Ighten Leigh Social Club, Burnley October 21st 2007				Review by Jane Kippax
	I have been an REM fan for several years but never really thought about checking whether there was an REM tribute band, we came to know about Stipe as a result of watching a TV programme about the Limelight Club in Crewe. Although not featured in the show there was reference to them on the web-site and by coincidence they were soon due to play at a club in Burnley, not far from where we live. I must admit I was a bit apprehensive beforehand wondering how they could possibly be anything like REM – the previous evening we had watched the REM Live DVD so the real thing was fresh in our memory. The performance began with Walk Unafraid – so that was a good start, being one of my favourites and they soon dispelled any doubts I had. The arrangements were true to the original REM versions and they sounded well-rehearsed and professional, effectively capturing the vitality of a live REM performance. The first half of the show included a wide range of REM’s extensive catalogue, ranging from one of their earliest, Wolves Lower, to Mr Richards which was first performed by REM in Dublin last summer and won’t be available until their next album is released in 2008. Other songs included the obvious such as The One I Love, Everybody Hurts and The Great Beyond to other lesser known gems such as Seven Chinese Brothers and Find the River. I was getting a bit frustrated during the first half as some of the club members were obviously not listening to the music. This must have been really disheartening for the band even though they continued undaunted – apart from a brief lapse into Fleetwood Macs’ The Chain to acknowledge the distractions of the TV (the Grand Prix was on). The second half really rocked and by this time everyone was enjoying the show. They played many of the most well known REM songs including Imitation of Life, Stand, Orange Crush, The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight, and of course Losing My Religion and Man on The Moon, concluding with “It’s the End of the World as we Know it” So I was really impressed – despite the fact that according to the band we didn’t see them at their best due to the venue. I would recommend any other REM fans out there to check them out – we have already made plans to see them again soon and maybe we’ll get to see them at the Limelight Club sometime which would be fitting, being the venue that indirectly brought them to our attention. Set List (REM chronological order – not as played ) Wolves Lower Seven Chinese Brothers The One I Love End of The World Stand Orange Crush Losing my Religion Everybody Hurts Sidewinder Man on the Moon Find the River WTF Kenneth Crush with Eyeliner Bang and Blame Electrolite Walk Unafraid The Great Beyond Imitation of Life Bad Day Leaving New York Mr Richards Plus Animal at sound check Review by: Jane Kippax