Wendy James – Live – King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut – sonicpr

Review By Darren McIntyre Images By Scott Anderson

Wendy Patricia James is a singer / songwriter / producer from London, England who has been doing her thing since 1986 & who is best known as lead singer of pop – rock outfit Transvision Vamp. She has also recorded with the likes of Elvis Costello, James Williamson( Iggy & The Stooges), Lenny Kaye(The Patti Smith Group), James Sclavunos(Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds). Wendy has released 10 albums from 1998 through to 2024 which includes her latest release The Shape Of History, to tell her own story Wendy & her band are on tour in the UK right now playing up and down the country and tonight she stops off in Glasgow @ King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut to bring us up to date with her journey so far, please join me as I take us through her impressive back catalogue of hits that will surely get this Glasgow crowd singing & dancing. It’s 8.30 and Wendy and the boys hit the stage and bang off we go –

Tell That Girl – A nice wee punk – esque groover to shake of the cold night sky outside as the pounding rhythm section controls the beat from the back of the room. Wendy comes in with her unmistakeable vocals that we have all come to know and love as the place gets into the groove, the thumping bassline is taking the track onwards as the beat fills every corner of the venue. The smattering of guitar riffs as getting the crowd all excited as Wendy brings her pop – punk tones to this excellent opening track, Jim on the drums is bringing the thunder as the rhythm oozes from the stage as Wendy thanks the audience as she gets shouts, hollers and wolf – whistles from the excited crowd as we roll into –

Do You Dig It – This bad boy has a cool, dark bassline that really shakes the place to it’s very foundations as the crowd starts moovin & a groovin. The boys dive straight in and bring the heat with a pounding snare drum beat that rains down on us as the guitar riff combines with a solid, delicious low end that just wraps itself around this punchy beast. Wendy has not lost her vocal prowess as she powers through the track with ease and she has a smile on her face as she looks like she is really enjoying herself, the place is jumping around and getting into the flow of tonight’s show as we stroll into –

Speedball – The groove certainly has some balls as the guitar riffs work well with a pounding rhythm section that is bringing powering snare drum punches and bass kicks that really take this track off down the road, the cool low end is just simmering under the surface as it delivers a real cool, meaty funk tone that gives this arrangement some swagger. Wendy steps up to the mic and brings in sheer punk style vocals as this fast / furious rocker track gathers pace and really lets us know that Wendy James Band are in town and they are ready to bring the party to the fine folk of Glasgow tonight, we shout and wail as we roll into –

You’re So Great – Wendy chats with us and tells us that it is great to be back in Glasgow as it is one of her favourite city’s to play in as we always make her welcome. The riffs ring out as Wendy leans in lets her raspy – punk style vocals lead this killer track, we get foot stomping beats as the boys come in with a crunching guitar lick that gets plenty of help from a thundering rhythm section that just gets us all warm and fuzzy inside. The cool, fuzzy bassline drops funky beats all through the track as Wendy really lets us feel the beat with a cool vocal that is almost spoken lyrics that have a swell feel to them as the boys just slip into funk – pop mode as the crowd really gets into the night’s entertainment, up next –

Farewell To Love – A smooth bass led track comes at us as the snare drum brushes bring a softer, more mellow tone to this fantastic track. Wendy lets her smouldering, mellow vocals tell their own story as we tap along to this nice arrangement. The band are tight and just bring the groove as Wendy rocks out and struts her stuff as we clap along and sing the lyrics as the place gets into tonight’s groove, Wendy & the boys are shifting through the gears as the beat wraps itself around King Tut’s tonight as we shuffle into –

I Want Your Love – Wendy brings us a crowd favourite as James gets the track off the ground with a smooth snare drum punch that has a cool, dark, brooding bassline that really gives the track depth. The slick guitar riffs are flowing freely as Wendy lets the soulful, punk- esque vocals ring out as this toe tapping, fist pumping groover gets the blood flowing through King Tut’s tonight, the place is fixed on the stage as the boys hit the ground running as this crowd favourite builds and builds as the cymbal crashes rain down on us as we get our groove on with this awesome piece. The vocals are strong and bring attitude to Glasgow tonight as we welcome a sheer classic tonight that leads us onto –

Perilous Beauty – We return to a cool gritty guitar riff that is oozing from the stage as the pounding rhythm section gives us a deep, bass kick that lets the snare drum beats drive through the venue tonight. The foot stomping melodies are bringing a real gritty groove to the track as Wendy lets her soulful vocals lead the charge in this dark haunting beast, the bassline is wrapping itself around us as the sizzling, clean guitar riffs wander freely through the track and just tell us that Wendy and the boys mean business as this grungy, punky monster just takes us to another place as Wendy’s mellow vocals let the track breath as we stroll into –

Dirt Bomb – There is a real darkness to the track as the cymbal rolls fill the venue as Wendy leans in and lets her dark, mellow vocals get the track off the ground. The tempo changes pace a little as the snare drum punches ring out and work well with a full on bassline that is dropping sweet, delicious grooves all over this foot stomping dark arrangement, we get a slick, crisp guitar riff that is weaving it’s way through the song as the boys just up the tempo and give us a cool, rocking track that just comes at us in waves with a thundering rhythm beat that has cool, meaty bass tones that make the track work so well as the Wendy takes us into –

Big Viciuos Rumble – Gentle keys ooze from the outset as Wendy lets her fantastic vocals lead the charge in this emotion filled track that just stops us in our tracks. A meaty bassline drops in and lets the track breath to get us in the mood as snare drum brushes let the rhythm section tease us with soft beats that control the tone from the back of the room, the sweet lyrics are soft, haunting and really let the vocals lead the charge as the bass grooves dip in and out to just allow the track to whisk us to another place as the venue stands silent as the epic track leaves it’s mark on us tonight, coming at us next –

Good Man Sister – We return to normal service as the punchy snare drum beats combine with cymbal snaps as this punky beat rolls from the stage as the boys bring the heat. The shredding guitar riffs come at sweet licks that really deliver a toe tapping groove as the dark, brooding low end hits us with funky tones that rumble along with this cool offering, James is bringing the noise as he controls the groove with cymbal crashes and snare drum beats that let the boys set out their stall and really give us a fist pumping, toe tapping punk – esque tone that puts some smiles on faces tonight as we roll into

You Tell Me – Alex comes at us with a real gritty, rasping guitar lick that rumbles through the intro as Wendy brings the smooth, mellow vocals that grab our attention. We are waiting on the break in the track as the guitar licks build and build as we feel the energy oozing from the stage, the snare drum kicks come at us as this dark, brooding number erupts with a cool swagger that really lets Wendy tell her story and make us believe it as we get into this cool offering. The low end comes through and drops smooth, mellow funk tones that work well with the slick, clean guitar as we rumble onto –

I’m Freaking Out – Crisp guitar riffs flow from the stage as Wendy leans in and deliver a real punk – pop vocals that sees the crowd jump around as this cool groover comes to life. The rhythm section is hitting us with solid snare drum beats that let the bass kicks give the track depth, attitude and bags of swagger as we feel the groove wrap itself around us tonight, the bassline is dropping in and giving us mellow, dark grooves that just let us feel the tone flow freely into the Glasgow crowd as the fast, furious groover leads into –

Baby I Don’t Care – Alex gets the track off the ground with a cool, sludgy guitar lick that has smooth snare drum beats that allow Wendy to bring her melodic vocals to the party as we welcome one of her biggest hits. The rhythm section is commanding the room from the back as James really hits the skins and brings us kicking and screaming with all we have, the backing vocals add a little depth to the track as the sludgy, delicious bassline brings a cool, funky tone to the track as the vocals tell their own story as the bass kicks let the beat flow as Alex cuts in and offloads with a nice solo riff that is hurtling through the track as we hit the business end of the show as we roll into –

The Impression Of Normalcy – A deep brooding bassline brings the track to life as it leads the track down the road with it’s dark, delicious tones that really pop. Wendy brings the punky vocals to this piece as the rhythm section kicks in the doors with a real heavy ended beat that really drives this monster forward, Alex is cutting about the stage and shredding with ease as this toe tapping bruiser really gets the place moving, the place is jumping around as this rasping arrangement really shakes us with all it has. The thundering snare drums are filling the place as they pound with all their might as the band gives us what we came for tonight as the setlist leads us to the last but one track –

If Looks Could Kill – Wendy chats with us and again thanks us for coming out to support her as she feels the love coming from Scotland tonight. This is a real foot stomper as the bassline drops in and gives us what for with it’s brooding, dark tones that work well with the rhythm section as the cymbal snaps bring in snare drum beats that are just kickin ass tonight. The cool, mellow vocals are just awesome as the punk tinged groover lets the tempo change pace for a bit as the sweet guitar licks make themselves known to us as this cool groove reaches us and tells us that we are coming to the last track of the night in the form of –

Bad Valentine – Wendy introduces the boys and they take their bows as the snare brushes bring the track to life as the full on bassline drops in and hits us with a real husky, deep groove that lets Wendy bring her soothing vocals to the track. Bass kicks are pouring from the stage as Jim brings the heat with his awesome playing, the sweet, crisp guitar picks are wandering freely through the track as the place is swaying from side to side as the night is coming to an end. The melodic vocals are weaving their way through the Glasgow crowd tonight as ooh ooh’s come from Alex as he brings the swagger to this set ending track that seems like the perfect way to end tonight’s shenanigans.

Judging by the crowd that stayed behind to buy merch, get stuff signed is clear to see that Wendy still has it in spades as she was happy to pose for snaps and chat.

Wendy James Band –

Wendy James – Vocals

Alex Ward – Guitar / Keys

Dave Parsons – Bass

James Sclavunos – Drums

Setlist –

Tell That Girl

Do You Dig It

Speedball

You’re So Great

Farewell To Love

I Want Your Love