T.Rextasy - Unplugged

Let’s be honest: the very name T.Rex will forever be associated with glam rock and not with acoustic music. Alas, Friday week ago the ever-fabulous T.Rextasy were out to prove that Bolan’s greatest hits sound just as captivating if played – yes - acoustic!

Having said that, the show didn’t actually feature the full T.Rextasy line-up but only a stripped down line-up, just like the songs were performed in a stripped down manner. The band’s colourful frontman, Danielz, and his percussionist John Skelton treated the audience to an evening of T.Rex songs as you rarely get to hear them, and what a treat it was! You’d be forgiven to think that both tried to pull a Bolan/Steve Peregrine Took or early Bolan/Mickey Finn stunt, or indeed would dish out a repertoire based on early Tyrannosauraus Rex songs (for that was when Bolan did play acoustic!). But no! Almost all of the chosen songs were T.Rex hits, with only a few exceptions.
Als Danielz explained to me during our interview earlier on that day, the choice of songs is a deliberate one and he would like to demonstrate just how brilliant a songwriter Marc Bolan was, “because hearing them like that, it goes to prove how great these songs are when you can play them acoustic – and it still comes across strong!”

Friday nights in Sudbury seem a rather quiet affair (then again, I’m used to the wild London night life), with bugger all to do judging from what I’ve observed during my day out ‘in the sticks’. Even the tempting looking restaurants in this picturesque little market town were pretty much empty when I passed by. Just what are the locals doing for kicks I began to wonder? Well, on this Friday night they all seemed to have gone to the Quay Theatre for the much-anticipated ‘T.Rextasy – Unplugged’ gig… for the show was completely sold out! Indeed, the lovely theatre and art centre seems to be the cultural haven of the area, with all sorts of entertainment on offer. Tonight, admirers from Sudbury but also surrounding areas squeezed into the tiny auditorium – and as usual during the band’s shows, the fan base consisted of young and alike.

Finally, the lights went dim. Danielz (sporting garish yellow pants and an ocean green velvet smock-top with decorative border) and John Skelton (wearing a goofy t-shirt and his trademark bandana) took to the stage. Skelton to the left, with assorted congas and bongos in front of him and Danielz to the right, sat on a chair with a guitar on his lap. “This feels weird, I’m always so used to be at the centre of attention” he quipped. The first number was ‘Organ Blues’ and it was an exception in so far that this really is an early Tyrannosaurus Rex song (from the ‘A Beard Of Stars’ album to be precise). It also set the right tone straight away, for although there is of course no organ to be heard anywhere, ‘Organ Blues’ is the perfect vehicle for percussion and guitar teamwork.

Next came ‘White Swan’ and once again, hearing this ultimate T.Rex ditty played acoustic sounded anything but a dying swan. The beauty of T.Rex songs is that they all have a distinctive rhythm to them. Take all other instruments away and you still will be left with an infectious ‘one guitar and percussion’ sound that transfers perfectly to acoustic renditions.
Things speeded up (only ever so slightly) with ‘One Inch Rock’ during which Danielz tried to animate the audience to clap along to, albeit with moderate success. Not because the song is bad or the performance was flawed, but simply because of a ‘this is a theatre and we’re watching a show’ kind of atmosphere. He also announced one his favourite songs, ‘Left Hand Luke’ which – surprise surprise – still sounded great even without the soul-tastic backing chorus and keys of the original version. Though I must confess that this is one song I prefer to hear with all the trimmings attached.

If ‘Left Hand Luke’ is one of Danielz’ faves, then next number ‘The Groover’ is one of mine and I was delighted it was part of the repertoire. “T.R.E.X.” shouted Danielz to Skelton who, with deadpan expression, was banging away on his congas. Suffice to say the acoustic version didn’t quite groove as much as the electric one, but nonetheless it was a joy to listen to.

When it came to ‘Girl’, both Danielz and Skelton shared a bit of a joke with the audience, revealing how actor Dennis Waterman makes a habit of singing theme tunes in every TV-show he’s been in over the past few years (ie Minder, New Tricks, On The Up etc.). During an episode of BBC1 cop show ‘New Tricks’ they played ‘Girl’ to great effect in a burial scene. “Thank god they played the actual Bolan version….” remarked Danielz amused. Then, looking at Skelton, he asked, “can you imagine Dennis Waterman singing it?” Followed by roaring laughter in the audience.

After ‘Jeepster’, ‘Cosmic Dancer’ and ‘Teenage Dream’, Danielz performed one of his own compositions, namely the excellent ‘Living In Dreamland’ – a song about human arrogance in our world today. The same version can be heard on the superb ‘T.Rextasy Unplugged – A Dream That Lasts Forver’ album.
Finally, the crowd began to act more enthusiastic during ‘Get It On’ and ‘I Love To Boogie’, singing and clapping along. To be fair, there is zero space for standing (let alone dancing) in the tiny venue. What am I saying! There isn’t even enough legroom to boogie at the edge of your seat! It’s just as well this was an acoustic concert, for anything else would have been a torturous physical restraint. At times it even felt as if Danielz was ready to break out of his restraint too, for I saw him twitch more than once, eager to go wild on the guitar and the congas. Within a split second though he remembered that his was an acoustic session, so he boogied on in sedate mode.

Thus came the end of the act one, sorry, I meant the first half of the set. After a brief break, the duo returned to the stage. This time, Danielz sported a silver-sequined stole complimented by an obligatory feather boa, while Skelton had changed his bandana and t-shirt (skull face with Native Indian headdress… where does the guy get his t-shirts from?). Re-arranging and fumbling about with the feather boa, Danielz matter-of-factly explained that it itches and irritates his sensitive skin. “I’ve had sensitive skin all my life” he said, with an expression that left you guessing as to whether he’s serious or whether he’s having you on.
‘New York City’, ‘Spaceball Ricochet’ and ‘Telegram Sam’ all received big rounds of applause and the audience got more and more into it – well, as far as the restricted space allowed them to. The acoustic sessions also gave Danielz ample opportunity to show off his accomplished guitar and vocal skills. That, by the way, also goes for John Skelton – a bona fide drummer and percussionist who’s worked with and for some of the biggest name in the biz… Roy Orbison, anyone?

‘Till Dawn’ is another song that I only had heard performed with full-blown musical arrangements and backing chorus, so it was a bit of an adventure to finally hear it bare. Unlike ‘Mystic Lady’, which I had heard unplugged before (and played by T.Rex), though it was still great to hear the T.Rextasy version, as Danielz always adds his own touch to all of the songs. After ‘Children Of The Revolution’ and ‘Cadilac’ (another great track for acoustic guitar and percussion teamwork) it was on to ‘Dreamy Lady’ a song that WAS MADE for acoustic! Absolutely gorgeous (and gorgeously performed by Danielz), it gets me every time I listen to it!

Detouring from T.Rex, the next number was actually the Eddie Cochran classic ‘Summertime Blues’ – seemingly a firm favourite amongst so many rock ‘n’ roll boys that I’ve reviewed over the years. But we were back in Bolan-land again with ‘Metal Guru’ and ‘20th Century Boy’. If the latter is a challenge as far as acoustic renditions go, then yeah, what about the metal guru? But hey-ho, it turned out to be one of the highlights, not least thanks to Danielz’ highly imaginative take on it. Honestly, he should feature in one of those Kronenbourg’s ‘Slow down the pace’ beer adverts. If Lemmy and Suggs can do it…

Well, that was the end of the second half, though not quite… for there’s always an encore of course. Two more numbers, ‘Life’s A Gas’ and ‘Hot Love’ (why is it always ‘Hot Love’ as an encore choice) but then the curtain dropped for good.
‘T-Rextasy – Unplugged’ was both a very special experience and treat and I hope the show will delight the band’s London fans at some point too!

But for now it was out into the cold night and back to London. On the way to Sudbury train station, the statue of local hero, painter Thomas Gainsborough, greeted me. Had Bolan lived in the 18th century, no doubt the flamboyant glam-pixie would have been a constant muse to the artist. And if Gainsborough would live today, then there’s little doubt he would equally be taken in by Danielz.

(Please read my exclusive interview with Danielz and John Skelton in our Music-News ‘Interviews’ section).