The Kinks Newcastle City Hall 1975 The Soap Opera
In 1975 The Kinks toured their concept album “The Soap Opera”. This was one in a series of concept albums which started with Village Green Preservation Society in the late 60s and continued through the mid 70s. The line-up of the Kinks at the time was Ray and Dave Davies on vocals and guitars; John Dalton on bass; John Gosling on keyboards; and Mick Avory on drums. They were also augmented by a brass section, and backing vocalists. This was very much a Ray project, and met with mixed critical reviews. The Soap Opera explores the relationships between stardom and “ordinary life” It (from Wiki) “tells the story of a musician named Starmaker who changes places with an “ordinary man” named Norman in order to better understand life. Starmaker goes to live with Norman’s wife Andrea and then goes to work the next day, getting caught in the rush hour. 
He works 9 to 5, then goes down to the bar for a few drinks before making his way home. He then is greeted by Andrea whom he tells is “making it all worthwhile”. By this point Starmaker has lost his grip on reality, and he doesn’t know who he is anymore. In the end he settles down with Andrea, accepting that he is now just “a face in the crowd”. The album finishes by saying that although rock stars may fade, their music lives on.” It has been suggested that the story of Starmaker and Norman is the story of Ray himself, trying to understand what it means to be “a star”. The tour presented the album in its entirety. I don’t recall whether they played any other Kinks tracks at all. The setlists that I have managed to find suggest not. I went with a group of mates and I do remember that we all enjoyed it and found it quite fun, but also pretty heavy going, quite silly in parts and somewhat confusing. Setlist: Everybody’s a Star (Starmaker); Ordinary People; Rush Hour Blues; Nine to Five; When Work Is Over; Have a Drink; Underneath the Neon Sign; You Make It All Worthwhile; Ducks on the Wall; (A) Face in the Crowd; You Can’t Stop the Music. I’m not sure who the support act was; I saw an advert for another date of the tour which suggested that it may have been Care Society, who were Tom Robinson’s early band, and were on Ray’s Konk label.
Posts Tagged ‘60s’
16 Aug
The Kinks Newcastle City Hall 1975 The Soap Opera
15 Aug
The Kinks Newcastle City Hall 1972 and Sunderland Locarno 1973
The Kinks Newcastle City Hall 1972 and Sunderland Locarno 1973
The first time I saw the Kinks was at a gig at Newcastle City Hall in the early 70s. I think it must have been in 1972, as it was around the time that the single “Supersonic Rocket Ship” was in the charts. I seem to recall that the support act was local band The John Miles Set. The Kinks live at that time were a glorious ramshackle affair. They often arrived a little worse for wear, but it was obvious that they were having great fun on stage. I saw them again shortly after this, at a gig at Sunderland Locarno, where the place was absolutely packed and Ray and Dave were very drunk. The Kinks were playing a selection of their old hits, and some rock n roll classics, at the time. I found a setlist from a BBC in concert show in 1973 . The songs played were: Victoria; Acute Schizophrenia Paranoia Blues; Dedicated Follower Of Fashion; Lola; Holiday; Good Golly Miss Molly; You Really Got Me; All Day And All Of The Night; Waterloo Sunset; Village Green Preservation Society. I would guess that the sets that I witnessed at the City Hall and in Sunderland will have been similar to this. My favourite song was always Waterloo Sunset, and it remains one of my favourites to this day. Sadly I don’t have a ticket stub for either of these gigs as they were both “pay on the door” affairs. I remember that Ray was wearing a silver lame jacket at the City Hall gig, and that he threw it into the crowd at the end of the show. I was sitting upstairs and was so jealous of the people down the front who were fighting over the jacket, which was torn to shreds. Happy days. I didn’t realise at the time just how important and influential a band the KInks were. But then I guess thats often the way. They were certainly a fun band to see; in many ways I would see similarities in their performances to those of the Stones and the Faces during the same time period. I’ll spend the next few days reminiscing about some later Kinks gigs that I attended in the remainder of the 70s and the early 80s, starting with the concept tours “Soap Opera” and “Schoolboys in Disgrace”.
7 Nov
60s Gold The Sage Gateshead November 8th 2011
60s Gold tour The Sage Gateshead November 8th 2011
I can’t resist classic 60s bands. This show featured Gerry Marsden, The Searchers, The Fortunes and Chip Hawkes.
I’d bought two cheap tickets up in the gallery looking down onto the stage some time ago for this show. When it came to the night of the concert and after a very hectic day at work, I was feeling knackered and was in two minds whether to go. I guess I was also still feeling tired from the weekend in London seeing Roy Harper. However David said he’d come along with me so off we went to the Sage. My prime reason for buying the tickets was to see The Fortunes, as I’ve seen the other bands on the bill. When we arrived The Fortunes were on stage. They performed a pretty slick set of their hits such as You’ve Got Your Troubles and Storm in Teacup. The band has being touring consistently since the 60s, the line-up having changed along the way, with the last of the original band, Rod Allen, sadly passing away in 2008. Our compere (yes this was a proper 60s show) then introduced The Searchers. I’ve seen The Searcher on a number of occasions, the last being around 10 years or so ago. They always put on a professional show, and this was no exception with the hits Needles and Pins, Don’t Throw Your Love Away and What Have They Done to the Rain still sounding great. Guitarist John McNally was 70 this year and singer Frank Allen can’t be far behind him (is everyone I go to see now 70?) yet they still clearly enjoy playing and show no sign of slowing down.
David and I were both tired and beat a retreat home during the interval (sorry Gerry and Chip…will catch you next time).
ticket
programme (its very black and gold and didn't scan well.....)
11 Sep
Brian Wilson The Sage Gateshead 10 September 2011
Brian Wilson The Sage Gateshead 10 September 2011
We’d been hesitating for some time as to whether to go to see Brian Wilson on this tour. Although we’d all gone as a family to his last couple of shows at the City Hall and the Sage, we hadn’t fancied the “Brian Wilson reimagines Gershwin” concept. However, as the evening of the show arrived I decided that I couldn’t pass up on another chance of seeing the genuis who gave us all those great Beach Boys songs. Laura was in two minds whether to come with me, but in the end decided not to bother. I’d seen that there were still tickets available so I went along to the Sage and bought myself a ticket near the back of the hall. I arrived just in time for the start of the show. The first half of the concert was, as promised, the entire new album: “Brian Wilson reimagines Gershwin”; and it was pretty good actually. Imagine those great Gershwin songs with Beach Boys harmonies, a rock n roll beat, and strings. Quite enjoyable and just about the right lenght; not too long so that I got bored with it. Brian’s band of around eight players is, as always, excellent, and tonight they were accompanied by a local four piece string section.
Although I first thought that the Gershwin idea was pretty odd, I know think its a great idea, and the treatment of the songs is much, much better than I ever expected.
After a short interval, Brian and the band returned to delight the crowd with all those great hits. Brian seemed more talkative than on previous tours, and his voice also seemed a little stronger. He took lead vocals on most of the songs, with a couple of other members of the band doing the honours on a few of the songs.
God only knows, Good vibrations, and Wouldn’t it be nice are all landmark songs; but my favourite is Do it Again, which seems to bring back happy teenage memories for me. By the end of the evening, everyone was on their feet, with lots of dancing going on.
A great evening. Glad I decided to go after all.
First Set: Rhapsody In Blue (Intro); The Like In I Love You; Summertime; I Loves You, Porgy; I Got Plenty O’ Nuttin’; It Ain’t Necessarily So; ‘S Wonderful; They Can’t Take That Away From Me; Love Is Here To Stay; I’ve Got a Crush on You; I Got Rhythm; Someone To Watch Over Me; Nothing But Love
Second Set: California Girls; Dance Dance Dance; Catch A Wave; Surfer Girl; Please Let Me Wonder; “Mary Had A Little Lamb”; You’re So Good To Me; The Little Girl I Once Knew; Salt Lake City; Don’t Worry Baby; Do You Wanna Dance?; Do It Again; Darlin’; I Get Around; Sail On Sailor; Pet Sounds; Sloop John B; Wouldn’t it Be Nice; God Only Knows; Heroes and Villains; Good Vibrations
First Encore: Johnny B Goode; Help Me Rhonda; Barbara Ann; Surfin’ USA; Fun Fun Fun
Second Encore: All Summer Long Encore
ticket
flyer for manchester show
Brain Wilson website
9 Mar
Solid Silver 60s show The Sage Gateshead 1 March 2011
Solid Silver 60s show The Sage Gateshead 1 March 2011
Hi,this is Will, Peters occasional concert going mate writing this time. Peter couldn’t make this concert ‘The Solid Silver 60’s show’, so I took along my 21 year old son Jack (not exactly a fan of 60’s music excepting The Beatles and Hendrix) who wanted to experience the Sage for the first time.
Vanity Fare were on first and were ok, doing the odd tune I slightly remembered like ‘Hitchin’ A Ride’.They stayed on to support all the solo acts who appeared. Things started to liven up with the appearance of Wayne Fontana who had the audiences in stitches with his banter and stories.He was kitted out in a white stetson and suit and was in fine voice effortlessly belting out his hits such as ‘Pamela Pamela’.Next up was Chris Farlowe. Jack and I both agreed he was the best vocalist in the show, our favourites being ‘Handbags and Gladrags’ and ‘Out of Time’. He made us laugh about the time in the early 60’s how he and his backing band travelled from London up to Newcastle to play a one off gig. They were paid £20 and after they had deducted the petrol and the oil (they were using more oil than petrol) money out, they counted out their wages, which amounted to £1.10p each! Dave Berry was really good, recounting his Northern experiences and performing a version of the ‘Crying Game’ as though it was fresh and new. We didn’t really rate Terry Silvester (Hollies) or the Merseybeats in the same league as the previous acts, but all in all an entertaining night!
ticket
programme
Will got the programme signed by Chris Farlowe and Wayne Fontana. (Good man Will; Thanks). Here is Chris' autograph
Vintagerock's Weblog. 