Hawkwind
Glasgow Academy
4th December, 2008

Their first time out since the passing of Jason Stuart and a debut for guitarist Niall Hone was interesting rather than inspirational. A dreadful sound system had me hurling silent curses at the mixing desk as classics like Orgone Accumulator, Master Of The Universe and Time We Left disappeared in a blur of noise. Sole remaining founder Dave Brock is central, with Hone behind a bank of keys. Tim Blake seems to be on another planet, but drummer Richard Chadwick remains one of the great unsung sticksmen. There were the usual bacofoil/rabbit-suit mimes and odd new tune, but nothing special. Luckily, midway, they overcame the sound issues and Right To Decide, Hassan I Sahba, Utopia and Fahrenheit 451 served as potent reminders of how great Hawkwind can be.