The Count Bishops - The Bishops at The Nashville

» AT THE NASHVILLE

The Bishops have always delivered, but I've never seen them play like this.

In a word, they were dynamite. From Zenon de Fleur's rhythm guitar and creditable Link Wray impersonation to Dave Tice's vocals it was an exhilerating celebration of Rock'n'Roll, pure and absolute.

And don't mistake them for revivalists -- that path leads to the Big Snore -- the spirit on show here transcended fashion, defied classification and revitalised familiar songs. They convinced me they'd written "Route 66" the night before.

Blitz Kreig and Skid Marx from Blast Furnace contributed guitar and harmonica respectively, on one or two occasions, and must have walked away proud men. There was only one song that seemed out of place: "Someone's Gonna Get Their Head Kicked In Tonight".

They just don't need that kind of trash-trash. But by the time they'd reached "I Want Candy" I was ready to forgive them anything. Buy the single and have a party.

Johnny Guitar and Zenon de Fleur swooped and soared like fighter planes leaving trails of steel-ribboned smoke in the air, while Pat McMullen's bass and Paul Balbi's drums fuelled the rhythm engine with pure nitroglycerine.

This band play with such locomotive power that Superman would stand aside and let them pass.

"Train Train", "I Need You", "Reeling 'n' Rockin", "Shake Your Money Maker"...but who really cares about individual titles? How many bands have you seen recently getting five encores: every one a killer and every one deserved? No frames of reference. No comparisons. They stand alone.

If the thunder don't get you then The Bishops will.

By Neil Norman - First published in New Musical Express 28-10-78.

Paul Balbi, Zenon de Fleur, Dave Tice, Johnny Guitar, Pat McMullan.

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