Wrinklystock IV - T.Rextasy supported by The Replicants
Saturday 21st November 2015
The Mick Jagger Centre, Dartford DA1 2JZ
People who read our reviews of Wrinklystock every year must think we exaggerate when we say the event was the best yet - it’s like those old soap Ads that say the new product gets clothes whiter than before!! Anyway despite the fear of being ridiculed I will categorically say this was the best yet!!
As usual The Replicants opened the show. These guys never fail to deliver but I felt a different intent in the week leading up to this year’s event especially from guitarist Stu O’Brian who I swear had been fed on raw meat. Sure enough I was spot on as from the moment they took to the stage with the strains of The Ramones ‘Blitzkrieg Bop’ blasting out the tone was set. Launching straight into the high octane Hives number ‘Hate to Say I Told You So’ the blue touch paper had been lit!! Stu O’Brian gestured menacingly to the crowd to get up and dance and proceeded to complete more leaps in the first three numbers than he had done in the rest of the gigs I had seen. The guys reeled off classic after classic from The Beatles, The Who Thin Lizzy and Free and others with more intent than I had seen before.
The second half of the set focused on new numbers such as the anthem ‘Sex on Fire’ followed by the Wrinkly challenge ‘Sweet Emotion’ - they smashed it and we were reminded of that by the band who “gestured” to that effect. Just as we thought it couldn’t get any better they pulled another rabbit out of the hat as they introduced their special guest 14 year old drummer Liam O’Kane - the crowd roared their appreciation as Liam powered out ‘Lil Devil’, ‘Ace of Spades’ and ‘Smoke on the Water’ - how can a young man of 14 play classics like that so well? A standing ovation followed which was never in doubt and was followed by the usual closing anthem ‘Rebel Yell’ during which the guys were joined by some of the adults, the organisers and of course Liam!
Great set you guys your best yet!!
On to the main course and those of you who follow the tribute band scene will know that T.Rextasy are Premier Division in this field. A few years back they were voted best tribute on a BBC programme and Doppleganger Danielz has been refining his Bolan skills for over 20 years now. It’s no surprise therefore that people still rub their eyes as he takes to the stage almost believing that the real thing is back. No need to invite people up to dance especially as early numbers include the blockbusters ‘20th Century Boy’ and ‘Metal Guru’. The tone is set and Danielz struts his stuff and puffs his cheeks out Bolan style and the audience are with him all the way. The guys put their own slant on ‘Debora’ and then Danielz laments the fact that one of his favourite tracks ‘The Groover ‘never made number one due to the St. Winifred’s School Choir – it clearly hurts!!
Danielz rapport with the crowd continues and he has them eating out of his hand - especially when one fan asks for a number that is so obscure he suggests that probably about five people in the whole audience would know it but just to oblige he plays a few chords of the track - I can’t remember what it was - it was so unknown. The hits continue with ‘Telegram Sam’ and ‘Ride a White Swan’ and the action leads nicely up to the heavyweight finish – ‘New York City’ is followed by the classic ‘Children of the Revolution’, ‘Jeepster’ and the set finale ‘Get it On’. A standing ovation follows with deafening cries for more. That was never in doubt and ‘I Love To Boogie’ and ‘Hot Love’ have voices straining and no doubt many homes would be fairly quiet the next day!!
Many people say they are not T. Rex fans but I can guarantee the T.Rextasy show will change many people’s views – Marc Bolan is alive and well in the shape of Danielz – come back soon guys!
Wrinkly
The Replicants agreed to play the following songs in their Wrinklystock IV setlist which raised £265 in aid of our nominated charities! Our thanks to all of you that have supported us!
Ace Of Spades - Motorhead £15 Liam's Mum & Dad
Aerosmith - Sweet Emotion £100 WRC
Alright Now - Free £15 Gill J
Are You Gonna Be My Girl - Jet £15 AJ
Back In The U.S.S.R. - The Beatles £15 Ivana
Buck Rogers - Feeder £15 Lyndsey & Ian
Hate to Say I Told You So - The Hives Wrinkly (Col)
Jailbreak - Thin Lizzy £15 Wrinkly The Elder
L'il Devil - The Cult £15 Phil Ball
My Hero - Foo Fighters £15 Wrinkly The Silver
Sex On Fire - Kings of Leon £15 Colin W.
Substitute - The Who £15 AJ's Dad