FM/Collateral – The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, Friday 10th May, 2024
What could be better than seeing one of your favourite bands? Well, seeing a support act that is fantastic as well. Especially when it is at the classy Apex in Bury St Edmunds, which is barely 20 minutes from my home in Norfolk.
It's all seated tonight which is somewhat disappointing as this does not just reduce the capacity from around 900 to 600, it also dilutes the intensity and atmosphere.
Set List: Glass Sky/Sin In The City/Final Stand/Mr Big Shot/No Place For Love/On The Long Road/ About This Boy/Merry Go Round/Midnight Queen.
Collateral exploded onto the Apex stage with wild hair and charisma. Angela Tristan demanding attention with gestures and voice. Bass player, Jack Bentley Smith had just as much stage presence and craft, his hair seemingly having a life of its own! The opening song ‘Glass Sky’ from their just released second outing, ‘Should’ve Known Better’ certainly created an impact. Tristan commanded the crowd with wide eyed enthusiasm.
Despite constant communication with the audience there seemed to be a flat response! This is the problem with all seated venues: people feel inhibited and restricted, unable to express themselves, which is not good for a night of ROCK!
Collateral started as a Bon Jovi cover act and still cover many bases and styles throughout their music, from anthemic party rock, which is impossible to ignore, to a kind of Bon Jovi meets Aerosmith style of song. But it is their light Countrified songs that really grabbed my attention, with immaculate playing and vocals.
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Throughout the band played heroically and will clearly be headlining venues soon. (They have just done this at Dingwall’s in Camden at their album launch party.) Angelo does his utmost to cover every inch of the large stage with his Rock god personality. That Collateral have the songs there is no doubt, Louis sprays his notes from his six strings in fine style, whereas Jack, swirls and peppers and punctuates with his bass.
After their opening slot the group met everyone at the merchandise desk, which got busy, so much so that they really turned up the heat causing the fire alarm to go off! We all evacuated before quickly being given the all clear to return.
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As I made my way to the stage ready for FM, I passed a group of fans who asked if I knew what the problem was, my response was, it was nothing to worry about as it was only Collateral damage! My pun provoked quite a few groans and laughter.
Set List: Digging Up Dirt/Tough It Out/Killed By Love/Someday/Don’t Need Another Heartache/ Everytime I Think Of You/Out Of The Blue/The Dream That Died/Synchronized/Say It Like It Is/Closer To Heaven/Does It Feel like Love/That Girl/Bad Luck/Hot Wired/Turn This Car Around.
Encore: The Story Of My Life/Other Side Of Midnight.
This Forever Magical group played the Bury St Edmunds Apex for the first time, which is partially down to me, as I recommended the venue to Guitarist, Jim Kirkpatrick & Vocalist, Steve Overland in recent interviews. I did this because of its wooden structure, superb acoustics and the three balconies.
FM promised a new setlist and they delivered on that front. FM are a joyous musical experience which captivates the fan base with huge choruses, smiles and a level of musicianship that lesser bands struggle to match.
Opening song, ‘Digging Up Dirt’ saw Steve immediately ask the faithful to stand, if they were allowed, those downstairs did. As you would expect classics streamed from the stage, ‘Closer To Heaven’ & ‘Story Of My Life’ being obvious highlights.
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Five tracks from the outstanding ‘Tough It Out’ was maybe a couple too many, but that is just my opinion. With just three coming from ‘Indiscreet’, the set-list could have been braver. I am not really complaining as all are perfect examples of FM’s quality song writing.
FM don’t run around the stage and their long hair has been gone for decades, but those smiles are infectious, bassist Merv Goldworthy still looks cheeky, like the proverbial naughty schoolboy who is full of mischief and fun. Guitar man, Jim Kirkpatrick tries to look moody as he dazzles us with some glorious flurries from his fretboard, but the smile is never far away. Pete Jupp holds it all together with an infectious grin that fills the venue.
Steve leads it all from the front, the voice immaculate and seemingly untainted by the passing of time, he is no slouch on his guitar either. When his blue one refused to play the game and supply us with splashes of colour, he continued without any obvious sign of annoyance.
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New songs from ‘Old Habits Die Hard’ were aired in the shape of ‘Don’t Need Another Heartache’ – ‘Out Of The Blue’ & ‘Say It Like It Is’. Steve introducing the first by asking has anyone got the new album yet? Of course we have, we are FM fans, was basically the answer.
No, I haven’t forgotten Jem Davis who just beamed and glowed throughout. His extended keyboard solo that led into ‘Story Of My Life’ was delightfully delicate. It was also brilliant to see him come to the front with his keytar.
Seeing FM is always an event, they have so many great songs to choose from that they would need to play for three hours to please everyone.
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It has been a tough year for FM, the loss of Chris Overland was clearly devastating, this was exacerbated by the loss of close friend Bernie Marsden. The band have produced an delivered a superb new album in ‘Old Habits’.
I hope we have many more to come. Maybe the set-list will have to be extended, or they start later, 10pm to 00.05, that way we will always play on ‘The Other Side Of Midnight’! I would really like to know what the band thought of the Apex but unfortunately they left the venue without meeting the fans.
By Paul Mace