The Last Bandits - The Dev, London (UK) - 21 December 2018
'Twas the last Friday before Christmas and The Last Bandits, made up of Steve James (ex Dog's D'amour), Adam Bomb, Sam Hariss of the Sweet Things and Raph Bouchara took to the stage for their inaugural gig.
This is a band with its feet firmly planted in the Dog's D'amour back catalogue as the band name suggests. As such they kicked off with 'Gypsy Blood' and case in point 'Last Bandits'. Adam and Sam were helping out with vocals as Steve had lost his voice. Steve also had problems with both his guitars at one point, but these were small teething troubles in what was a great Rock 'n' Roll show with lovely soulful playing from Adam which really added something to the original, and sax from Steve for the first time ever live for 'Drunk Like Me' (like the studio recording) that having never happened live with the Dogs. 
This was followed in turn by well-done slide guitar from Adam on 'How Come It Never Rains'. And with those incredible chops in the same package comes the young bucks Sam and Raph who both "got the look" to quote Prince; think tumbling curly hair, floppy hats, leopard coats and jewellery à la Hanoi.
There was a swing all of its own to 'Victims Of Success' and a very Stones-y version of 'Billy Two Rivers'. Someone gave Sam a shot and it was like an injection of rocket fuel as suddenly he was rockin' his bass and his mike into the crowd, and hopping along on one leg despite a tiny stage. London has not forgotten their love for the Dogs and Adam looked amazed that everyone in the front row knew all the words to all the songs. There was plenty of scope for harmonies and backing vocals on songs like 'I Don't Want You To Go' and the crowd were in there with the band. There was a gasp of pain from the floor when they announced "Thank You very Much London, Goodnight!" and a plethora of shouts for more.
There followed an interlude of covers with Hanoi's 'Taxi Driver' and numbers from Johnny Thunders, like 'Chinese Rock' and 'Little Bit Of Whore' which fitted in well and continued the party atmosphere. Then up came Bam Bam as special guest for a cover of 'Get It On' and 'It's Only Rock 'n' Roll (But I Like It)' when Bam's wife (Share from Vixen) jumped up to provided bluesy Joplin-esque vocals.
Still the crowd would not leave and so there was a final rendition of 'Errol Flynn' before it was all over. The main thing to take from this gig was the enthusiasm of fans for the show, which augurs well for the future. There seems not much hope of the original line up, but in those circumstances Steve is doing something right in resurrecting the band's material and injecting young blood and long time professional player Adam to give the people 'Everything' they 'Want'.
Review and photos by Dawn Osborne
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