Words and Pictures: Adrian Hextall / (C) MindHex Media
When the opportunity to see one of your favourite bands playing in your back yard, you take the opportunity. To see them at The Forum in Tunbridge… sorry… Royal Tunbridge Wells, is the cherry on top. A great little venue, with good lighting, great sound and yes… because it always gets mentioned, years ago it used to be the public loos on the side of the park, we know the facilities are going to be top notch as well.
I’ve seen FM on pretty much every UK tour or festival they’ve performed at since 1989 so I’m pretty well versed with their material. I am, as they say “aware of their work” and what a collection of work it has been over the years. I remember fondly that reunion show at Firefest which gave the band the kick-start to reform properly, start touring and release new material. When ‘Metropolis’ came out, our prayers were answered as “The Mighty FM” were back and in their rightful place… on stage and performing their unique brand of British AOR to an enthusiastic fan base.
FM shows have also given us the opportunity to see and hear new bands and new music. The perfect step on the ladder for new artists wanting to play to a room full of music fans who welcome the opportunity to embrace something new. This time around and a band whose output I’ve lapped up for a couple of years but had yet to see them perform live, Diamond Black. Fronted by Sisters of Mercy guitarist / vocalist Ben Christo, the band describe themselves as Gothic AOR. It’s a sound akin to dark rock, Definitely a Gothic vibe to the sound especially with the synth elements hidden in the tracks but they pack a punch and whilst live the power trio perform with energy, the synth sound is played in the background. No bad thing and it offers a much fuller sound for the band.
Diamond Black
Songs like ‘Fall Into The Silence’ and ‘If You Kill My Demons’ give us a sense as to why the band fit so well on an FM show. Aside from Christo openly admitting he’s a massive fan himself and he’s relishing the opportunity to play with someone he’s clearly followed for years. When FM were on stage later, Ben was at the back of the venue singing along to every song on offer. Fair pay my friend, fair play.
Their songs are hook laden with some serious rhythm and groove coming courtesy of former Star Scream vocalist Adam Hart (bass, vocals, art) and Jan-Vincent Velazco (drums). Hart’s vocal work gives the songs a great boost just when needed and he plays bass like a 6-string bringing a new and unexpected dimension to the band’s sound. With the rise of bands like Creeper, Salem, South of Salem and more pushing the darker, melodic \ anthemic rock sound, Diamond Black are a welcome addition to the scene. Latest single ‘Through The Misery’ is definitely one to look out for.
FM
On the other hand FM have stepped up the ladder, climbed back down, bought a new ladder and have climbed and continue to climb up it on what is now a more successful career path than they managed first time around. The post ‘Metropolis’ years have tapped into a rich vein of songwriting talent, taking everything the band produced in the late 80s, early 90s and adding a modern sheen to the songs that frequently see then added to the playlists on national radio stations.
They opened with ‘Synchronised’, proving my point as it’s just as well loved by the fans as the classics from the first two albums are. To follow it with the big choruses and hooks of ‘Tough It Out’ and ‘Killed By Love’, the latter of which triggered the first big sing along of the night, also proves just how well the new material sits with the old. It’s easy for old 80s AOR to sound dated but not with FM, the older tracks, some of them touching 40th anniversaries, sound as fresh and dynamic as they did when we first heard them.
It helps of course that the voice of AOR, Steve Overland sounds as good today as he did when the band’s debut ‘Indiscreet’ came out. To say that boy can sing is an understatement and to say that he’s got the best, soulful rock voice in the UK (still) is to give credit where it’s due. Long may he reign.
With an acknowledgement early on at the tough year they’ve had and a touching moment in memory of the band’s original lead guitarist, co-founder and Steve’s brother, Chris, it then paved the way for the band to take the last show of the tour to the max. Steve Overland even joked that he hated singing ‘Someday You’ll Come Running’ and only did so because it’s a firm fan favourite. I can absolutely confirm I love that song and often wondered why one of the singles from their ‘Tough It Out’ era rarely used to get played. Thankfully, bowing to the fans, Steve delivered and we got to go home happy.
Keeping the fans happy is something the band have managed with ease over the years and when they launch into ‘Face to Face’ the crowd returned the favour, handling lead vocals for Steve and the rest of FM. Like ‘Someday..’ hearing ‘Crack Alley’ performed live is another one that made its way onto the set-list thanks to fan pressure. So many bands would insist they ‘we know best’ when it comes to deciding what to play and certainly any songs that the musicians either individually or collectively didn’t like would be dropped like a hot coal. No so with FM where experience and the desire to always deliver to their fan base always results in a set that you feel was curated for you personally.
Jem, Merv, Jim, Pete and Steve are a finely oiled machine these days. They run with the energy of a Bugatti and the grace and elegance of a Bentley. 2024 sees them on the road again for a 40th Anniversary jaunt around the UK (links below). If you’ve not seen them for a while, do yourself a favour and beg, borrow, steal or buy tickets to any of the shows.
2024 – “OLD HABITS DIE HARD” 40th ANNIVERSARY TOUR – CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS
SETLIST:
Synchronized
Tough It Out
Killed by Love
Someday (You’ll Come Running)
Let Love Be the Leader
The Dream That Died
Face to Face
Crack Alley
American Girls
Frozen Heart
That Girl
Bad Luck
I Belong to the Night
Turn This Car Around
Encore:
Story of My Life
Other Side of Midnight
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