It was wonderful turning up at the Lemon Tree and seeing people in cowboy hats and similar style shirts. I must admit I was interested in this gig because Paul Young was one of my 80s heart throbs as a young girl. As luck would have it I also love country music, and so this night was quite a fabulous one for me. My friend had been to see Paul Young’s solo concert at the Tivoli recently and had said that it was wonderful to hear the stories of his life but that his voice was maybe struggling a little bit these days. However with this band his voice fits in perfectly with the type of music and it works really well. The band is not all about Paul, although he was the one to start it as a side project to his main career! Los Pacaminos are some very talented musicians and singers and put on a fabulous show.
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As the night went on each of the front men sang at least one song, with them getting introduced by name. Most of them played guitar as you would expect from a Tex Mex type band. They had some gorgeous guitars on stage with them. Woody was on keyboard, accordion, shaky egg and sleigh bells just to be different! He had a Woody from Toy Story doll on his keyboard dressed as himself. The atmosphere in the room was a real party feeling, everyone was having a good time, and maybe a few beers.
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Los Pacaminos played a chronological set starting with the first album from 31 years ago. The songs we were treated to included: Highway Patrol, Shadows and Woody singing Guacamole. A lady called Mary Anne took them each a tequila as they played that tune..
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Some of the songs were accompanied by a story such as the one about a bank raid, when they paid so many people to keep it quiet that they ended up as Poor Boys. We also got Battered and Bruised about liver disease, Living outside the Law, and we all had to “praise the Lord” with jazz hands for Saved.There was then an interval when we were encouraged to visit the merchandise stall before Dale started us off on the new album with She’s got a Hold on Me. We then got Come a Little bit Closer, Bitter Blue, Rosalie about a Mexican cook and Woody was back with Hey Baby, Que Paso. Then it was time for some Texan blues with the rather sarcastic I Love You Too. I was thrilled they played Country Girl, and then we got festive with Christmas on the Range. They then announced the last song Wooly Bully and said that even the people up the back needed to be standing if we wanted them back for an encore. Luckily the rest of us were noisy and enthusiastic enough to lure them back out – complete with Santa hats on top of their cowboy hats! The boys commented with cheeky grins, that they do not know why Mariah Carey takes so long for a costume change! They then launched into I’m Dreaming Of a White Christmas which had us all swaying from side to side, and then finished on La Bamba. I feel that even the folk up the back would have been partying for that one – although obviously I was too busy dancing to look!
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The camaraderie of the band was fantastic to watch as they were obviously all having a great time. There was laughing and jokes going on: sometimes with the audience, sometimes among themselves. They are a well-oiled machine and make some fabulous music. I would love the chance to see them again, although next time I might not be able to resist buying Paul Young’s worn cowboy boots! They were only £40 and the tour manager offered me to sniff inside to see if I could smell Paul. Apparently he wears a size 9/10 so they probably would have fitted my giant feet as well! Most tempting! Instead we just came away with a couple of CDs, although the tote bag that was a normal shopping list, with tequila at the bottom, was also quite appealing! They are definitely a band with a sense of humour, which could be one of the reasons they are so appealing to ladies. Several times someone would pose in front of the stage for a photo with the band in the background, everyone having the time of their lives!
Maria Robertson is the Chief Music & Theatre Writer for the 5D Pop Culture Website and provides reviews & coverage of local Aberdeen music & theatre gigs. She’s an experienced writer for numerous sources and is a self-confessed live gig addict ever since seeing The Counting Crows at the Barrowlands in 1994.
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