November 21st 1993 – Leicester University
I had no interest in the support band on this day. This gig had been a long time coming. I’m fairly sure I went on my own to this one, as I don’t recall anyone else being interested in the singer of “Show Me Heaven” from the Tom Cruise film “Days of Thunder” (apologies to anyone who wass there with me, but “your loss to the rest ;-))
That wasn’t why I was there, good job too, because in the true spirit of rebel rock and roll, she didn’t play it anyway…lol…in fact, she very rarely plays it at live gigs as the audience is not demanding of it’s playing and doesn’t really fit with her music generally.
No – we had unfinished business here. I was a big fan of her band, Lone Justice and had been sooo looking forward to seeing them supporting U2 back in 1987. Things didn’t go to plan that day, due to Wembley’s inability to open gates on time and get us into the stadium in time for the first band, which Lone Justice were. So we only caught a couple of tracks that day. Unfortunately, Lone Justice also split up later in 1987, so this would be a new band, but Maria was the leader, so this was still a very good thing.
Much as I love a good male singer in a band, I do have a penchant for a brash, full on female singer, who mixes passion, anger and softness into their music and Maria Mckee is probably the greatest of these (Listen to the albums and live music before you try and debate this with me ;-)).
Obviously a few years had passed since the brash 18 year gave us the superb country/rock and roll debut album “Lone Justice” and then later the classic album “Shelter” (my favourite work still)
I was looking forward to seeing this loud, confident, talented, maybe arrogant LA Girl coming strutting on stage……..but she just walked on with her band, waved and spoke really quietly and politely thanking us all for coming and hoped we enjoyed the show!…..wow! (well, apart from those expecting THAT song).
Well, no need to worry, first song was the powerful Lone Justice song “East of Eden” so the quiet Maria immediately turned into the stage persona I’d been expecting….brilliant start!
What you get with Maria McKee is a great voice, with a mix of anger, passion, melody and fun behind it. I hate comparing singers, so I will 😉 Maria is a strong Dolly Parton type singer with that strong edge of the anger and passion coming through. A mix of Country, Blues, Rock and Gospel….great mix, reckon this could be called Country Punk (my own genre). I love small venue concerts and the Uni is the perfect venue for this sound.
We get “Shelter” during the set, but sadly, no “I Found Love”.
Things slowed down for “Panic Beach” and the start of cover of Patti Smith’s “Free Money” (I’d never heard this before), but the beat gets strong towards the end and a brilliant MC5 cover of “Sister Anne” – I found this live version to give you an idea.
Fact: Maria McKee wrote the hit song “A Good Heart” when she was 18 which, became a hit single for Feargal Sharkey, …..true!
The brilliantly titled “Soap, Soup and Salvation” off the first album is so full of energy you can’t help but dance! You need to hear that too!
A mesmerising concert from a band of exceptionally talented musicians. The mix of country, blues, rock and roll was brilliant, maybe even a little bluegrass in there too. The stage energy from the whole band turned it into more of a dancehall than a gig.
On my top ten gig list (which I think, by the time I’ve finished it, maybe a top twenty)
Set List
- East of Eden (Lone Justice song)
- I Can’t Make It Alone
- My Lonely Sad Eyes (Them cover)
- I’m Gonna Soothe You
- Am I the Only One (Who’s Ever Felt This Way)?
- Shelter (Lone Justice song)
- Panic Beach
- Free Money (Patti Smith cover)
- Sister Anne (MC5 cover)
- Ways to Be Wicked (Lone Justice song)
- Soap, Soup & Salvation
- You Gotta Sin to Get Saved
- If It Don’t Work Out
- Nobody’s Child
The Fan Club Years 
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