After a bad day of rugby for Wales and a good day for Ireland and France, it was the opportunity to cheer myself up by getting along to the Patriot two days after St Patrick’s Day to see a son of Ireland who might know a thing or two about playing a stringed instrument. I’ll confess Monk had to educate me as Mama’s Boys were unknown to me, so I guess I was a bit of an “eejit” until a few weeks ago. However, having picked some stuff up on the world’s favourite streaming service, I kind of knew by tonight what I was letting myself in for.
For those who don’t know, the Patriot is the home of a motorcycle club of ex-servicemen and has recently had an extensive facelift which more than doubled its previous capacity… and a fine job they did on the refurb too. The music and bar part of the venue has been totally separated from the motorcycle club and is now run by a team of dedicated staff. While club members will always be present in the venue, the management team are hoping to reach a much wider audience with this refurb, and they appear to be doing just that. The sound used to be quite good but now it is far better and the addition of some serious lighting gear makes for a very good rock music venue even if it could be described as a “small venue”. Even so, it attracts some good quality musos, so you might want to check out the links to the socials.
Anyhow, to the music. Arriving on stage at 8.30 Pat was the only artist tonight. A quick peek at the set list taped to the back of the speaker sort of indicated why there was no need for a support act. It was two pages of A4! Apparently, this is not unusual (cue for a song maybe!). Joined on stage by Paul Faloon (drums) and new recruit Plunkett McComb on bass a quick hello was followed by ‘Ready To Rock’: I think the answer from the audience was “hell yeah” but I may have misheard it (damned earplugs!).
‘Doomsday’ seems a bit prophetic at the moment (but we all hope not), before Pat comments on a track that should have connected with many – ‘Absent Friends’. Unlike many bands the guitar changes were minimal, the pedal board was computerized and neatly tucked under feet below the electric violin.
A quick comment on “are you ready for some blues” was followed by the Muddy Waters track ‘King Bee’ and a quick change to the Cream track ‘Crossroads’ (which most people associate with Eric Clapton but is actually a Robert Johnson track). Blues guitar riffage extra-ordinaire! ‘Got The Right’ from ‘Live And In Time’ rapidly followed before the classic Rory Gallagher song ‘I Fall Apart’, which Pat said was one of his favourites by the man.
Without drawing breath the music just kept on coming; solidly supported on Paul Faloon and Plunkett, Pat dodged back and forth from the mic to the middle of the stage to deliver solo after solo, riff after sublime riff without a dropped note or missed beat.
‘Whats Goin On’ involved audience participation with the hook before ‘Juggernaut’ gave an “instrumental break”. The Mama’s Boys classic ‘Straight Forward’ was next up and well received by the crowd. A bit more upbeat came ‘Gentleman Rogues’ and ‘Runaway Dreams’, which was accompanied by the violin solo from the breakdown to the end. Six or four strings and bow, the Professor can play, and was well as the guitar he has the crowd eating from the palms of his hands. His soft Irish vocals accompanying where necessary all through the set, but it was his fingers that did all the talking.
Just to show his virtuosity and as it was, as he said, “almost St Patrick’s Day” the violin track ‘King Of The Fairies’ was up next. ‘The Messiah Will Come Again’ by the late great Gary Moore was up next. Whereas up to this point the guitar used was a Gibson Firebird, a quick change to a PRS custom gave a much softer bluesier, Moore-esque sound; what a stunning track this is. Another virtuoso Gary Moore like performance by Pat followed.
A track penned during lockdown, ‘Stone Cold Sober’ (which is more than could be said about the crowd by this point) was up next! It was stripped back and so laid back it was horizontal! A lovely way to relax the crowd.
The set list had ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’ up next. When I saw this, I thought, “strange, why would he do an Oasis track” It wasn’t: it was a ‘90s Mama’s Boys track that they never played live. A track about environmental issues from back then was a bit visionary given what’s going on in the world in this regard now.
Pat and the boys then picked it back up with ‘Honey trap’ and ‘Crystal Sky’ from last year’s well-titled ‘Full Service Resumed’ album, which preceded the highlight for many – ‘Parisienne Walkways’. If you closed your eyes and just let the music wash over you, it was possible to imagine Gary Moore playing it. I’ve always loved the track and never got to hear it live-until tonight, sublime. Pat stated that he toured with Thin Lizzy in the ‘80s when Gary was in the band but never spoke to him after until about six weeks before he died, after which time he wrote the next track as a tribute – ‘Belfast Boy’.
‘Needle In The Groove’ was met with a huge cheer and was going to be the last track before the encore, but after taking on a few cheers, they then brought out the ZZ Top big guns – ‘La Grange’ – another great track before finishing up with ‘Rockin In The Free World’ to cheers and whistles when they finally left the stage.
It was one of those Max Boyce moments – I could say I was there! Fantastic night and thank you Pat and the band. I hope you had as good a night as everyone in the audience appeared to have had, but more especially (and rather selfishly) as I did…
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