London · away gig review
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band at the Mean Fiddler
Saturday 3 December 2005 · Mean Fiddler, London
Review notes
A Flickr review credited to Colin describes the Sensational Alex Harvey Band at the Mean Fiddler. For the reviewer, it was a first chance to see the band since Alex Harvey’s death; companions had seen the group on earlier dates in Camden and Aberdeen.
The review remembers the Mean Fiddler as a close-up, basement rock room with a stage at one end and a balcony around the floor, while noting that the bar’s canned beer made for a pricey night. The band came on at 8 p.m. Max Maxwell fronted the group, with Zal Cleminson and Chris Glenn among the musicians singled out by the reviewer.
Among the set highlights were “Isobel Goudie”, “Give My Compliments to the Chef” and “Faith Healer”. A guest singer associated with Alabama 3 joined for two songs. The encore included “Vambo”, “Boston Tea Party” and “Delilah”. The reviewer came away impressed by the performance and still hearing the gig in their ears on Monday.
This is a concise summary of the Flickr review, not a full reproduction. The original page carries the complete first-person account and its own spellings and recollections.