Steve Harley Billingham Forum Theatre 1999
Ten years after I had last seen Steve Harley at Sunderland Empire, I noticed that he was playing an unplugged show at Billingham Forum Theatre. Marie rang up and booked a couple of tickets on the day of the concert, and we went along and picked them up on the night. Steve had recorded a live alum “Stripped to the bare bones” at the Jazz Cafe the year before, and this show was in a similar format, with Steve telling stories about his life and performing great acoustic versions of his songs. He was accompanied by another guitarist, I think it may have been Nick Pynn. We both enjoyed seeing Steve, and listening to him tell us about his life and sing those great songs with just his voice and a couple of guitars. Marie particularly enjoyed the concert, and still talks about it. The track listing from the “Stripped to the bare bones” album is shown below. The show we saw was similar. Tracklisting: My Only Vice (Is the Fantastic Prices I Charge for Being Eaten Alive); Star for a Week (Dino); Best Years of Our Lives, The; Judy Teen; Last Time I Saw You, The; Mr. Soft; (Love) Compared to You; Tumbling Down; Only You; Bed in the Corner; Sling It!; Riding the Waves (For Virginia Woolf); Sebastian; Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me).
Posts Tagged ‘classic rock’
19 Apr
Steve Harley Billingham Forum Theatre 1999
18 Apr
Steve Harley Redcar Bowl 1980 and Sunderland Empire 1989
Steve Harley Redcar 1980
Although it was only four years since I had last seen Steve Harley, this gig had the feel of a comeback. Steve had played few concerts during that four year period between 1976 and 1980, and this was his first tour with a band, using the Cockney Rebel name since 1977. He had also released a few solo albums during that period, but they had not been particularly successful. Redcar Coatham Bowl was a great, intimate venue, and it was good to see Steve in a close-up situation. The crowd gave Steve a great reception, and he played all the favourite. Steve was back!! I saw Steve again some 9 years later at Sunderland Empire. 
To be honest I remember less about this gig; in fact I don’t recall being there at all, but I have a ticket stub, so I must have been! I found a setlist from the London show of the 1989 tour: The Best Years of Our Lives; Mr. Soft; Irresistible; Mr. Raffles; Freedom’s Prisoner; Judy Teen; Riding the Waves (For Virginia Woolf); Dino (Star For A Week); Why Does My Light Always Shine; Sebastian; Sophistication; Tumbling Down; Sweet Dreams / Psychomodo; Sling It; Here Comes the Sun. Encore: Dancing On The Telephone; Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me); (I Believe) Love’s a Prima Donna. As you can see, Steve was playing all the hits and live favourites, but that setlist also includes quite a few songs which I don’t recognise, which must be album tracks from Cockney Rebel and Steve’s solo albums. It was to be another 10 years until I saw Steve in concert again.
17 Apr
Johnny Winter Sage Gateshead 16 April 2013
Johnny Winter Sage Gateshead 16 April 2013
This was the first time that I have seen Johnny Winter in concert for almost 40 years. I have only seen him once before, at the New Victoria Theatre in London, with my friend John, when Johnny was in his mid-70s heyday. A lot of water has passed under the bridge since those days, and Johnny and I are both a lot older. I arrived at around 8.40pm at Sage 2, which was set up as a standing venue for this gig, and Johnny was already on stage playing Got My Mojo Working. He was sitting on a stool centre stage, accompanied by a second guitarist, bass and drums. The next song was Ray Charles’ Blackjack, followed by Howlin’ Wolf’s Killing Floor. The majority of the set was classic blues and rock, delivered Johnny Winter style with growling vocals, and some excellent guitar from the man himself. I had wondered if seeing Johnny these days would be a disappointment, but it certainly wasn’t. He may have lost some of the energy and fire in his performance, spending the majority of the set seated, but his playing is as good as ever. He has become an older, respected bluesman, just like the old guys whose songs he covers. Next up was a good rocking version of Bony Moronie. 
The band is really tight and the sound was pretty loud, though the mix was a little murky at times. Johnny is clearly a fan of the Stones and the next song he played was Jumpin’ Jack Flash, which he always used to cover in the 70s. The two songs which followed were unfamiliar to me: Lone Wolf and Don’t Take Advantage of Me; which ended with a snippet of Gimme Shelter. Staying with the Stones Johnny took to his feet for It’s All Over Now, which closed the set. There were loud shouts for an encore and Johnny and band were soon back. At this point he strapped on his familiar Firebird guitar and slide and played Dust My Broom, followed by Dylan’s Highway 61 Revisited. A great set of classics played by a true master.
16 Apr
Steve Harley Newcastle City Hall Dec 1976 Love’s a Prima Donna
Steve Harley Newcastle City Hall Dec 1976 Love’s a Prima Donna tour
No Support act.
Steve Harley was back at Newcastle City Hall in December 1976, less than a year after appearing at the same venue for two nights in February. In the 10 months that had passed since his last appearance at the City Hall, and during that time Steve had released a new album, Loves a Prima Donna, and had been back in the Top 10 with his version of the Beatles’ Here Comes the Sun, which reached No 10 in the UK Charts. A second single, the title track from the album (I Believe) Love’s a Prima Donna also reached the lower regions of the charts. They are both great singles; Steve Harley at his best. 
This was the last time I saw Steve and Cockney Rebel at the City Hall. I remember he started the set with Here Comes the Sun, which was a great opener, and the start of another great gig. For this tour the band was augmented by backing vocalists including the great Tony Rivres (of Tony Rivers and the Castaways and Harmony Grass). Steve was to disband Cockney Rebel soon after this tour, to follow a solo career. However a few years later he would be using the Rebel name again. Setlist (from London gig around the same time): Here Comes the Sun; The Mad, Mad Moonlight; Mr. Soft; Red Is a Mean, Mean Colour; Sweet Dreams; Finally a Card Came; Innocence and Guilt; Is It True What They Say?; The Best Years of Our Lives; (Love) Compared With You; (I Believe) Love’s a Prima Donna; Psychomodo; (If This Is Love) Give Me More; Sebastian. Encore: Seeking A Love (Part 1); Tumbling Down. Encore 2: Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)
15 Apr
Steve Harley Newcastle City Hall Feb 1976 Timeless Flight
Steve Harley Newcastle City Hall Feb 1976 Timeless Flight
Steve Harley was back at the City Hall in February 1976, almost a year after his previous triumphant gig. This time he chose to play two nights; I went along to the first night’s show. I recall wondering if he could sell out two nights at the time and although it was quite full, the City Hall was no means full on the night I attended. The singles which followed Make Me Smile had not been very successful. The first single from the latest album Timeless Flight was Black and White, and didn’t register in the charts at all. Steve said at the time “I knew it was either going to be massive – top three – or a complete stiff. It turned out to be a stiff.” For me the stand out tracks on Timeless Flight is Red Is a Mean, Mean Colour. A second single from the album White, White Dove also failed to chart. 
None of this seemed to bother Steve who was on fine form at the gig in February 1976. In his mind, and through his performance, he remained a superstar and never seemed to doubt the course his music was taking. I went with my friend Ian, who was also a Steve Harley fan at the time, and we both enjoyed the gig. I don’t think there was any support act for the tour. As well as tracks from the new album, all the favourites were played. The closing song at the time remained Sebastian, with Tumbling Down and Make Me Smile held back for the encore. Steve Harley was an intriguing performer, coming over as very arrogant one moment, and then quite soft and sentimental the next. His songs were also difficult to categorise, and his lyrics quite deep. It seemed to me that he had immense confidence and self-belief, sticking to his own track even when the hit singles stopped coming, as was the case in early 1976. On stage his performance was as strong as ever.
14 Apr
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel Newcastle City Hall 1975
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel Newcastle City Hall 1975
The Best Years of Our Lives: Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)
Support band: Sailor
1975 was a big year for Steve Harley. The original Cockney Rebel, which he formed with violinist John Crocker, had split with a lot of bad feeling. Steve quickly formed a new version of the band, with only drummer Stuart Elliott remaining from the old Rebel. The new band was named Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel rather than simply Cockney Rebel, and also featured Jim Cregan (ex-Family), George Ford on bass and Duncan McKay on Keyboards. Steve wrote a song about the break-up, blaming his former band-mates for deserting him. That song was Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me). As soon as I heard it, I knew Steve was back stronger and better than ever, and that he was going to have a mega hit. Make Me Smile was Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel’s biggest selling hit singkle, selling over one million copies globally; it was to be their only number one hit, reaching the top of the UK Singles Chart in February 1975. The single was taken from the Best Years of Our Lives lp, which was the most successful Cockney Rebel album. A tour was announced and sold out immediately and called at Newcastle City Hall in April 1975. My memories of that gig are of an amazing night. Make Me Smile had just dropped off No 1, and the crowd gave Steve and the new band a reception like few I have seen before or since. Support came from Sailor who were wearing their sailor suits, and were soon to hit the charts themselves with Glass of Champagne. I think Steve came on stage very late that night. I seem to remember a big delay before he took to the stqge; my memory tells me that he explained to us that he was late because he had been recording Top of the Pops (this is where I start to question my fuzzy recollections as Make Me Smile had dropped out of the charts at that point and Mr Raffles had not yet been released, so a Top of the Pops appearance that week doesn’t seem that likely). My fuzzy memory also tells me that they started the set with Make Me Smile, and played it again at the end, before the traditional crowd singalong to Tumbling Down. I’m sure they also played old favourites like Sebastian. What I am certain about was it was an amazing night with the crowd going crazy; it was about welcoming back Steve, being pleased that the new band was so good, and celebrating the success of Make Me Smile. This is another gig that I wish I could go back and relive. I have also seen that there was a programme for the tour, which I don’t have. They must have sold out earlier on the tour, as was sometimes the case in those days. I must look for one on ebay.
13 Apr
Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel 1974 gigs
Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel 1974 Sunderland Locarno, Newcastle Mayfair and the Reading Festival
I’m going to spend a few days blogging on Steve Harley, who remains to this day one of my all-time heroes, a great songwriter, a very cheeky guy, and a great performer. Steve in 1974: “I set out to be a winner. I don’t want to lose. I spent four years in a hospital but I never expected favours from anyone. I don’t give sympathy because I don’t expect it. Nice guys don’t make it.” I was a big Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel fan in the 70s and saw them on every tour. I first saw them at Sunderland Locarno, on the Psychomodo tour in April 1974. Support act was Be Bop Deluxe, who I have already blogged about. The place was packed and a lot of people, including me, came along earlier than usual in order to catch Bill Nelson, who was great. Steve had hit the chart with Judy Teen by this point and was dressing extravigantly; his stage gear was very Clockwork Orange. I’d seem him play Hideaway on TV, and had heard the epic Sebastian, which is a favourite of mine to this day. Cockney Rebel were excellent that night; Steve always has great stage presence and those early singles are pure class. A live favourite for me was always the beautiful and haunting Sebastian. I can picture Steve now, standing in a single spot light, framing his face in his hands, singing the open lines: “Radiate simply, the candle is burning, so low for me; Generate me limply, can’t seem to place your name, cherie; To rearrange all these thoughts in a moment is suicide; Come to a strange place, we’ll talk over old times we never smile; Somebody called me Sebastian…..”. Pure Magic. And nothing beats being in a packed concert crowd singing along to the anthem Tumbling Down: “Oh! dear, look what they’ve done to the blues, blues, blues”. A group of us were so impressed by Cockney Rebel that we went along to see them again at Newcastle Mayfair a few weeks later, and lived it all again. And then I saw them at the Reading festival where they played the Sunday night, and the whole Reading crowd sang along to Tumbling Down. Simply awesome; you had to be there to understand. But the best was yet to come in the following year; and I’ll blog about that tomorrow. I think I’ll go upstairs and play Sebastian and Tumbling Down to remind me of those great days.
11 Apr
Windsor Free Festival 1974
Windsor Free Festival 1974
When I was writing about the 1974 Roy Harper and friends free concert in Hyde Park the other day it made me think about the Windsor Free Festival of that year. I visited the Windsor Festival that year to see what it was like, wandering around Windsor Great Park for a few hours taking in the atmosphere. I drove across from the Reading festival with a friend, tempted by the leaflets that were being given out on the Reading site. The Windsor Free Festival was held in Windsor Great Park from 1972 to 1974. It was organised by a group of hippies from London, and was the forerunner of the Free Festival movement and later events like the Stonehenge Festival. The festival was set to run for 10 days in 1974, starting over the bank holiday weekend, and continuing to the following weekend. Some friends were intending to go to Reading, across to Windsor, and then finish the festival week with the free Hyde Park event. Being a weekend hippy, I just popped across to Windsor for a visit, and went home between the weekends. I don’t recall which bands I saw but do remember the great friendly atmosphere at the festival. 
I can’t recall which day I visited, probably on the Monday, on the way home from Reading. I didn’t see any of the main bands who were, I think Hawkwind and Gong. The 1974 Windsor Free Festival was the largest, and also the most eventful, festival as a result of the police reaction to the gathering. On the Wednesday morning the police raided the festival and broke it up, amid reports of police brutality. Although I wasn’t there that day, some of my friends were, and they told me about it when I met up with them at Hyde Park on the Saturday following that eventful Wednesday. I have some flyers about the event which were given out at Hyde Park, and have copied them here. See: “Why did the cops smash the festival?”, which tells the tale of the day. 
I also have a flyer for the 1975 Windsor Free Festival, which was planned for the bank holiday week, but didn’t take place for legal reasons. I must have picked this flyer up at a festival somewhere during 1975. An alternative event took place at Watchfield, which I also attended, again after the Reading festival. It wasn’t a particularly well attended event, and had lost some of the spirit of the previous year’s festival at Windsor. Those days of the free festival and its ideals seem so long ago, and so different to the events we have now, which have become much more middle of the road, and corporate. We lost something along the way. In those days a group of hippies believed that they were building an alternative society, and I guess some of them did, and are still living it through the new age travellers movement which is the descendant of those events in the 70s.
9 Apr
Roy Harper 100 Club London 19 Jan 2007
Roy Harper 100 Club 19 Jan 2007
I went with David to see Roy Harper at the legendary 100 Club on 19th January 2007. Roy played a run of shows at the London club, featuring one of his classic albums in its entirety each night. I think we got Stormcock that night, along with a selection of Roy favourites (I remember him playing White Man). This is the only time that I’ve been to the 100 Club, although I’ve walked past many times, wondering what it was like inside. The club is a great little venue for an intimate concert, and it was packed to the walls for Roy’s gig. 
You could hardly move, and getting a good view of the small stage wasn’t easy. Roy was his usual amicable self, with lots of chat with the crowd. Sadly a drunken guy was heckling him and threw his shirt at Roy, which hit him in the face. Roy carried on and handled it as well as anyone could. Roy seems to attract some crazy people as well as friends to his gigs. Roy did a signing session after the show, and I bought a copy of the Passions of Great Fortune lyric book, which he kindly signed for me. Then David and I walked back to our hotel somewhere along the Euston Road and we were up early in the morning to catch our train back up North and home.
This is the last of my posts on Roy. I’ve seen him a couple of times since this gig, including a show at the Sage, which I went to with Laura, where he supported Joanna Newsom, and his 70th birthday concert at the Roya Festival Hall a couple of years ago, which I went to with David. I have already blogged on those shows. I hope I get the chance to see Roy again one day. He is playing a couple of festivals this summer, but I’m not aiming to go to along. Maybe next year. Soon, as Roy wrote in my book (see scan :)).
8 Apr
Roy Harper Newcastle Tyne Theatre 2003
I’ve spent the last ten years or so reconnecting with some of my favourites bands and artists. Roy Harper is one of those. I went along to this show at the Tyne Theatre with David, not having seen Roy live for around 15 years, and was really looking forward to seeing him again. I wasn’t disappointed. Roy was accompanied by Matt Churchill on guitar. A 95-minute audience recording exists from the Glasgow show of this tourwith Tom Tiddler’s Ground, First Thing In The Morning, Don’t You Grieve, Pinches Of Salt, Highway Blues, Another Day, When An Old Cricketer Leaves The Crease, Me And My Woman, North Country, One Man Rock And Roll Band and The Green Man. David enjoyed the gig and went along with a friend to see Roy at Leeds City Varieties a couple of weeks later.
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