Cats In Space - The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, 15th September 2023
Set 1: King Of Stars/Teenage Millionaires/Goodbye/American Dream/Kickstart The Sun/A Big Balloon/ 1,000,000 Miles/51 Pillow Bed/Poke The Witch/Charlies Ego/Bootleg Bandoleros.
Set 2: Too Many Gods/Timebomb/Mr Heartache/Broken Hearted/Scars/Marionettes/Atlantis/Rocket/ Thunder In The Night/Mad Hatters Tea Party/Listen To The Radio/Greatest Story Never Told.
Encore: Hologram Man/I Fell Out Of Love With R 'N' R.
So here we are at the excellent venue of The Apex, Bury St. Edmunds to see Cats In Space.
I had previously seen Cats In Space as a support band (with Deep Purple) and then with their own support band and was very impressed with their musicianship and loving their music. This is now added to my collection. I suspect that tonight we are in for a real treat as it is to be a one band show.
This feeling is greater enhanced from seeing the stage set ready with the screens behind including their massive cat outlined logo, central starred drums, the ‘grand’ piano; atop the slowly turning, illuminated cat space helmet and plenty of sparkle. As the audience slowly fills up the seats (yes, it’s a sitting venue this evening) a gentle, vibratory purring from them showing their anticipation and growing excitement for the evening to come.
And we’re off, the main lights go down, the stage lights come on, training down in a magnificent rainbow of colour, the audience volume rises up and up with cheers and whoops …
Then they arrive on stage; Damien Edwards (Lead/Backing Vocals), Greg Hart (Electric Guitars/Acoustic Guitars/Vocals), Dean Howard (Electric Guitar), Steevi Bacon (Drums/Percussion/Timpani Harmonica), Jeff Brown (Bass Guitar/Vocals) and Andy Stewart (Pianos/Synthesisers/Vocoder) who, collectively, are about to take us on an incredible three-hour journey.
We are treated to two sets, the first being the wonderful ‘Kickstart The Sun’ album played in, almost, its magnificent entirety. What a fabulous sound, clear vocals, good audience rapport, a little humour with a tiny technical hitch as well as being treated to a beautiful keyboard solo from Andy.
At times I am reminded of Styx in their sound and arrangement of songs with a tiniest bit of Queen thrown in the mix too. However, this takes nothing away from their own sound which is superb.
The songs are great with brilliant and clever lyrics all enhanced by the pictures scrolling on the screen. It is so great to see a band where each performer’s personality shines through alongside their talent; apart from ‘Charlie’ there were no overblown egos here! My favourite track in this set has to be the title track of ‘Kickstart The Sun’.
The second set is a collection of some of their best songs from the rest of Cats’ career, ‘You could say our greatest hits section’, we are informed. The audience are invited to get to their feet now and this needs no further enticing as we gradually embrace this novel idea! The band continue to treat us to a spectacular show that simply dazzles from beginning to end.
It’s a much rockier set lending itself to a good amount of dancing! Thanks for the invite to do so. I for one thoroughly enjoyed and embraced this. It even being noticed by the band’s crew! Hey ho! Sometimes one just has to let oneself go and let the music flow, through mind, body and soul.
Thank you to all the Cats for a fantastic evening and taking the time and trouble to spend a significant amount of time with fans at the end for photographs, signings and general conversation; much appreciated. My favourite track in this set: ‘Greatest Story Never Told’.
If you have not already heard anything from this band you really must check them out as they are well worth a listen and will, no doubt, become one of your regular go to listens, as they have me.
Review By Jane Mace
Photographs By Paul Mace