Live from Delphic to Iron Maiden, with John Fratelli as a bonus
Delphic showed at The Echo last Friday that they're ready for prime time.
They say variety is the spice, and I had it over this past weekend. Both Delphic and Iron Maiden were ace. Delphic’s latest album “Acolyte”, a stellar effort, drops in the U.S. June 29. They conquered a sold-out crowd at The Echo Friday night. This band more than holds its own and exceeded high expectations. There’s not a whole lot of showbiz on stage, but the guys are likable, the playing is precise, and the energy is high. They don’t sound like Cut Copy, but the live vibe is very similar. Thanks to Jacob Mendez for the pic from Friday.
Full disclosure: I was the original U.S. A&R man for Iron Maiden and can’t possibly convey my pride in how these guys have persevered. They play as well as ever and were worshiped Saturday by 25,000 at the San Manuel Amphitheatre. It’s interesting that their crowds get younger and younger. They’ve always kept their feet on the ground, and have maintained high standards and integrity in everything that they do. That’s how a band survives at the highest levels. Their new album comes in August and you can download their “El Dorado” single no charge courtesy of the band. Singer Bruce Dickenson always has interesting things to add between songs. On the idea of a heavy metal government: “There would be more drinking and sex, not much would get done, and nobody would be killed.”
Dangerbird Records threw a Delphic party Thursday night. The Manchester boys played an abbreviated set, and we also got John Fratelli playing acoustic as a bonus. His voice was trashed and he only played a couple of songs. John will play some summer festivals with his side group Codeine Velvet Club and begin work on his next album as John Fratelli. I’m sure he’ll have a full band with him on the road. As John told me after his set, “Playing alone isn’t my thing.” Both Fratellis albums and the Codeine full-length have been faves of mine. As expected, John is stoked about his “Chelsea Dagger” UK hit becoming the signature song of the Stanley Cup champion Chicago Black Hawks.