Doctor's Order - On Stage - # 367
Amazing! Doctor's Order seem to have an endless supply from their vaults, praising past glories and showing the way it was back then. Here's a new record (10") released at the tail end of 2024 on Talsti Records (PED, PDLP6702) and (at the moment) quite readily available from some dealers in Finland (Swamp or Jungle for one, but I'm sure others carry the 10" as well). I have to say, I wasn't aware until I got wind of it (thanks Ari). Tempi passati, but Doctor's Order are still relevant to this day. To me, to you and to everyone else and if you've never heard of them, it's about time you get one (or two or three) CD/s or one of the vinyl offers and have a rockin' good time.
The release came as quite a bit of a surprise, as those gigs were certainly not being recorded with a view of releasing them to the public about 15 years later. I remember the band doing quite a few tapes (on DAT, if I recall correctly), but that was mainly to check their performance on the previous night. They shouldn't have worried about the latter, it was always great and who cares about a wrong note here and there. Not that I heard any. Their gigs were about a great night out with stupendous music on the thirteen. You want to discuss pressing matters what with your office mates, leave me alone! There are more important matters than chewing the fat with your co-workers. Doctor's Order was such a point and they were so each and every time. Hard working, hard playing, hard partying and just a joy to be at one of their gigs.
The line-up on this record is the last working one before Kimmo died, much too early I hasten to add. And I think, the band couldn't have found a better drummer to fall into the slot. Doctor's Order did have two other steady drummers before plus a few who took the stool when needed. But it was among the three main guys that the drum sticks were passed and each one has made his marks on the sound.
Of course, having listened to all of their previous commercial output, one does have expectations and hopes. Even for releases that are latecomers. The first gig I ever saw hit me like the proverbial train at 120 miles per hour and it was great. And the gigs kept on being great. Doctor's Order never varied their trademark sound beyond recognition, yes, there were changes, but overall, they kept to their output. And this was rough and ready R'n'B (British style), some hard Blues and, yes, a ballad or two. Imagine one of their gigs and suddenly, shortly before the end, they come in with a slow one (kind of) or an instrumental, it didn't work, never did. You can't cut off a bullet train with a slowie. It's the second set and the folks in the audience want the band to go full speed ahead and in comes a cheek to cheek feeler. But I believe, Doctor's Order realized it and, if not refraining from it, at least cut down.
Arto "Grande-Archie" Hämäläinen - Guitar
Kimmo "Mighty Man" Oikarinen - Drums & Backing Vocals
Teppo "Teddy Bear" Nättilä - Bass & Vocals
The track "So It Is" is forever ingrained in my brain. It was so about twenty years ago and it's still my favourite. Yes, Doctor's Order did more than a handful of exceptional songs, But I'll never tire of "So It Is" and a record that starts with that track in a live setting is just unbeatable/amazing/great/not from this world. I have no idea what the state of this tape was, when it was handed over to the label, but I assume that it needed some touching up. When I listened to the 10", I was actually amazed at the quality of the sound, maybe wishing a bit of a brighter touch, but this is counting beans. It was a bit like "Back To The Future", there's me at my first Doctor's Order gig in Lahti (I think it was) and "So It Is" and the rest blaring out of the speakers. Everyone claiming that time travel is not possible, on the contrary, it is.
Cheers
Roland
