I first saw Madness on the legendary Two-Tone tour which called at Newcastle Mayfair on November 9th, 1979. This tour brought Ska to the masses, coming off the back of the punk revolution, and featured the combined talents of headliners The Specials, Madness and The Selecter. The tour sold out everywhere, and was a complete success, but sadly the main reason it made the press was because of some violent outbreaks caused by a minority of troublemakers in some venues. The National Front and the British National Party were out recruiting at the shows, even though the bands who were performing on the tour openly distanced themselves from racism. It was a strange paradox, here we had fans dancing to multi-racial bands and singing along with songs whose lyrics preached racial unity, and yet the far-right was trying to sell politics which came from the complete opposite end of the spectrum.
As I recall, there was quite a bit of trouble at the Mayfair gig, with fights breaking out throughout the night; and being one of a small number of people in the crowd with long hair, I did feel quite unsafe at times. None the less I survived, and it was a great night, featuring three excellent bands, and one of several nights I would spend with Madness over the next few years. By the time the Two-Tone tour visited our towns, Madness were already hitting the charts and bringing their nutty humour and perfect pop tunes into our living rooms on Top of the Pops. In 1979 “The Prince”, “My Girl” and “One Step Beyond” had all been chart hits in the UK.
The next time I saw Madness was at Sunderland Mecca, which by then was also called the Mayfair (just to confuse things), on April 30th, 1980. The place was packed, and a hot sweaty fun night had by all. I remember being right down the front in the pit, getting knocked and pushed all over the ballroom floor. I then saw them at concerts at Newcastle City Hall in December 1980, October 1981, and February 1983. I also saw Madness headline the first night of the Dock Rock Festival, which took place down at Hartlepool docks in the summer of 1986. Going to a Madness gig meant a guaranteed night of fun. By the mid-80s there was no stopping these guys; and they hit the UK single charts over 20 times, assembling a catalogue of tremendous pop tunes to draw from including “Baggy Trousers”, “Our House” and “House of Fun”.
Madness split shortly after the Dock Rock Festival in 1986 and reformed some years later to give us many more years of fun! They would often headline Newcastle Arena, and I went along and saw the nutty boys on several more occasions, each one bringing the audience a guaranteed night of chart hits, dancing and singing along. I enjoyed every time and so I was delighted to read that: “Following the success of their No 1 album ‘C’Est La Vie’ this week, get your baggy trousers ready as we are thrilled to announce MADNESS are to perform at Newcastle Racecourse on Friday 28th June 2024!
Theatre of the Absurd presents: Madness – C’Est La Vie “The lights go down on some dark theatre in London / For the cruellest comedy…” Read the headlines and it’s hard not to conclude that the world has gone mad. Mad enough, in fact, to give North London’s finest twelve-legged quorum of Nutty Boys a run for their money. According to keyboard-wrangler Mike ‘Barso’ Barson, the title track to Madness’s lucky thirteenth full-length C’Est La Vie is “about these crazy times we’re living in, and how I just want to stay on my boat and not be a part of All this madness. But of course, I’m a member of a group called Madness. Perhaps we should have called ourselves ‘Sanity’…” If this latest opus is any indication, when the going gets mad, the Mad only get sharper, wilder, and more succinct.”
“C’Est La Vie combines the widescreen ambition of masterpieces like The Liberty of Norton Folgate and The Rise & Fall and the allkiller- no-filler tune factory instincts of classics like Absolutely, 7 and Can’t Touch Us Now. It’s a 14-song suite packed with lunatic hooks and neon choruses, eerie spaceska and sophisticated pop genius – a giddy gambol across a bouncy castle soundscape that finds time for moments of righteous anger, powerful empathy and the kind of plain-spoken wisdom that’s always operated beneath the group’s nutty veneer. Vintage Madness, in other words.”
How could I resist? Well, the answer was of course, I couldn’t’ t, could I!? The last time I went to a similar event was to see the Beach Boys at York races, which was lots of fun. So, Jackie, Harvey and I elected to go to the races. I decided to pay for the Premier Enclosure which placed the three of us in a nice part of the racecourse to place our bets before the nutty boys took to the stage. We did quite well actually, coming out with £20 profit overall to share between us. We won on every race! Wish we had done an accumulator. We had a nice drink and then wandered down to see Madness.
We bumped along over the grass and got so far down into the crowd. We couldn’t get right to the front because the closer we got to the stage the fuller and crazier it became. Hence, we got the closest we could and watched Madness perform a set of greatest hits. I had forgotten just how many hits these guys have had. They came one after the other: “One Step Beyond”, “My Girl”, “House of Fun”, “Baggy Trousers” and “Our House”. Everyone singing along and dancing crazily. Great fun. The final encore was, as always, complete with fez’s “Night Boat to Cairo”. We all meandered out towards our taxi home. A good time had by all. Happy days.
Many thanks to Jackie for pictures and helping me navigate the site.
Setlist: One Step Beyond; Embarrassment; The Prince; C’est la vie; NW5; My Girl; The Sun and the Rain; Hour of Need; Wings of a Dove; Lovestruck; Run for Your Life; Bed and Breakfast Man; Shut Up; Round We Go; Mr. Apples; Livin’ on a Prayer; House of Fun; Baggy Trousers; Our House; It Must Be Love
Encore: Madness; Night Boat to Cairo.
Wedding Present Set: Brassneck; We Interrupt Our Programme; Dalliance; Nobody’s Twisting Your Arm; What Have I Said Now? Rachel; It’s a Gas; Gazebo; Don’t Talk, Just Kiss; Come Play With Me; Crawl; Catwoman; No; Kennedy; Everyone Thinks He Looks Daft; Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me); Take Me!; Bewitched.
Not for the first time I had a dilemma. 
Sometimes this has worked, such as when I went to see Rush at the City Hall, came out early and went down to the Mayfair just as the Clash came onstage. On another occasion I saw Culture Club at the City Hall at the time of Karma Chameleon, went down to the Mayfair and saw Marillion on an early tour. However, with a bit searching of the Internet I discovered that Richard Thompson was playing in York a couple of days before his Gateshead Glasshouse appearance. So, I decided to see Richard in York on Tuesday and Robin on Thursday in Gateshead. Problem solved!
So, a trip to York it was, along with carers Jackie and Elaine. Our friendly taxi driver took us to Durham station and shortly afterwards, we arrived by train at York. An equally friendly taxi driver then transported us all to the Barbican Theatre. He promised to pick us up at the end of the show. So far, all was well.
Now, I first encountered Richard Thompson when I saw him perform as part of a duo with his then wife Linda, supporting Traffic at Newcastle City Hall in the early 1970s. I then lost touch with Richard and his music until relatively recently. In the last few years, I have seen him perform at Newcastle Tyne Theatre in the aforementioned Glasshouse. I soon realised what I had been missing. The man is an incredible musician, singer, guitarist, and storyteller. He can switch from intricate fingerpicking on an acoustic guitar to beautiful electric guitar. He has a large back catalogue of songs starting with his time as a member of Fairport Convention in the late 1960s through his work with Linda and then his solo career.
The publicity for his 2024 tour read: “Ivor Novello Award-winning and GRAMMY® Award-nominated legend Richard Thompson returns to York with a full band. ‘The finest rock songwriter after Dylan and the best electric guitarist since Hendrix’ – Los Angeles Times” Influential. Pioneering. A British folk-rock cornerstone. He’s famed for turning emotions into the lightning-speed fretwork, poetic songwriting and impassioned picking that have filled nineteen solo albums to-date. Thompson has had an illustrious career and it’s still going strong. He holds a coveted spot on Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.” He’s even picked up Lifetime Achievement Awards from the BBC and Americana Music Association in Nashville and was awarded an OBE in 2011.”
We arrived at the Barbican with plenty of time for a drink and to catch the support act, solo singer/guitarist 
Richard Thompson was accompanied by full electric band this tour; I am more used to seeing him play solo. This was a pleasant change, the full band added a harder, more electric sound to Richard’s own excellent vocals and guitar playing. The band comprised Richard’s wife on vocals and tambourine, his son (I think) on guitar and long-time Fairport member Dave Mattocks on drums. The set included an acoustic part in the middle.
We managed to catch the entire set (we have often needed to leave early on previous trips to York) which was great. As we left the venue, we rang our (new) friendly York taxi driver and he arrived a few minutes later to take the three of us back to the station in plenty of time to catch our train. No worrying rush on this occasion! Phew. After the usual short ride back to Durham our local friendly taxi driver transported us back home and I was soon comfortable in my bed again.
Setlist was something like this: Freeze; Hard on Me; Withered and Died; The Old Pack Mule; Turning of the Tide; John the Gun; Al Bowlly’s in Heaven; The Day That I Give In; A Man in Need; Take Care the Road You Choose; Singapore Sadie; What’s Left To Lose; Guns Are The Tongues; Tear Stained Letter
Attending a 
In fact, it was not that long ago since I last saw Bruce at Murrayfield, Edinburgh. As a long-time fan, I have many memories of seeing the man over the years including his first UK appearance at the Hammersmith Odeon in 1976, and numerous other concerts since; at Newcastle City Hall, St James’s Park, Dublin’s The Point, London O2 Arena, Leeds Arena, and a previous appearance at the Stadium of Light.
Bruce has always been magnificent. This night, despite the challenging weather, was no exception. Springsteen took the stage with his characteristic energy, launching into a setlist that spanned his decades-long career. From the opening chords of “Waitin’ on a Sunny Day,” the entire stadium was with him. Classic tracks including “Born to Run,” “Dancing in the Dark,” and “Thunder Road” had the crowd singing along, creating the usual great atmosphere that I have come to expect at a Springsteen concert. Bruce’s voice was as powerful as ever, and his interactions with the audience as authentic and genuine. Particularly moving for me was “Thunder Road” which closed the main set and has become a crowd favourite, Bruce on harmonica and great vocals.
I recall playing the song to my friends after I bought the Born to Run LP (it was always real vinyl in those days). I thought his voice was unlike anyone’s I had heard before. Perhaps a cross between Elvis Presley and Bob Dylan? Every song on that album is a classic and many of them remain in his set today. The very last song has come to be “I’ll See You in My Dreams” which is a perfect end to the evening and to his now traditional three-hour set.
This time I decided to treat myself to hospitality in the Black Cats Bar which was top-notch. The staff were helpful and accommodating, ensuring that my carer and I were comfortable throughout the evening. The bar provided an excellent vantage point, combining the thrill of being part of the crowd with the convenience of a more relaxed (and dry) setting. This made it easier to enjoy the concert without the usual issues that come with being in a large, bustling venue. My second carer, seated elsewhere in the stadium, also had a dry and enjoyable experience.
The weather was bad, with rain pouring down throughout the concert. While we stayed dry in the Black Cats Bar, and my second carer was dry in the stands, the fans on the pitch were not as fortunate. Despite those soaking conditions, their spirits were high, and their enthusiasm never waned. Only an artist like Springsteen has the incredible ability to connect with his audience and keep the energy high, no matter the circumstances.
Sadly, Bruce lost his voice after this concert and had to cancel his next couple of concert appearances in Europe. Elaine took some great photos throughout the night. Many thanks to Chris for manipulating the site as usual. And here is something I must reveal. I used Chat GPT to create the first draft of my review, partly as an experiment and partly to try and speed up the process, as I am way behind with my blog entries. However, I am not sure if it did speed up the process as I had to rewrite much of the text to remove the robot and replace it with Peter. Not sure if I fully succeeded.
Setlist: Waitin’ on a Sunny Day; Lonesome Day; Prove It All Night; No Surrender; Ghosts; Letter to You; The Promised Land; Hungry Heart; Light of Day; Atlantic City; Darlington County; Nightshift; The River; Racing in the Street; Last Man Standing; Backstreets; Because the Night; She’s the One; Wrecking Ball; The Rising; Badlands; Thunder Road. Encore: Born to Run; Glory Days; Dancing in the Dark; Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out; Twist and Shout; I’ll See You in My Dreams
A great double act of rockers. First on the bill was the 
Jim Jones’ new band announces itself as: “Open your ears, arms, and hearts to welcome The Jim Jones All Stars into your lives! Fronted by legendary testifier Jim Jones – formerly of The Hypnotics, Black Moses, The Jim Jones Revue and Jim Jones & The Righteous Mind – his latest project sees him swan dive into not only his primordial influences and his own classic-packed back catalogue, but also into a spicy gumbo of hot, new sounds. Joined by former Jim Jones Revue members Gavin Jay (bass) and Elliot Mortimer (piano and keyboards), The Jim Jones All Stars are augmented by guitarist Carlton Mounsher, singer Ali Jones, drummer Chris Ellul and the three-way sax attack of Stuart Dace, Chuchi Malapersona and Tom Hodges. Born out of necessity, born out of wedlock, and simply born to boogie, The Jim Jones All Stars are an unholy trinity of birth.” (from Jim Jones website).
And boogie they do. Jim Jones is a full-on crazy guy who proudly fronts his review, leading them through a manic set of rock, blues, soul, and craziness. Jim is a great vocalist, full of confidence, with no fear at all. The guy commands stage, audience, and band. A fantastic warmup for the Crowes. “Necessity, being the mother of invention, surprised us all when she delivered a healthy, heavyweight, blue-eyed amalgam of incendiary ramalama soul.” Says Jim from his website.
After a short break, the curtain covering the 
The publicity for the Black Crowes latest album and tour says: “The Black Crowes are leaving the bullshit in the past. 15 years after their last album of original music, the Robinson Brothers present Happiness Bastards– their 10th studio album. Some may say the project has been several tumultuous years in the making, but we argue it’s arriving at just the right time.
Call it brotherly love or music destiny that brought them back together in 2019, the highly anticipated record consecrating the reunion of this legendary band just may be the thing that saves rock & roll. In a time where the art form is buried beneath the corporate sheen of its successors, The Black Crowes are biting back with the angst of words left unsaid penned on paper and electrified by guitar strings, revealing stripped, bare-boned rock & roll. No gloss, no glitter, just rhythm and blues at it’s very best – gritty, loud, and in your face.”
I first saw the Black Crowes at the Donington Monsters of Rock festival in 1991 where they were first on as part of a strong lineup headlined by AC/DC and featuring Metallica, Motley Crue and Queensryche. I wrote at the time: “We made sure that we arrived in time to see The Black Crowes, as I’d heard a lot about them. I remember being impressed by them, particularly by their cover of Otis Redding’s “Hard to Handle”. My friend John lives in the US and is a massive Black Crowes fan, and he keeps me up to date on them. I really must get to see them again someday soon.” Well, it was many years before I saw the Crowes again at Manchester Academy in March 2013. My friend John remains a dedicated fan and has seen them many times in the USA.
Bands like the Crowes keep the rock ‘n’ roll flag flying high. They exploded onto the stage and immediately the packed house was singing along and rocking with them. Memories of seeing Mick Jagger in the 70s come flooding back into my mind. Singer Chris Robinson has the same sort of swagger and energy. To my shame I don’t recognise many of the songs but nonetheless really enjoy the performance. Chris and his brother Rich Robinson, Chris’ seemingly quieter, more subdued on perfect electric blues/rock guitar lead the band through a set of songs which combine rock, blues, punk, and soul.
For around an hour and a half, which seems to speed through in a few moments, Chris swaggers backwards and forwards, left and right around the stage singing his heart out. Comparisons of early Faces, Small Faces and the aforementioned Rolling Stones come to mind. They even play a great version of the Stones’ “Rocks Off”. Why do I always have to draw comparisons? Not sure. It gives me a rock compass by which to measure and categorise artists. Whatever the comparisons, the Black Crowes are a force to be reckoned with.
Chris reminds us that the last time they played the City Hall was back in 1991; the same year when I saw them at Donington. Not many of the crowd seemed to register being present. I am not sure I was even aware that they were on at the City Hall at the time. Not sure why I didn’t attend. They perform “Hard to Handle” again. Magic. Their soul roots showing through and adding new life to the Otis Redding classic. A figure of Chuck Berry reminds us of their rock ‘n’ roll roots and reminds me of when I saw the great man in the same venue many years ago in the 70s.
“When it comes to live music, few bands do it better than The Black Crowes. The American rockers have had their fair share of ups and downs over the years, but they are sounding stronger than ever with their latest album, Happiness Bastards. Hitting the road with Jim Jones All Stars in support, The Black Crowes stopped off in Newcastle to sprinkle a little bit of rock and roll magic in the city’s historic City Hall. I bought a copy of the album, signed by both Chris and Rich (pictured). Class.
The band played a good mix of old and new, including a song first made famous by Otis Redding and immortalised in rock history by The Black Crowes, ‘Hard to Handle’, as well as their cover of The Rolling Stones classic ‘Rocks Off’. The night was a celebration of timeless rock played with style and swagger, thanks to Chris’ larger-than-life stage presence. Each member of the band was an integral part of an unstoppable music machine that took over Newcastle for a night.” (from Music News Monthly website).
A great night spent with two magnificent rock ‘n’ roll, soul revue bands. It doesn’t get much better. Many thanks to Elaine for the photographs and Chris for manipulating the site as usual.
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