The Professionals
Rebellion Festival: Opera
House, Blackpool,
4th August 2017
Review & Pictures

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The relaunched
Professionals took to the vast Opera House stage at
midnight. It's a grand setting, rich in history, and as befits an opera
house, it has terrific acoustics.
The unmistakable Just Another Dream
kicked the show off - it will forever send a tingle down my spine.
Perhaps the biggest triumph of the return of the band has been the
opportunity to revel in the splendour of the often overlooked album
tracks. Northern Slide, Crescendo, Too Far To Fall, and Payola are
mighty songs, and have been worked up into majestic live anthems by the
band. The Magnificent likewise is an incredible song and was done
justice tonight - all four Professionals strut their stuff with Paul
Myers' bass, Cookie's drums, and the
dual guitars all forming distinct component parts. Tom
Spencer and the newest recruit Chris McCormack
share guitar duties including the old trademark Jonesy leads. It's
great to see them combining with some serious swagger and rapport. The
welcome inclusion of b-side Has Anybody Got An Alibi - slightly slower
and more rocky than the norm - allowed the Pros to show individually
what
they are capable of. It was a powerful unstoppable beast.
The emphasis
was mainly on nostalgia due to the festival vibe, but we did get to
enjoy two songs from the forthcoming LP: Good Man Down and Take Me Now.
Punchy, powerful with sharp hooks and memorable choruses, the band have
maintained the unique Professionals sound. The crisp start and sharp
endings that top and tail both tracks bolster the sense of urgency. Tom
gave Steve Jones a name check for his contribution to the studio
recording of Take Me Now - a nice touch. It was preceded by Join The
Professionals - the two songs sat well together, bridging the old and
the new.
Packed out with enthusiastic punters, the evening accelerated
towards its climax as 1-2-3 , Kick Down The Doors (which saw one
exuberant fan fly over the barrier), and Silly Thing shook the plaster
of this ancient building. It could have ended there, but both the crowd
and the band had earned themselves an extra little treat, Little Boys.
A new Professionals - new line-up, new album, new glories. The audience reaction tonight proved beyond any doubt
they are an exceptional live rock 'n' roll band. There were many new conscripts at Rebellion. The Professionals are the real deal, so get yourself enlisted, see them live, and if you've not already done so, pledge for the forthcoming
LP What In The World. |



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Review
& pictures by Phil Singleton
©Phil
Singleton /
cookandjones.co.uk / www.sex-pistols.net 2017
All rights reserved. Not to be
reproduced without permission
God Save
The Sex Pistols / Kick Down The Doors ©Phil Singleton /
cookandjones.co.uk / www.sex-pistols.net 2017
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