Big, bold, anthemic songs are what Gun does best. However, they are more fittingly at home in an arena than the modestly sized Bristol’s Fleece, as was the case tonight.
They’ve had their share of problems over the years and a few line-up changes. This now includes former bassist Dante Gizzi on lead vocal, a role he’s certainly grown into and has no worries of living in the shadows of former front men Mark Rankin and Toby Jepson.
Dante’s brother and guitarist Jools can’t hide the elation on his face throughout tonight’s set, displaying the love of still being able to get out there and perform their music, old and new, to an adoring crowd.
Starting the night with a few strong ones, ‘Let It Shine’, ‘Don’t Say It’s Over’ then the always favoured and robust ‘Better Days’, was a chance to show the Gun conventions. Harmonising vocals supported by top-notch band symmetry on the latter song proved that not only live, but after all these years, the band can still deliver these tunes so well. After this came ‘One Wrong Turn’ from their latest album Frantic which is currently doing really well on the rock radio circuit. Nothing wrong about this as the audience sang along just as heartily as they did to the classics.
Hot Chocolate’s ‘Everyone’s a Winner’, just released as a charity single this year, showed the bands capability to make any song their own. The same as their biggest hit, a cover of Cameo’s ‘Word Up’, which inevitably received a huge crowd reaction.
The band has all the energy of AC/DC, just unfortunately without the major credit. Dante bounded the stage like an excited teenager, minus any swaggering arrogance but with pockets of sincerity and intensity. At one point during the set, ‘So Lonely’ by The Police was featured, giving him a touch of Michael Hutchence vocal-wise. Jools is literally dripping with sweat during ‘Labour of Love’, which for the band it obviously is.
As tight now as they ever were, Gun are out there, albeit in these smaller venues, giving new and old fans the chance to witness some great rock music live and show why they were once up there with the biggest names going.
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