Sweet are back and this time it is the: Full Circle Tour in support of their new album. I saw Sweet last year in Newcastle but this time they are appearing at my local venue the wonderful Fire Station. Andy Scott continues to front this Glam rock heavy metal band and they play all their classic hits along with new songs and this year a little surprise.
The Fire Station website proudly proclaims: “A National Treasure and Glam Rock Royalty who have taken the world by storm for six decades, Sweet are at their best, performing all their iconic hits to audiences from every continent, all over the world. From the beginning to the end … Full Circle! Guitarist/vocalist Andy Scott, the sole surviving original member at the heart of the band and the golden thread linking Sweet’s proud past to the present, is still fiercely protective of that legacy today as ever. Understandably he knows better than anyone that the long tours can’t carry on indefinitely, with the band now looking to ‘wind down’ some of their live commitments.” The latter statement is surprising news to me. I’ve never imagined that Andy would wish to wind down at all. This means that every chance to see the band is precious.
Sweet had 15 top-40 hits in the 70s, including their classic 1973 UK No.1 “Blockbuster”. Andy current bandmates are Paul Manzi (lead vocals), Bruce Bisland (drums, vocals), Lee Small (bass guitar, vocals) and Tom Cory (guitar, keyboards). Sweet always blended pop with heavy rock and this line-up is no different. Andy has assembled a class band which is as heavy as ever. I mentioned a surprise earlier on in my entry. The surprise was that the set included, at around the halfway point, a medley of the very early hits “Co – Co”, “Funny Funny” and “Poppa Joe”. I don’t think I have seen them play these songs before. Andy stood back and let his bandmates play these songs.
The rest of the set was as always. Opening with the classic glam metal hit “Action”, moving into newer tracks interspersed with “Hellraiser”, my favourite “The Six Teens”, “Teenage Rampage”, “Wig Wam Bam”, “Little Willy”, “Love is Like Oxygen” and closing with “Fox on the Run”. The Fire Station was packed and everyone was singing and dancing along. Jan and Elaine accompanied me and they both thought Sweet were great.
The encores were “Blockbuster” (I used to always sing the line “you better watch out if you have long black hair” with my friends at Sunderland Mecca because I had exactly that, long black hair, at the time). Another excellent performance by a classic pop rock band. I was back in the 70s and it was wonderful to be there again. Thanks to Jan for the photos and to Joanne for helping me create this post.
Setlist: Action; New York Groove; Empire State Of Mind; Hell Raiser; Burn on the Flame; The Six Teens; Don’t Bring Me Water; Changes; Co-Co / Funny Funny / Poppa Joe; Everything; Circus; Set Me Free; Teenage Rampage; Wig-Wam Bam; Little Willy; Love Is Like Oxygen; Fox on the Run. Encores: Blockbuster; The Ballroom Blitz.
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Posted by Bryan on December 14, 2023 at 4:17 pm
Not many bands can play a set composed entirely of smash hits! Long live The Sweet! Thanks for the review Peter!
Posted by vintagerock on December 15, 2023 at 12:29 pm
Thanks Bryan yes they have so many hits to play. Fantastic. Happy days Peter
Posted by ciarant1step on December 15, 2023 at 8:49 am
Sounds like a fun night and a nice way to get back to the 1970s. I always thought the Sweet could rock with the best and it seems like they still can. I liked the photos too.
Posted by vintagerock on December 15, 2023 at 12:09 pm
Thanks Ciaran. Sweet are class and LOUD and heavy. Yes my carers always take great photos. Happy days Peter
Posted by treetopflier2009 on December 15, 2023 at 2:34 pm
Nice one Peter. I used to play my sisters Sweet B-sides to my mates. They would go mad when I told them it was the SWEET. Great rock band!
Posted by vintagerock on December 15, 2023 at 4:35 pm
Yes the B sides revealed the true heart of the band. Rock on Sweet! Happy days bring back 1973 Peter