THE DOORS ALIVE – LIVE REVIEW

The Doors Alive live at the Hub, Plymouth – 09/09/2017 
Mike Griffioen as Jim Morrison (Pic: Marielle Newton)

There’s something about the Doors that, above all other bands, makes people want to travel back through time and be part of the experience of one of their live shows. Even the Beatles don’t command the same level of mysticism and they have plenty of copy-cats so it’s lucky that we have a band like the Doors Alive around to bring the past to life – let’s face it, if you actually had a time machine you’d be doing a tour of North Korean and American maternity wards to change the current nightmare we’re living in.

Now, sure, there’s a passing physical resemblance to Jim Morrison in Dutch frontman Mike Griffioen which definitely helps with the aesthetic but before I’ve even laid eyes on the band you can hear those trademark velvety smooth vocals drifting out from the stage. Like a devilish siren call that lures you in, Mr Mojo Risin’ doesn’t waiver from that unique and singular voice that has been singing out through the ages ad across the generations.

The Doors Alive @ The Hub, Plymouth (Pic: Marielle Newton)
This isn’t just about the frontman though, is it? There are moments during the performance where the vocalist leaves the stage and just allows the guitars, drums and keyboards to go on a wander. That Jazz influence meanders as you might expect, the psyche influence weaves through like smoke in a crowded room and then you hear those moments, those notes that would later go on to influence the dawn of dance music in generations to come.

I specifically haven’t mentioned the songs as if you don’t know the Doors then it won’t matter and if you do, well, you just need to imagine your ideal set and that’s all you need to know. A packed venue of mixed ages and experiences responded with love, adoration and gratitude that these four men were able to bring the Doors back to life for a couple of hours. Whether you love the Doors or just know a tune or two, I can’t recommend highly enough the experience of standing in a room of people all swaying to the rhythmic Manzarek keys work and hypnotic tones that are core to the band legend. It’s semi spiritual and there were some big smiles leaving the venue so I’d say that was a job well done.



Photographs by Marielle Newton - http://www.mariellephotography.co.uk/ 

Comments