Yes it’s an easy title to this post seeing as I was in the ‘Electric Ballroom’ in Camden but, he was! I didn’t search out set lists from previous gigs I just turned up an hour early to queue as I wanted a close up view and waited.
It was my first time at the Electric Ballroom, it’s a Tardis, a lot bigger than expected but not so big you wouldn’t get a decent view from anywhere. My hour early got me to the front barrier, not front and centre but off to the left.
The band walked out just after nine o’clock, drummer and bass player followed by Carl Restivo on guitar, then the man himself Tom Morello, wearing mirrored sunglasses and a black beret! He opened preceding with ‘Soldier in the Army’ fist in the air towards the crowd, a call to arms! He soon dropped the beret and donned the headwear we are all more accustomed to, the baseball cap.
What followed is exactly what the crowd wanted, Vigilante, then an instrumental medley of past tracks. Thomas Raggi of Maneskin joined them onstage for Gossip and stayed to add extra power to a cover of a favourite of mine, Kick Out the Jams by MC5. It may have been released before I was born in 1969 but such a me and a crowd pleaser.
Vocals throughout the night shared between Tom and Carl Restivo on guitar who has a fantastic voice, so suited for this!
The onslaught continued, then he paused and gave a moment to mention Chris Cornell before blasting out Cochise, blending that into a half rendition of Like a Stone and yes, finishing with ‘that’ guitar solo finish! Some acoustic guitar followed only to be interrupted by another ‘Rage Medley’, ‘Bomb track’ and ‘Know Your Enemy’ showed themselves, again only as instrumentals but the crowd was bouncing. A few individuals who braved the crowd surf quickly dragged forward and off by security.
The came the ‘Ghost of Tom Joad’, I didn’t want it to end, best version I’ve ever seen, possibly because it was live in front of me but I was transfixed. It was a stunning performance.
To finish he thanked the crowd, the UK, then asked us, the crowd to take over singing duties, a full rendition of Killing in the Name Of’ then happened! The audience nailed it, a power to the people bast at the end, then it was over.
Simply put, just WOW! Tom Morello up close and in a small-ish (1500 capacity) venue in Camden. Looking at the gig schedule I’m assuming it’s a perfect warm up gig for Download. Extra bonus Carl Restivo threw his set list out, I channelled Stretch Armstrong or Mr Fantastic and it was in my hand, then my pocket!
All the signature Tom Morello guitar tricks were deployed with venom, he knows how to deliver a show and has put together a band who are definitely on the same page.
When it’s that good what more can you wish for?
More! Again! More! More!
Take a look at the Tik Tok and Instagram (links at the top)
