Long Time No See
FM get their slot on the main stage due to Ratt pulling out at the last minute and judging from the broad grins on their faces they are rather pleased about it! Although their heyday was back in the 80s FM have been back on the scene since 2007 and with a new album released earlier this year the timing is pretty good for them.
Fronted by original guitarist and vocalist Steve Overland they give a tight performance helped by good sound. The songs are by and large mid paced classic rock and whilst very well done a lot of it does sound rather dated. The playing is faultless though and there are some good guitar solos on display. They succeed in getting the front rows clapping along but little beyond that and although it’s still pretty early in the day you get the feeling that this is about the extent of their appeal at an event like this where they are probably the lightest band on the bill.
They cover ‘Heard It Through the Grapevine’ (from 1991’s ‘Takin’ It To The Streets’), which at the time of it’s release should have been the hit they never had but here it just sounds out of place. They get a decent reaction when they finish and the band are still smiling and although they did little for me if the lighter side of classic rock is your thing then you’ll probably find plenty to like here.