Larry Norman Passes The Whistle Test

Review : Gaumont, Kilburn Concert on 26 November 1977

There is more to being a performer that simply having the ability to produce good music - as Larry Norman demonstrated at the Gaumont, Kilburn, at the end of November.  Larry has immense talent - that’s clear both from his songs and the way he performs them.  He is also articulate - producing one 15 minute segment of mostly pointless but highly entertaining chat that held the audience riveted.

But what makes Larry Norman special is his charisma.  It is such that every sip of water or nose scratch brought nervous giggles from the audience.  In the past, Larry has too often exploited this kind of situation, but on this occasion he did the very opposite - choosing to play a set that stretched his audience both mentally and musically.  Moving on from some of “oldies but goodies”, Larry had a new song about Eldridge Cleaver and then dipped into his as yet unreleased-in-Britain album “So Long Ago The Garden”.

Eventually he was joined by the Alywn Wall Band. A lesser performer could have lapsed into playing some banal rock and roll to generate the audience reaction.  Instead, together, they produced some highly intelligent, good music that should have had the audience on it’s feet, and that deserved - but didn’t get - a standing ovation.  Larry - actually looking happy - fronted the Alwyn Wall Band with authority.  And they returned the compliment by providing some brilliant support.

Opening the evening, the band had shown themselves able to deliver live the same kind of excellent music that they produce in the studio.  But missing was the essential charisma.  Musically the band are all very accomplished - with Norman Barrett, lead guitar, and Nick Brotherwood, drums, being exceptional.  But only when Norman’s blistering guitar work cut loose did the band really did begin to take off - and then the boys worked together to produce something quite exceptional.

Maybe it was Larry Norman’s brilliance that made the Alwyn Wall Band seem pale.  Certainty when with the band, Larry put Christian music into a new level.  No longer are we limited to a standard that asks, “Can I play this album to my friends without going red round the gills?”  Now we ask, “Is this good enough for the Whistle Test?”  In this case, the answer was most definitely yes”.

Peter Meadows

Buzz Meadows January 1978