TYKETTO - Sheffield Corporation - 01/12/2011

[Rockingbear]

Tyketto

The Sheffield Corporation – Thursday 1st December 2011

This was my first time seeing Tyketto since their amazing farewell gig at Nottingham’s Rock City at Firefest 2007. The original line-up of Danny Vaughn, Brooke St. James, Jimi Kennedy and Michael Clayton have now reformed together with keyboard player Bobby Lynch.

Support for the evening was originally going to be from up and coming band, and Planet Rock favourites, Fighting Wolves, however, following a family bereavement they had to pull out at the last minute. This gave the opportunity to local Sheffield band Spilt Sixteen who came across as South Yorkshire’s answer to Black Stone Cherry. They played a very enjoyable set including a couple of covers from Buckcherry and Lynyrd Skynyrd (“Simple Man”). I have to admit that I have not enjoyed an unknown band as much in quite some time. Definitely worth checking out if you get the chance.

A reasonable crowd had assembled at The Corporation with a certain air of anticipation for the return of the mighty Tyketto, a band who, if they had released their debut album “Don’t Come Easy” two years earlier in 1989 would have been household names worldwide. Kicking off with “Lay Your Body Down” from the aforementioned debut it was clear from the outset that we were in for a great evening.

The title-track from 1984’s sophomore album “Strength In Numbers” had the appreciative audience singing their hearts out much to the band’s delight. Danny Vaughn mentioned that the crowd the night before at the Camden Underworld had been particularly raucous and obviously we were not to be outdone by a bunch of Southerners!!!

The infrequently played “End Of The Summer Days” preceded the first of two new tracks “Love To Love” (the latter did appear on 2010 re-release of the “Strength In Numbers” album).

A Brooke St. James guitar solo heralded “Rescue Me” that went down well with the lively audience but it was the next pair of songs from the debut, the phenomenal “Burning Down Inside” and “Wings” that nearly took the roof off The Corporation.

Up next was my personal favourite song from the “Strength In Numbers” album, the wonderful “Meet Me In The Night”.

“Sound Off” was a new song taken from next year’s forthcoming Frontiers album “Dig In Deep” highlighted the new found frustrations the band have twenty years on. Quite a heavy track but maintaining all the great melody that Tyketto are so famed for as emphasised on the glorious “Seasons”.

Danny admitted to turning 50 this year and that though Tyketto had never sold the quantities of albums that many of their contemporaries had achieved they still loved the experience of playing live to such loyal fans. He also said that as a songwriter the song that best summed up the band from his prospective was the awesome “Standing Alone” which he certainly was not with the crowd in full voice again throughout and particularly on the chorus.

Danny was also pleased that someone had posted on YouTube that “Catch My Fall” was the greatest ever friendship song, something he was obviously very proud of. “Sail Away” brought the main set to great climax.

The band briefly left the stage before returning for a two song encore of the “Last Sunset” and fans’ favourite and most apt “Forever Young” leaving everyone to go home with a smile on their face knowing that they had just witnessed a great show for a great band!

Tyketto have promised to return in the New Year for a UK summer tour to play some new songs. The difficulty will then come as to what great songs from this evening’s set will they leave out…Roll on the summer!