th May 1978 ( Review - Alternative Ulster Fanzine No 34)
Queen’s welcomed Little Bob Story back one again to a largely, lukewarm reception typical of a 99% student crowd, a few hardcore fans and some who just didn’t care, managed to drag themselves to the stage and make it a worthwhile night. And make no mistake, it was a very enjoyable gig, even with just the one band playing. Victim were meant to be supporting but they came up with the old “Drummer fell off a ladder and staved his hand” excuse, so, alas, the new look good time rock ‘n’ rollers, who, Colin tells me, have a surprise or two up their sleeves for their next gig, didn’t play. Pity ‘cos they’d been trying to play Queen’s for some time now, but we’re assured they will be gigging there sometime in the not too distant future.
Well, now for Little Bob Story themselves. The little fat Frenchman Bob Piazza was the star. He roamed about the stage and put a great deal of effort into every song. Urged people to get up and dance. A good few did but maybe if they hadn’t put seats in the damn place, a good few more would have responded for it was a scintillating performance, for the most part. Little Bob Story are a good, tight, solid, meaty rock ‘n’ roll package - beef rock ‘n’ roll. Something to really get your teeth into.
You’ve got to admire them for playing Queen’s, twice in as many months, then going on to play two nights at the Pound Club immediately after on 17th & 18th.
The Queen’s gig suffered (predictably) from a rather poor P.A. Which made the vocals particularly indiscernible but the music came over clear and you couldn’t help but move to it. Bob introduced one song by paying tribute to “All those great Rock ‘New Roll bands of the late 60’s, The Stooges, MC5 etc. Where Little Bob Story’s influences undoubtedly lie.They finished a lively, sweaty and enjoyable set with the classic “Riot In Toulouse’ and were called back deservedly for two encores. Server all hardcore fans made sure of that! Forget what they did for the encores (surely I couldn’t have had that much to drink!).
On the basis of that gig I feel the “Off The Rails” album maybe worth your while looking into. I haven’t heard it yet myself, not being an avid Little Bob Story fanatic, but now......I just might!
Little Bob - Photograph © Juhani Hiltunen |