Adam Ant in Tampa!

Hello Big Mouth friends. Instead of recording a new show last night, Thursday, September 27th. I decided to head out to the always wonderful Seminole Hard Rock Casino and hotel in Tampa and check out a performer I first saw in concert when I was a Freshman in high school. That was back in 19-kjbpobogouw. Ha.

After a bit of a hiatus from touring, actually, a pretty good chunk of years, the Antish one himself put a new band together to play all the old favorites. No Ants backing Adam up this go around. His new band is called The Good, The Mad and The Lovely Posse, and I dig it. A younger crew backing up the older Ant and they didn’t miss a beat, including the Adam and the Antish double drummer set up. One guy, one girl and they…got…down. Ant’s music has always been drum heavy. Listen to Dog Eat Dog, Prince Charming and Stand and Deliver and you’ll know what I mean. These two drummers played every note on the spot and in time and kept the place in the pulse. A drummer myself, I was right there with them on the fills playing my air drums.

Ant came out swinging. Three old tunes in a row, he had the crowd firmly in his grasp and never let go. Even during some of the lesser known pop tunes, like Whip in my Valise, the crowd stood firm and patiently waited for the next tune to get rocking again.

Lets talk about the Lovely Posse while we’re here. She’s the eye candy for the stage. She comes out as a back up singer three times during the set, and each time she’s wearing less and less clothes till she’s clad in a leather bustier complete with the garters, stockings and high heels that if kicked, would kill a bull moose. No complaints from me at all.

As you wold expect, Ant doesn’t have the pipes he use to have back in the late 70′s and early 80′s, but who does. This was more than made up by his band, including the Lovely Posse, singing the riffs and harmonies. Even one of the two drummers sings. That’s a lot to do for a percussionist. I do take issue with the venue’s sound system. I know it’s the Hard Rock and you’re suppose to Rock Hard, but I think there’s too much sound system for the room. Hanging stacks on the sides with the subs burried around the stage. Not a bad set-up at all, but if I had one suggestion, turn it down. I know, that a mortal sin in rock and roll, but I feel we could have heard more of the lines and harmonies in the mix if the knob was turned maybe 2 clicks to the left. Didn’t ruin my show though.

Overall, it was nice to relive some of my early teen years hearing all the classics along with some more recent stuff like Wonderful and Lady. We even got a preview of Ants new stuff coming out early next year. It was classic Ant sound with a bit more of a modern punch. Should be a good CD.

That’s all friends. If you’re out there in the universe and Adam Ant and The Good, The Mad and the Lovely Posse stop by, get a ticket and have fun. See pics below.

Peace,

Dennis, Big Mouth #2

Twiiter: twobigmouths2