There must be something about a Friday night in Newcastle that really appeals to Californian Rockers Y&T. Maybe the reputation of Newcastle as the Party City is enough to bring them back on a Friday night in November every year for the past 10 years. Not that anyone is complaining as, unlike some of our local football teams, you are always guaranteed a show of sweat, energy and 100% commitment from band and fans alike.
One of the main reasons for Y&T’s enduring appeal when many of their peers struggle to fill much smaller halls is the quality of the songs. It’s not just the big hitters like opener Black Tiger or the hard rocking Mean Streak either. It’s when they can dig deep into their catalogue and pull out Masters and Slaves from their criminally underrated In Rock We Trust album or songs such as Hang ‘Em High and Contagious that really shows the depth and quality that Y&T have at their disposal.
Not only that but lead singer/lead guitarist Dave Meniketti also brought out a couple of never played live before numbers, Storm and Lay Me Down from his solo release hailed by none other than tennis star Pat Cash, as one of his all-time favourite albums and who can argue with that.
With original drummer Leonard Haze and rhythm guitarist Joey Alves recently passing away and with bassist Phil Kennemore departing a few years ago leaving Meniketti as the sole survivor of the original line-up, Meniketti dedicated a supreme Winds of Change to his fallen bandmates.
There’s no gimmicks and no pomposity about Y&T, just great, classic melodic Hard Rock and maybe that’s part of the reason why they have endured for over 40 years. As the whims of fashion have come and gone, Y&T have stood resolute in defiance.
In the wrong hands a guitar solo can be yawnsome, in Meneketti’s, it’s devastating. His solo in the classic I Believe In You is a genuine show stopper that builds and builds into a searing climax and witnessing the rapturous and lengthy ovation at the end was spine tingling stuff.
Newcastle and Y&T have always had something of a special relationship with regular appearances on Alan Robson’s Hot and Heavy Express to being guaranteed floor fillers in the Rock clubs across the region. I’m Coming Home was written in dedication to Newcastle’s support when illness struck his 2009 show where he soldiered on regardless with the help of a very vocal crowd. He never forgot that.
After over two hours on stage it was hard not to hit the bullseye with the closing salvo of the evergreen Rescue Me and a fired up Forever and it was all over for another year……but there’s always next year. Don’t miss it.
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