Eric Burdon and the New Animals @ The Robin 2, Bilston 8 th May 2002.

As we arrived at the superb Robin 2 at Bilston, I marvelled at the ornate frontage of this excellent club. The Robin 2 is a great example of promoters with foresight bringing live quality music to the public. I wish there was a franchise of Robins all over the country!

Not too many minutes after we arrived, the great bonus of the support band manifested itself. It was Ian Parker and Morg Morgan, the duo from Parker. This opened up the evening's musical fare; Ian and Morg seem unable to fail to impress these days and were well appreciated. During this time I met old friend Martin Gershwitz, the keyboard wizard and New Animals band member. Martin introduced me to Eric Burdon and the Band which provided a brief insight into the character of the group. Knowing the band needed to get ready, I adjourned to see the rest of the Parker Duo set, which was very enjoyable indeed.

Before long, Pete Barton asked the audience to welcome Eric Burdon and the New Improved Animals to the stage. Opening with the Goffin and King number Don't Bring Me Down , I felt a slight chill down my back as the confident Eric Burdon, a legend if there ever was one, started to sing to the Robin 2 audience. Moving on through the set, the amiable Mr Burdon explained the next song dates from 1965! The song was See See Rider , a definite favourite of mine and I suspect most of the audience. The keyboard danced through the 12 bar recurring riff under Eric's vocals and Dean Restum's tasteful Stratocaster voicings.

Bernard Pershey provided a great drum intro to I'm Tryin . With harmonies provided by no less than three of the band behind Eric Burden, the overall effect was brilliant even with a below par PA system on the night. Equally enjoyable was When I Was Young . Martin Gerswitz showed just how much of an accomplished musician he is by providing the violin riffs in this song. Eric finished the song chanting “I was such a f*****g little punk….when I was younger!”

The familiar bass riff from Dave Meros led us into the classic Animals We Gotta Get Out Of This Place . The entire Robin 2 wallowed in this fantastic groove as both Dean Restum and Martin Gershwitz took their turns with equally enjoyable solos on their respective instruments. Eric Burdon played cowbell to add to the percussion of Bernie Pershey's perpetually brilliant drumming.

To keep in the same era of music, but with a slightly unusual arrangement, came the song Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood , a Benjamin & Marcus composition made famous in the sixties by the Animals. The reggae beat suited this song well and this was the unusual factor. With a superb piano intro of symphonic proportions and clean guitar fills and themed riffs, this song was pure joy to listen to. The wah-wah guitar solo was excellent too. Eric sang this song with feeling and commitment but chanted comical lyrics to keep the song light hearted. Fabulous!

Another enjoyable song was Over The Border before a number most blues fans revere. This song was included on one of the earliest LP records by the Animals and is entitled Boom Boom . John Lee Hooker I'm sure would have been grateful for the help the Animals gave in bringing his work to the wider audience in the sixties. With Dean Restum back on his Telecaster picking the classic riff and Eric doing the question and answer guitar/vocals chorus, this magical piece of music allowed Martin Gershwitz to play a mean rock'n'roll piano. Eric authentically sang the growling John Lee Hooker parts with ease. The song then morphed smoothly into Chuck Berry's Reeling and Rockin' , with Dean Restum doing the guitar just the way Chuck would have done. This was a great moment and received an ovation from the Robin 2 audience.

Resplendent in his Chinese print shirt with the word “Mambo” spelled vertically down it's back, Eric sang the David Byrne song Heaven with some excellent guitar fills. Then the song took a thunderous lift in the form of a Bernie Pershey drum solo. Those familiar with Bernie will know just what this means! I always rave on about Bernie but only because in my opinion, humble though it may be, he is the greatest rock/blues percussionist in the world today! As we all returned to earth, the song suddenly gained a Not Fade Away outro more in the style of the Stones rather than Buddy Holly! I liked the way this band “morphs” the songs one into another and so smoothly too!

The JD Loudermilk song Tobacco Road was next on the repertoire. Not sounding anything like the Nashville Teens version, this song had a Muddy Waters style intro from Dean Restums' Fender. This song was also given the morphing effect as the beat turned to reggae and more accurately to Bob Marley's classic Get Up, Stand Up . Eric has a penchant for the reggae beat and he does it very well indeed. The song then returned to Tobacco Road once more. This shows just how versatile the band are. I truly enjoyed this song with its twists and turns. Eric Burdon takes it all in his stride and sings in great style…whatever style he chooses!

The Band went off before returning for the Encore. Dean Restrum and Bernie Pershey's Hendrix style intro allowed Eric to perform his composition of his later career Sky Pilot . Wearing his amber tinted spectacles and taking a mid-song sermon about “All the Shit in the World” Eric put me in mind of Bono. However Eric had a political voice when Bono was still in nappies! The sentiments of both these singers are valid generally, don't you think.

Sermon over, Dean Restum's guitar echoed Hilton Valentine's famous riff of the mega-hit House of the Rising Sun . Many of the audience will have come to the Robin just to hear this song. Eric sang with passion and Martin Gershwitz played the organ solo note for note before going off on a heavy tangent. As the groove continued, Eric began to speak of the old days, paying tribute to George Harrison then speaking of the Drugs and Women that were freely available in that hedonistic era. This was another prelude to the lyrics” Oh mother, tell your children, not to do what I have done….” My resident expert on House of the Rising Sun , my teenage son, tells me that Eric missed out some of the lyrics on that version. How ungrateful when Eric had earlier promised to sing the song especially for him!

So there it was, another great show by the living legend. The performance was full and varied. The New Animals are a group of highly accomplished musicians led by a charismatic frontman. Held in the cosy but spacious surroundings of the Robin 2 club, the evening was very enjoyable indeed. I would like to thank Mike Hamblett and Pete Barton for their help in getting this text to Rock of The North !

Steve Lally ©