Sometimes gigs are like busses. I was waiting
ages to get the chance to see the Red Hot Chilli Pipers perform live,
and then within the space of ten days I had the chance to see them 3
times all at Dunfermline’s Alhambra Theatre.
I have previously reported on the gig from 18
December, and Sheila covered the Red Hot Hoolie matinee, so it fell to
me to cover the evening version.
As per the 18th the opening half
hour was covered by the excellent duo of Fiona Cuthill and Stevie
Lawrence with their fiddle / guitar arrangements of some traditional
music interspersed with their own stuff.
 They soon got the eager to
party nine hundred or so punters going clapping along with the rhythms
and warmly cheering each set of tunes.
A brief pause, while equipment was moved,
filled by elf-clad Chilli Piper Stuart Cassells as
compere and then it was onwards and upwards with a new band to me
Skerryvore.
Once dubbed as a traditional music boyband,
well they are six personable young lads, they raised the tempo with a
selection of their numbers from their previous two albums ‘On the
Road’ and ‘West Coast Life’ together with a few from their
forthcoming, yet untitled new one.
They have garnered a strong reputation over the
last year or two and it was easy to see why. These guys grabbed the gig
by the scruff of the neck and really ramped up the atmosphere.
 Alec Dalglish guitar and vocals together with
Daniel Gillespie, accordion did most of the audience interaction, but
they were joined by Martin Gillespie, accordion and bagpipes, Fraser
West drums, Barry Caulfield and Craig Espie on violin in playing for the
excess of an hour and a thoroughly enjoyable set it was too.
A brief change over again before the Chilli
Pipers once again raised the standard of bagrock, and there was a bonus
too with four pipers for the price of three. With the imminent departure
of Willie Armstrong, his young replacement Kyle Warren joined forces
with Willie, Kevin McDonald and founder Stuart Cassells for a four
pronged attack on the senses.
In essence the set was very similar to the one
played on the 18th , as was understandable, but they know how
to please their following with their eclectic mix of traditional,
self-written and rock numbers all served up as only they can.
Percussionists Steven Black, Steven
Graham, Malcolm McEwan. keyboard wizard Chris Russell, guitarist Gregor
‘The G Man’ James are all showmen also and Stevie Lawrence, now
joining the Pipers on bass and bouzouki and the Red Hot Chilli horns all
played their part in making this Hoolie bagrock. Some injection of
glamour was added by the Red Hot Chilli dancers, eight young ladies who
gave glimpses of their fusion of traditional Scottish dance with rocking
music.
The
crowd went wild for favourites such as Highland Cathedral, We Will Rock
You, Flower of Scotland and 100 Pipers amongst others, and I’m sure
nobody wanted it to stop.
But
like all good things they eventually have to end, so the very happy
audience trouped out into the arctic conditions with a very warm buzz
inside them.
Here’s
to the next gig lads and lassies.
For
info on future gigs for one and all check out the following sites
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