In praise of Iain Harvey (Del Amitri)

RandallFlagg

I know Del Amitri have not been 'where it's at' for a long time but I just played through their Twisted album from 1995 and Iain Harvey sounds great, the arrangements, guitars, songs, lyrics are all very good.

A bit like a British Lynyrd Skynyrd in a way.

not_the_dj

Haven't heard that album for ages, but yeah they were a decent little band.

Saw them live a couple of times, once on the "Some Other Sucker's Parade" tour in Wolverhampton, and opening for the Stones in Sheffield in '95. He was doing the proper rock star with a Les Paul thing there for sure.

not_the_dj

Ooooo, we're being lol'd  :-h

EricTheWeary

I'll do anything for a lol.
They were mentioned on something on here the other day. I can't remember exactly when I saw them but probably very late 80s. Long time ago but my memory is of a very talented bunch of musos who largely sublimated all that in the interests of serving the song. Do they still exist in some way?

not_the_dj

4010 and rising! Hurrah, I'm sure I was on less than 4K this morning!

guitari

Underrated guitarist and band.

EricTheWeary said:

 Do they still exist in some way?

They reformed about a year (or 2?) ago for a few gigs but I think that was it.

Justin Currie's solo albums are ok but definately lacking in the guitar department imo.

IvisonGuitars

Great band and Ian Harvey is a great player. Proper gear hound too I believe. He and Justin have written some classic tunes.

thermionic

Have you heard Eileen Rose? They were her band on at least one album. She's excellent btw.

impmann

Fantastic band and great soulful player. Time to dig the vinyl out...

StefB

I saw them at Manchester Apollo a couple of years back on the last tour and was bitterly disappointed with Iain Harvie.  He really didn't look like he was with it at all, took very much a back seat and let the other guitarist (whose name escapes me) take most of the guitar parts.

Stark contrast to the first time I saw them at the Academy in 2002 and he rocked out good and proper with gold top Les Paul and Orange rig.

DiscoStu

Justin Currie is playing in my locality tomorrow night. Is he worth seeing?

ewal

I saw Del Amitri in the very early days in the mid to late 80's. They were a totally different band - like a more angsty version of Orange Juice. Not sure when or why they decided to change musical direction.

StefB

DiscoStu said:

Justin Currie is playing in my locality tomorrow night. Is he worth seeing?

Yes!  I've seen his solo show a couple of times, once on his own and once with another chap on guitar (so not really solo that time!).

He's quite a miserable bastard, particularly on Facebook and Twitter, but is very charismatic, has a great voice and does tidy acoustic versions of the DA classics and his own solo stuff.

DiscoStu

Cool. I found out tonight that he's the secret guest at a beer festival at a nearby hotel tomorrow.

xwolf5150

Change Everything is one of my all time favourite albums.
Brilliant in every way.

richardhomer

I've never heard of him, or the band.

Typical of me - always the last to know....

Bellycaster

Lots of appreciation for Del Amitri here too.

stuagu

StefB said:

I saw them at Manchester Apollo a couple of years back on the last tour and was bitterly disappointed with Iain Harvie.  He really didn't look like he was with it at all, took very much a back seat and let the other guitarist (whose name escapes me) take most of the guitar parts.

Stark contrast to the first time I saw them at the Academy in 2002 and he rocked out good and proper with gold top Les Paul and Orange rig.

That wouldve been kris dollimore . Top geezer and wicked solo blues artist .

DrBob

Loved 'Just Like A Man' great playing on that

ESBlonde

Bellycaster;1039171" said:

Lots of appreciation for Del Amitri here too.

Yep me too. Remember covering a couple of the hits back when they were.

jeztone2

Wasn't there a photo fit of Madeline McCanns abductor, that looked like the drummer from Del Amitri. I had a mate at uni who loved them. But I'm ashamed to say I don't know any of their tunes, apart from that big hit they had