It was over three years ago but Nige and me were having a really bad night with a really terrible band and as the end of the first set was approaching I begged Nige to take me to see someone decent. We both remembered that Heavy Load were on in Aycliffe and so we sneaked out and hot-footed it down to the North Briton in record time.

It was a decision that I will never regret. A lovely smile from Nick as we entered and some classic Free and Bad Co. went down better than the JD which we dutifully purchased. And after the gig a great chat with all the lads. Heavy Load saved the night and they have my appreciation. You can always rely on quality

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And the word quality brings me right back to Saturday at the Grand in Bishop Auckland. Simon from the venue has been in touch with Riffs regularly and is building up a very healthy live music following every weekend. The room is fairly rectangular with the stage at one end but it never feels like a working men's club room, it has quite a few tables but, of course, me and Nige never sit, and found ourselves a place near the entrance (after I had sent him for the drinks of course).

Nick was still soundchecking and although he nodded to me upon my entrance I admire the fact that he got all the sound sorted; made sure the band were happy with the sound; got the stage tidied and ready and then, and only then, did he come over for a relaxing chat. Obviously, because he didn't have ME as a priority I kicked him hard in the goolies!!! Only joking. I was a priority that, on this occasion, had to take second place

It was really nice to talk to Nick again as we go back a long way, from his time in Nobody's Fool, who featured on an early Riffs magazine cover, then Axis, who played Stormin, then when he formed Heavy Load. I remember talking to him soon after HL formation and he said then that he felt a lot more comfortable in that band; he felt as though that was what he had been meant to do and he had never been happier. I knew then that Heavy Load would be good, because when you are that happy doing something you invariably make it work. And so it has come to pass. Even three years ago Heavy Load were excellent, tight and passionate - so how could they have got any better.....?

The band now consist of Nick on vocals and Mark on drums, Joe on bass and Phil on lead.

From the opening track please explain why it felt so good - everything just seemed so right. The sound was spot on, the venue was relaxing and all the lads were on sparkling form. It's not often that everything just gels - but with Heavy Load they seem to have nailed that little secret down to a T. I'm not going to list the songs because I think it's sometimes nice NOT to know what they play, especially when they play everything so bloody well! But I am going to mention a few of my favourites: The Stealer was exceptional; Movin' On had Nige nearly up and rockin; Wishing Well gave me goosebumps on my neck; Shooting Star had Nige and the guy next to him singing along nearly louder than Nick; Deal with the Preacher was so so good; Fire and Water . . . don't know what to say!!!; and then you must know how I like Mr Big.....

We got talking to one of the punters who just turned out to have seen the band four times in the last year and a half including the Free Convention. And as both Nige and myself think it's important to get other people's views too, we listen hard to what Steve had to say. In a nutshell 

He agreed wholeheartedly with what I feel about the band, Free and Bad Co.  Maybe it's possible to copy the instruments; meticulously copy the sound note by note and then pop up on stage and play the tracks...................but what you have missing is the MOST important part of Free and Bad Co’s music - and the part that Nick and the lads have in abundance - passion and emotion. It's what comes from inside that counts. That might seem a bit intangible but leave that out and you are wasting your time getting up on stage at all.

Steve said that Heavy Load appeared at the FreeConvention which, as you may expect, is full of Free fans who can be pretty fussy when it comes to recreating their favourite bands tunes. So how did they do? 'They went down a storm', said Steve. 'they have so much passion in their music that everything works perfectly. You can tell they play because they love the music of Kossoff, Ralphs, Rodgers etc. and not for anything else; that comes over so clearly in how they play.'
 

I could say that the second set was a disappointment and that the lads had burnt themselves out in the first half and just couldn't cut it in the second. But, the second set was an absolute stormer with the cream of Free and BadCo. done to absolute perfection. Mark's drumming was superb; Phil on lead was a dream; Joe on bass looked and performed brilliantly; and Nick, as always, knew exactly what he was doing and never overdid it. His style and movement was perfection itself and I was proud to know him. And talking of pride, how proud was Nick in that swish orangee/yellow top with the 'Dio sleeves'?

Simon must have been busy when HL played the Hunter, and with him liking it so much, when the band got to the end of their set, Simon asked them to play it again! But as Nick said 'Well he's paying us and if he wants the Hunter again then that's what he's gonna get'.

And who was that guy who whisked me away from Nige and down the front to dance with him. And to the Hunter too!! Bit of a surprise but I enjoyed it!

A really brilliant evening. Great lads in the band; a good crowd; a superb natter with Nick; and great to meet landlord Simon at last. 

A nice venue which I will return to soon................

And I know some people have said they have found it difficult to find: well this is the easiest way from the North:

Down the A1M, come off at the A177 and head for Spennymoor/Bishop Auckland. Keep on that road for several miles (keep heading to Spennymoor and then on to Bishop Auckland) and then just after you pass the Park Head Hotel (on the left) you will take the third exit and go down a long bank, when you get to the bottom of this bank turn right at the roundabout - the Grand is 400 yards along there on the left. If you see Asda car park you have gone too far...............!