Live Event: Heavy Pettin’ / Rock Goddess, The Tivoli, August 31st, 2019

Dave & Tina co-review Heavy Pettin\’ and Rock Goddess.

Make sure to listen to our interview with Jody Turner.

Heavy Pettin’

The previous time that I saw Heavy Pettin’ was when they supported KISS back in 1983 on the ‘Lick it Up’ tour, and if truth be told, I didn’t like them. Granted I was only 18 at the time, I wanted to see KISS, and there were TWO support bands…Helix being the other one. So I would have been very impatient (and intolerant) of ANY band that was supporting my beloved KISS.

Jump forward 36 years (where the hell did THAT time go!?) and I’m stood at the Tivoli as Heavy Pettin’ take the stage.

To be succinct, I was impressed…very impressed.

The band played their asses off and vocalist Hamie was rock ‘n’ roll personified as he jumped around the stage defying time with a vocal performance that was leagues ahead of my 1983 memories of him. Slugging from a bottle of Jack Daniels, his enthusiasm and love of being on the stage was infectious.

The whole band put on a musical performance that was as tight as a gnats bumhole, and the \’flying V\’ guitar solos were fantastic.

A new album is apparently incoming, and one particular song from it was bloody outstanding!

I await new music from them with renewed interest…and will now definitely revisit their older music again too with more mature ears.

(Dave)

Rock Goddess

Reformed in 2013, sisters Jody (vocals, guitar), Julie (drums, back up vocals) and new band member Jenny Lane (bass, backup vocals) recently released their fourth studio album ‘This Time’ and it’s a great favourite here at 60MW Towers.

A quick rewind to the beginnings of the band: initially formed in the late 70\’s, even then the band formed a triptych of guitar/bass/drums and at that time being an all-girl British band was… nothing short of bloody amazing. In fact, and please correct me if I’m wrong, I can only think of TWO all women UK rock bands: Girlschool and Rock Goddess.

Now Girlschool, the less talented yet more famous of the two (in my opinion purely because of their association with Motorhead), never did it for me. However, Rock Goddess, with their natural beauty, talent and fantastic musicianship, were real heroes for an 18 yr old Tina. 

They played rock, they loved what they did, they weren’t all about \’pouty lips and tits\’ and boy could they play.

I wish I could remember when I saw them and where, it was 30 years ago and I can’t remember! But I do have a lasting feeling that seeing them previously was bloody awesome.

Dave was lucky enough to talk to Jody a few months back about the reformed band and their new album, and when he played it for the first time (he had no idea I was a fan) I thought… hang on, I know that voice.

One thing that sets Rock Goddess apart from other bands (male and female) is Jody’s voice; it is the most singular voice in female led rock: melodic yet hard, soprano and screaming. She always has her mojo rising and despite the many years of singing these familiar tunes, she always gives it her all. As does her sister Julie on drums.

We are a similar age and I know what it’s like to be over 50. But these sisters are truly ageless, seeing Julie whack the beat with her amazing star sticks (never seen anything like them before!) made me PROUD to be a female rock fan. Fuck, these girls should be playing secondary schools all over Britain to show teenagers how it’s done, and then they should be playing for the menopause club to show US how it’s done. They are breath taking. I don’t include Jenny in the age thing as she’s younger but wow, what a solid addition on bass, and seeing her leaping about with the most massive shit-eating happy grin on her face, made ME smile like a loon too.

Now we always bang on about The Tivoli in Buckley. And we will ALWAYS comment on its individuality, its ‘Bon ami’ and incredible bottle top tables. You go to the Tiv, you are welcomed, you are genuinely part of a music family and without a doubt this venue is a true original, like the Marquee club in London and CBGBs in New York, an independent music venue where the greats played, The Tivoli is just as important, and it’s STILL open.

Rock Goddess took to the stage and right away filled it with buzzing energy, then Jody began to sing, and the immenseness of her vocals is still palpable and she ripped through both old and new songs in a 90 minute set.

Backed by two other female musicians their sound is a wall of rock, the three of them filled the stage with their medusa power. I was just blown away by them. I also felt very emotional; meeting them after the gig was a true pleasure. What lovely ladies, with endless patience and time for their fans. Seeing them and chatting to all of them was pretty mind blowing for 54 yr old Tina, who was for that evening 18 yrs. old.

Ladies I salute you, you ARE rock and Roll. Long may you continue and reader…if you’re a rock fan, do NOT miss Rock Goddess playing live, I guarantee that even if you’re not familiar with their music, at the end of the night you’ll be on Amazon buying their back catalogue.

SETLIST:

Two Wrongs Don’t Make A Right
Back Off
Gotta let your hair down
To be betrayed
Are you ready
Start running
Why do we never learn
Flying
It’s my turn
It’s more than rock and roll
Hell hath no fury
Hold me down
Calling to space
Drive me away
Satisfied Then Crucified
Heavy metal rock n roll

(Tina)

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