Blu-ray/CD set captures 80s prog hitmakers’ ongoing revitalisation.
Live And Natural finds Francis Dunnery’s It Bites back at KK’s Steel Mill in Wolverhampton, where they filmed their previous Blu-ray release, 2023’s Live From The Black Country. The setting may be the same, but Dunnery is surrounded by new faces. Only bassist Paul Brown remains from the previous incarnation of It Bites FD, joined by keyboardist Tony Turrell (a veteran of Fish’s band), guitarist Todd Edwards and Chad Wackerman on drums. Dunnery seems very excited about the latter, although Wackerman maintains a distinctly chilled stage presence.
"Jokes notwithstanding, it’s absolutely top-notch."
The setlist shares just one selection with Live From The Black Country, Yellow Christian, which the band save for the encore, and Dunnery eschews the obvious choices like Calling All The Heroes and Still Too Young To Remember. Instead he throws in two songs from 2024’s Return To Natural, his first new material under the It Bites name in more than 35 years. Magdalena boasts an earworm of a hook, while Dunnery’s prog bona fides come through in a spirited guitar solo (his signature vibrato is unmistakable) and a Floydian space rock section. Out Of Order carries one of the evening’s heaviest riffs while the harmonies capture the spirit of classic It Bites. At the midpoint, Dunnery switches to acoustic guitar, Wackerman takes a break, and they unwind with a relaxed vibe for Whole New World and Cold, Tired And Hungry. The break provides a pleasant palate cleanser and a chance for the band and audience alike to catch their breath after a succession of rockers. Thereafter, they quickly dial up the intensity with the energetic Rose Marie and an expansive version of Vampires, where Dunnery and Wackerman take the spotlight, exchanging vigorous solos, with Dunnery throwing himself into the music with abandon.