Spear Of Destiny, Theatre Of Hate, and The Pack.
Wednesday 19th Mar 2003, Bedford Esquires.

Early impressions were good, when we got to Esquires about 8.30 there was a huge black tour bus parked in the car park. This I took as a good sign - that the band were professional and were to be taken seriously.
Now I had no idea what Kirk Brandon looked like so when the band walked out on stage I wasn't sure if it was a support band or a Kirk Brandon band, but I was assured that it was indeed Kirk. I wasn't quite sure what to make of him. he had short blond hair and wore a green army combat jacket which made him look kind of Aryan - rather like a nazi storm trooper on his day off.

The band was a six piece - Kirk on vocals (and guitar for some numbers), bass player, drummer, lead guitarist, keyboardist and saxophonist. Whilst not wanting to be ageist (I ain't no spring chicken myself!) the band probably had a combined age of 200 years - Calvin (Dot) reckoned 240 years (and he was closer to the stage so we'll go with his estimate!).
Not having heard any of Brandon's stuff before I had no idea if we were watching 'Theatre Of Pain', 'Spear Of Destiny' or 'The Pack'. It just seemed to be one band with lots of songs and there really didn't seem to much distinction in style between any of the songs. I can only assume we were being treated to a mixture of material from all Kirk's bands.

The whole 3 band name thing I found bizarre - fair enough if a band wants to change its name, but to pretend to be 3 different bands when in fact you are just one band is plain weird. The event was billed as 'Spear Of Destiny' + 'Support' but there were no changes in personel during the gig. It should have been billed as 'Spear Of Destiny' also playing songs by 'Theatre Of Hate/The Pack'. The whole thing was very confusing, unless of course you were a huge Brandon fan and knew all his songs, in which case, the set list probably made perfect sense. I suppose I could have asked for a refund as the ticket did state 'Spear Of Destiny plus support'! (I'm assuming there was no support band unless they were on really early and I missed them). Oh well, at least I can tell people I went to see a band who supported themselves!

I had heard that 'Spear Of Destiny' were 'post punk' and had some gothic influences but frankly neither were in evidence to me. The band were competent and professional and gave a well polished performance. However, trying to place a label on them is difficult - but if I had to, I'd describe them as 'conventional rock'. The lead guitarist was shit-hot with lots of classic rock n' roll riffs in his repertoire. Having a sax player in a band also gave things an interesting slant.
Despite their undoubted professionalism, for me they just didn't have that 'X Factor'. I like my rock bands to spit venom or at least have a bit of attitude. I felt they lacked any full on, up-tempo songs where they could really let rip. They were just a bit too nice, a bit too conventional and a bit too controlled for my liking.

So to sum up, I'm glad I went to see them but only because there was nowt on t.v. Wednesday night. They are undoubtedly gifted musicians but unfortunately just not my cup of tea.
I recon in ten years time Kirk Brandon will be in a folk band, either that or he will be the editor of 'Soldier Of Fortune', leading an Aryan uprising in the home counties.....
Review by Undead Ed.