{"id":24086,"date":"2016-11-09T10:43:53","date_gmt":"2016-11-09T09:43:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/?p=24086"},"modified":"2016-11-09T10:43:53","modified_gmt":"2016-11-09T09:43:53","slug":"something-for-the-weekend-the-vapors-play-triumphant-london-comeback-show-at-dingwalls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2016\/11\/something-for-the-weekend-the-vapors-play-triumphant-london-comeback-show-at-dingwalls\/","title":{"rendered":"SOMETHING FOR THE WEEKEND – The Vapors Play Triumphant London Comeback Show At Dingwalls"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Here Come the Vapors: Dave Fenton (left) and Ed Bazalgette<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It’s easy to be snide and cynical about events like this – why should a bunch of so-called one-hit wonders deserve a headlining tour 35 years after their brief brush with fame?<\/h4>\n

But the fact is – to a significant minority of people – The Vapors<\/strong> meant something and still do.<\/h4>\n

That’s why their London comeback at Camden Dingwalls\u00a0<\/strong>was an eagerly anticipated sell-out and why both band and audience seemed to share a mutual disbelief that this was all really happening after 35 years.<\/p>\n

Never at a gig have I seen so many forty and fifty somethings stupefied by sheer delight, broad grins spread across their faces as they\u00a0launched themselves into the oldest mosh pit in town.<\/p>\n

The Vapors could have been rubbish and got away with it, such was the awe and amazement at seeing them back on stage after all this time.<\/p>\n

But\u00a0they were very far from rubbish – blistering through their back catalogue with a well thought out set that built to a powerful crescendo.<\/p>\n

Emerging to the sirens of\u00a0Secret Noise<\/strong><\/em> they were loud, fast\u00a0and seriously tight, thanks in no small part to the addition of powerhouse drummer\u00a0Michael Bowes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Frontman\u00a0Dave Fenton\u00a0– <\/strong>who confirmed the band’s return in an EP\u00a0interview<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>in\u00a0<\/strong>August – was cool and assured, leaving most of the between song banter to livewire guitarist\u00a0Ed Bazalgette<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Which
Which one of you said I looked like Wilko Johnson?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With his shaven head and thousand yard stare Bazalgette resembles\u00a0a young\u00a0Wilko Johnson <\/strong>and he was more than happy to take the lead, constantly charging\u00a0to the front of the stage to thrust his axe over the heads of\u00a0the audience.<\/b><\/p>\n

Bazalgette even took lead vocals for the song Isolated Case<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0which he co-wrote with bassist\u00a0Steve Smith<\/strong>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

“Steve and I finally write a complete song together all on our own and Dave calls it\u00a0Isolated Case <\/em>– I’m just saying!” he quipped.<\/p>\n

As the set went on, B-sides were greeted with the same rapturous response as singles like\u00a0Jimmie Jones.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Although clearly excited to be there, Fenton seemed bemused that his songs were still held in such high regard.<\/p>\n

“You know all the words,” he remarked\u00a0at one point, genuinely amazed to hear his lyrics being sung back to him.<\/p>\n

Perhaps inevitably\u00a0their best known song\u00a0Turning Japanese<\/strong><\/em> was tossed away with little fanfare towards the end, as if the band were determined to shake that one-hit wonder tag.<\/p>\n

But there was far better to come in the encore with a rousing version of the single\u00a0Waiting For The Weekend, <\/strong><\/em>giving\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>way to hardcore fans’ favourite\u00a0Here Comes The Judge<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n

“It’s all right, it’s all right, it’s all right\/I’m just a bit\u00a0<\/em>zoombie,” \u00a0<\/i>we all screamed at the top of our lungs, before the band trooped\u00a0off stage, still looking slightly bewildered at the warmth of their reception.<\/p>\n