Generally, I was quite dismissive of tribute bands, but the Illegal Eagles persuaded me that some cover bands could really do justice to the original act, in some cases surpassing what the original was doing today.
Blondie, of course, still tour, but there's no doubt that, approaching 80, Debbie Harry's voice is certainly not what it was.
I was never one of those lads who went gooey eyed over Debbie Harry in period, but she definitely had a sex appeal that many younger female singers didn't have and the band as a whole had a slightly jaded viewpoint to their songs that I always liked.
I think it was the French version of Sunday Girl that hooked me into Blondie, but from Parallel Lines, I went back to their original album and really liked the gritiness of that, combined with some Shangri-Las like tones. Plastic Letters is a good album, too, but while I didn't hate later stuff, I generally found the next couple of albums weaker and only really listened to them again when Maria was released from the No Exit album, which is actually up there as one of their best, I think.
That Bootleg Blondie were appearing within walking distance, on a good day, of my home persuaded me that a relatively small outlay for a ticket was worthwhile.
I saw Blondie's performances at the IOW and Glastonbury festivals and felt that the time to see the real thing had definitely passed, but would the Bootleg version be worth the time?
The venue was oddly setup with tables at the rear and standing at the front. Although the band were on a stage, I can't imagine seated people would have seen that well once things got going.
They came on stage, 4 musicians dressed on grey jumpsuits, and started playing the instantly recognisable introduction to Heart of Glass, probably Blondie's best known song, which seemed an interesting place to start.
There was a mock Royal Mail phone box on stage and Debbie Harris (is that her real name?) appeared from it, dressed in the grey slip dress that Debbie Harry wore in the video for the song. With tousled blonde hair, there was no doubt she was going for the look as well as the sound.
The band, I have to say, musically performed the songs excellently throughout, but, as with Blondie, a lot rested on the singer's slim shoulders.
I never saw Blondie live in period, so it's hard to say how much Bootleg Blondie vocally sound like Blondie. They certainly don't sound like the records and, thankfully, not like they do now, so I guess the only question is "Did I enjoy their renditions of these tracks?" - Absolutely!
After Heart of Glass, they moved quickly into Dreaming, never a favourite of mine, if I'm honest, and then 11:59 and The Tide Is High, pretty effectively covering a number of the styles Blondie embraced.
By this stage, most people were enjoying themselves (except the irritating couple next to me who carried out a shouted conversation through every song. Why would you pay money to go to a gig JUST to shout a conversation with someone? What is wrong with people, this is far from the only time I've encountered it).
The less well known Island of Lost Souls and I'm on E followed, then they slowed it down a bit with French Kissin' in the USA before moving into Rapture.
Famous for being the first UK number 1 featuring rapping, I have to say Rapture was one of the highlights of the evening, although I hate rap with a vengance generally. It's a funky track and the band not only played it well, but added to the recorded version I'm familiar with.
At this point 'Debbie' disappeared for a few minutes, before returning in a different era outfit (featuring a bin liner jacket with 'Debbie Does Fleet' on the back, which later got donated to a member of the audience whose birthday it was) and then we had Atomic, Eat to the beat, Pretty Baby and Will Anything Happen.
There was a 20 minute or so interval at some point, although I don't recall exactly where in the set list, which I'm sure many of the audience, being in their 60s and more, appreciated.
Debbie changed outfits again and the band also returned in the leather jackets and jeans of another Blondie style era.
Angels On The Balcony isn't a song I recognise and they may not have actually played it in Fleet (The setlist below is pretty close and made up from one in London and my memory), but they then went into a series of mostly early tracks (If I'm honest, I like the first album more than later ones); I'm Gonna Love You Too, Presence, Dear, Detroit 442, X Offender, In the Flesh and Rip Her To Shreds.
This section featured songs from the "No Exit" album, Nothing is Real but the Girl and the no 1 hit, Maria.
I think it was at this point that we got another outfit change and Debbie returned in the red shirt and boots from the Sunday Girl era.
We also got Fan Mail (an early track), Denis, I Want That Man, Sunday Girl (with a verse in French) and Debbie picked up her guitar for Union City Blue.
The main set finished on Call Me, with a phone to her ear, but they just kept on playing after thanking us for coming.
We had a couple of non-Blondie covers, Heroes (David Bowie) and an excellent cover of Get It On (T-Rex), the best I've heard since the Power Station's cover.
They finally rounded out the evening by playing 'Heart of Glass' again ("In case you missed it before!", which was a real possibility for latecomers!).
Someone online had said they'd seen Bootleg Blondie recently and that I was in for a good time and I have no quibble with that statement.
From what I've seen, you'd only go and see the original Blondie now for nostalgia, Debbie's voice has gone and, to be honest, ticket prices are ridiculous!
Bootleg Blondie give an energetic, enjoyable and authentic taste of what Blondie at their peak were like at a far more affordable price.
You'd be lucky to get a Blondie gig T-Shirt for the price of a Bootleg Blondie ticket and, whilst never a huge Blondie fan, I did have a really enjoyable evening.
I think I'm 100% cured of my prejudice against good tribute acts now!
Setlist:
Heart of Glass
Dreaming
11:59
The Tide Is High (The Paragons cover)
Island of Lost Souls
I'm on E
French Kissin' in the USA
Rapture
Atomic
Eat to the beat
Pretty Baby
Will Anything Happen?
Angels on the Balcony
I'm Gonna Love You Too (Buddy Holly cover)
One Way or Another
(I'm Always Touched by Your) Presence, Dear
Detroit 442
X Offender
In the Flesh
Rip Her to Shreds
Picture This
Nothing Is Real but the Girl
Maria
Denise
Fan Mail
I Want That Man
Sunday Girl
Union City Blue
Call Me
Heroes (Bowie cover)
Get It On (T. Rex cover)
Heart of Glass
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