By Leah Simons
After nearly 20 years as one of Britain’s most notable tribute acts, the Whodlums played their last show, taking the stage at Britain’s musical epicentre, the Cavern Club. The band seared through a collection of The Who’s biggest hits to an audience of mod-manic enthusiasts. Endorsed by Daltrey himself, the crammed room of the club was thrown into the coarse sounds of a sixties’ staple.
Greeted with cheers, the band take to the stage. They don’t look like The Who at all, appearing more as a collation of generations joining to perform songs they love. In some attempt to mimic their idols, members John Fletcher, Pete Bell, Andy Dunn and Steve Smith adopt some mannerisms synonymous with their attempted impersonations. Samplings of this are found within guitarist Pete’s harsh Townshend-esque playing and drummer Steve’s sporadic rhythm and facial expressions, even donning Moon’s vintage jumpsuit.
The music is brought to life as the set begins with ‘Who Are You,’ a song which initially irritated me at first but hearing it live sways me with its distorted vigour and charisma prominently sticking in the mind. If you close your eyes, they’re not far off from being the real thing.
The twinkling opening synths of ‘Baba O’Riley’ obtains grit with repetition. Pair this with the subtly elaborate actions as the band play, the room inherits an energy of blissful content.
‘Substitute’, along with songs such as ‘The Real Me’ and ‘Bell Boy’ from self-professed mod staple Quadrophenia infer more grit to the sound with singer John’s vocals really channelling the prowess of Daltrey’s defined charisma.
Solemnly, ‘Behind Blue Eyes,’ is yet another perfect testimony to the band. It’s gentle-to-abrupt energy is conveyed with ease. ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again’ begins the slow closure of their set and near two-decade long career performing songs of The Who. At this point, I realise that the intensity of such music was made to be played live, regardless of whether you’re actually seeing the real thing. Even better, the confines of the Cavern make for the perfect venue, not only with its intimacy but undeniable history allowing the sound to obtain a heighten poignancy.
‘My Generation,’ draws the show to a flawless close, bringing together all elements synonymous with the band to the focal point. Drums crash at force, guitars hammer noise and vocals blend somewhere between a melody and a scream. The final moments close with the destruction of a guitar, in true Who fashion and one final farewell to the crowd.
I had perhaps forgotten that tribute acts didn’t need to be exact replicas of their predecessors. A tribute act can work within the realm of purely bringing music to life. This is exactly what the Whodlums did within the space of an hour. Like a real-life time capsule, we were transported to the undignified heights of the sixties and mod-culture.
A fantastic means to part ways as a group, the show was the perfect goodbye. But it begs the question… Who’s Next?
