The Monkees Newcastle City Hall May 15th 2011
Hey Hey We’re the Monkees! Our heroes were back at Newcastle City Hall last night. This was their first UK tour for 16 years, and it was great to see them again. This time around we had Davy, Peter and Mickey, but no Mike. They took us through a set which covered all aspects of their career, in front of a screen showing clips from their TV show. Each song was accompanied by the relevant video from the show. The Monkees were always a mix of pop, country, vaudeville, stage school and dance. Last night was no different with all three of the guys on great form, backed by a 9 piece band. They started the second half with selections from their hippy trippy psychedelic film Head, which was quite a brave choice, but worked very well. A great night, lots of fun. It was disappointing that the hall wasn’t full, but everyone there enjoyed themselves. It must have been wonderful to be a Monkee in the 60s (I wanted to be Davy).
Set list something like :
Set 1: I’m a Believer; Mary, Mary; The Girl I Knew Somewhere; She Hangs Out; Alternate Title; Your Auntie Grizelda; It’s Nice to Be With You; I Don’t Think You Know Me At All; Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow); Words; Cuddly Toy; Papa Gene’s Blues; Listen to the Band; That Was Then, This is Now; All of Your Toys; Hard To Believe; What Am I Doin’ Hangin’ Round?; Sometime in the Morning; Valleri; No Time
Interval
Set 2: Circle Sky; Can You Dig It?; As We Go Along; Do I Have to do this All Over Again?; Porpoise Song; Daddy’s Song; For Pete’s Sake; When Love Comes Knocking At Your Door; She; A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You; Shades of Gray; Last Train to Clarksville; Goin’ Down; I Wanna be Free; Saturday’s Child; Someday Man; I’m Not Your (Steppin’ Stone); Daydream Believer
Encores: Pleasant Valley Sunday; I’m a Believer
Posts Tagged ‘folk’
15 May
The Monkees Newcastle City Hall May 15th 2011
15 May
Love Music Hate Racism The Cluny May 13th 2011
Love Music Hate Racism The Cluny May 13th 2011
This gig featured local bands: O’Messy Life, Shift-Static and Our Imaginary Friends.
First up was Our Imaginary Friends who play melodic guitar-based pop with a 60s flavour. The singer reminded me of Richard Hawley and Divine Comedy. They have some nice tunes and went down well with the local crowd. Next up was Shift-Static who played their normal exquisite set to a great reception. I spotted Terry Reid in the audience (he was playing the Cluny the following night); and he seemed to be enjoying the local talent. Local photographer Jazzy Lemon was in attendance and took lots of great shots. The night was rounded off by local band O’Messy Life who headlined the evening.
Our Imaginary Friends website: www.myspace.com/ourimaginaryfriends
Shift-Static website: www.myspace.com/shiftstaticmusic
Some great photos from Jazzy Lemon: Jazzy Lemon photos
O’Messy Life website: www.myspace.com/omessylife
14 May
Eric Clapton Glasgow SECC May 12th 2011
Eric Clapton Glasgow SECC May 12th 2011
I think Clapton is back on top form and, in my book, always worth seeing these days. So I decided to make the trip to Glasgow on Thursday night. I was also tempted by the support act Andy Fairweather Low. I’ve seen Andy many times over the years in Clapton and Roger Waters’ bands, but haven’t seen him solo since the 1970s. I arrived at SECC around 7pm, bought my programme, and took my seat in Row S of the centre block. Andy Fairweather Low and his band took us through his greatest hits including Bend Me Shape Me, La Booga Rooga, Wide Eyed and Legless, and If Paradise is Half as Nice. 
He’s also a very accomplished guitarist which he demonstrated to great effect in a couple of bluesy instrumentals; one of which was by Lightning Hopkins. Andy had a lovely Vox teardrop guitar, which matched his 60s setlist. good opener. I’ve seen Clapton many times since the 70s (probably about 15 or so). There were times I felt he was going through the motions in some shows in the 90s, but the last few times I’ve seen him he has been playing really well, with great, fluid guitar playing and getting back to what he started with; the blues. And Thursday was no exception. The set started with some great blues songs, with Clapton playing with feeling and passion. Great keyboard solos from Chris Stainton and Tim Carmon. 
The set is predictable, and seems to be the same as he has been playing throughout the tour, with a mix of blues, old favourites and an acoustic set in the middle. High points for me were Hoochie Coochie Man, Badge and I Shot the Sherriff. Low points; I’m still not keen on the unplugged Layla (lets have the electric version next time please, Eric) and I did get a little tired of the keyboard solos which seemed to figure in almost every song. Also Clapton seemed subdued and was straight off the stage at the end (it wouldn’t hurt to say a few words to the crowd). Overall, however, this was a pretty good show; Clapton has become the modern equivalent of the old bluesmen who got him started in the beginning. Long may he continue to come and play for us.
Setlist: Key To The Highway; Going Down Slow; Hoochie Coochie Man; Old Love; I Shot The Sheriff; Driftin’; Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out; Still Got The Blues; Same Old Blues; When Somebody Thinks You’re Wonderful; Layla; Badge; Wonderful Tonight; Before You Accuse Me; Little Queen Of Spades; Cocaine
Encore: Crossroads
19 Apr
Paul Rodgers Newcastle Metro Arena 18 April 2011
Paul Rodgers Newcastle Metro Arena 18 April 2011
This show had originally been planned for the City Hall, and was moved to the much larger Arena shortly after it was announced, presumably because the promoter realised the demand to see Paul Rodgers would be much greater than the capacity of the City Hall could hold. For me this was a mistake. The atmosphere is always much better in a sold out (2,400) theatre as opposed to sitting with a crowd of (I would guess) 3-4,000 in an arena that can hold up to 10,000.
Paul Rodgers has been out on tour quite a bit over the past few years; playing solo, with Bad Company and with Queen. I’d seen most of his recent tours although I did miss out on his last outing with Bad Company. Not sure why I didn’t go along to that show, I regretted it straight away and decided to go along to make up for it.
I arrived in the interval, having missed the support Joe Elliot’s Down n Outz. Bought myself a programme and then took my seat. Paul started with Walk in my shadow, followed a bunch of old favourites: Wishing Well, Fire and Water. The rest of the set was a mixture of Free and Bad Company tracks, with a few new songs thrown in. At one point Paul brought on stage the guitarist from his very first band, Colin Bradley; “this guy taught me how to play”; and they played a great version of The Temptations Ain’t Too Proud To Beg. The man was in good voice and went down well with the crowd; however I still thin that the venue is too impersonal, and we all would have enjoyed it much more in the City Hall. All in all a good night, good to hear some great songs again.
Paul is joined by drummer Jason Bonham for this tour. Also in the band are guitarist Howard Leese and bassist Lynn Sorenson. The bass player for this Newcastle show was Todd Ronning rather than Lynn Sorenson. Markus Wolfe played additional guitar on some of the songs as well. Todd Ronning and Markus Wolfe are both members of a Canadian band named ‘King Karma’. Both have played again in Rodgers band when he did some shows in Canada recently. Thanks to Sir Bawls for the update.
Setlist:
Walk In My Shadow
Wishing Well
Fire & Water
Feel Like Makin’ Love
Mr Midnight
Be My Friend
Mr Big
Run With The Pack
Bad Company
The Stealer
Seagull
My Brother Jake
Ain’t Too Proud To Beg (Temptations)
Shooting Star
Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy
Can’t Get Enough
Encores:
Ride On A Pony
All Right Now
The Hunter
website: www.paulrodgers.com
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18 Apr
Marina Celeste and Shift-Static The Cluny Newcastle 17 April 2011
Marina Celeste and Shift-Static The Cluny Newcastle 17th April 2011
Shift-Static got a call a few days ago inviting them to support Marina Celeste at the Cluny. I hadn’t heard of Marina but advice from Laura, and some web searching, revealed to me that she is “the voice of Nouvelle Vague”, who made their name playing classics from the New Wave music era, reinterpreting them in a bossa nova style.
Marie and I arrived at the Cluny just in time to catch the end of the first support act, Tamara Schlesinger from 6 Day Riot, who played some nifty ukelele. After a short break Shift-Static took to the stage to a fair size crowd and started with IL1 / IL2. This was followed by Get the Echo, Fathers Footsteps Part 1 and The Furrow; all which went down well with the crowd. They finished with Haystacks which got a great cheer and shouts for more. The set was the same as they played at the Sage a few weeks ago, and the sound was equally clear and sharp.
Marina wasn’t really my cup of tea to be honest. Her songs are bossa nova versions of punk classics. Imagine Orgasm Addict (the Buzzcocks) sung in a breathy French vocals, backed by a Parisian jazz cafe type band. Marie and I beat a retreat back home for a drink in the local Wetherspoons.
Marina Celeste website: www.marinaceleste.com
Shift-Static website: www.myspace.com/shiftstaticmusic
6 Day Riot website: www.6dayriot.co.uk
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You can see Shift-Static play Haystacks here:
13 Mar
Primal Scream Newcastle Academy March 16 2011
Primal Scream Newcastle Academy March 16 2011
Great set by Primal Scream at the Academy last Wednesday night. This was Laura’s first experience of the band live. I’d seen them once before supporting the Stones at Twickenham som years ago and hadn’t been particularly impressed. We’d been looking forward to this for some time, particularly as we missed their last gig in Newcastle (I had very bad flu at the time and we couldn’t make the gig).
This time around the band were showcasing their seminal 1991 album Screamadelica. Th main set consisted of the entire album, with a few other songs thrown in as encores.
We arrived at the Academy shortly before the band were due to come on stage and took our seats up in the balcony. It wasn’t long before Primal Scream appeared to a great reception from the Newcastle crowd. “Are you ready to testify” shouted Bobby Gillespie as they launched straight into Movin’ On Up. Great stuff this. I was surprised to find that I recognised a few tunes, as I am not familiar with Screamadelic at all. I had a picture in my mind of Primal Scream as a sortof Stones clone, but Wednesday night made me realise that they are much more than that: a blend of dance, gospel and great rock n roll, clearly influenced by acid house and rave. Some great visuals with lasers scanning across the crowd, and loud, but clear sound made this a great show.
Laura declared it X I (think that means excellent), and I can’t disagree with that.
Set list : Movin’ On Up; Slip Inside This House; Don’t Fight It, Feel It; Damaged; I’m Comin’ Down;
Shine Like Stars; Inner Flight; Higher Than The Sun; Higher Than the Sun (A Dub Symphony in Two Parts); Loaded; Come Together
Encores: Country Girl; Jailbird; Rocks
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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!
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Will got the programme signed by Chris Farlowe and Wayne Fontana. (Good man Will; Thanks). Here is Chris' autograph
5 Mar
Beady Eye Manchester Apollo 6 March 2011
Beady Eye Manchester Apollo 6 March 2011
Great gig. Miles Kane was a good support, his material sounding a little like last Shadow Puppets as you might expect. He did a great version of the Beatles’ Hey Bulldog.
Laura and I were upstairs in the circle, where the crowd seem a little more subdued than I had expected. Still there was some singing along to the tracks played over the sound system: Satisfaction, Revolution, Children of the Revolution, God Save the Queen, I can see for miles and I am the resurrection (lots of singing along for this one) were all blasted out to us before the main man took to the stage. Everyone was up for it, but not going mental (expect things were different downstairs). Liam had the usual swagger and was in great voice. The set was all new songs from the album, with no Oasis tracks. The new songs sounded great, and everyone around us knew all the words (we didn’t!). A lot has been said about the songs and many comparisons made with Oasis; to me some sounded great (The Roller, Four Letter Word, The Morning Son, Bring the Light) and the others were OK. The anthems are there, we just haven’t got used to them yet.
Setlist:
Four Letter Word
Beatles And Stones
Millionaire
For Anyone
The Roller
Wind Up Dream
Bring The Light
Standing On The Edge Of The Noise
Kill For A Dream
Three Ring Circus
Man Of Misery
The Beat Goes On
The Morning Son
Encore: Sons Of The Stage
http://www.beadyeyemusic.com/
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5 Mar
Shift-Static Sound 11 The Sage Gateshead 5 March 2011
Shift-Static in Sound ’11: Electronica and World Rhythms
Saturday 5 March 8:00 pm Hall Two, The Sage Gateshead
Sound 11 is an annual event which showcases the best in local student music and performance. Shift-Static shared the bill at this event in a three band concert at the end of the evening in Hall 2. The other bands on the bill were Dale Burundanga who (from the programme) “play unique arrangements of Afro-Peruvian tunes”, and Hannabiell and Midnight Blue “with their distinctive African-influenced funk and jazz”. The programme said of Shift-Static: “Shift Static combine warped ambient samples with home-brewed instruments and stunning vocals.”
This was Shift-Static’s highest profile gig to date, and the guys had spent months rehearsing and preparing for it. And it showed.
They came on last around 10.20 and performed a short 30 minute set comprising five of their songs. Each song was performed to perfection with Gordon’s soaring, reverb-ridden lead, Will’s jangling rhythm guitar, Charlie’s samples and beats, Joe’s pounding bass, and Laura’s haunting vocals. The music was accompanied by an excellent light and visual show which had been specially designed for the night by Ed (lights) and Mark and Will (visuals), who are Newcastle students. Laura was dressed in a lovely psychedelic original 60s dress which gave out a nice fluorescent glow under the lights.
You can see them performing Haystacks here:
and Father’s Footsteps here:
Friends and family had assembled to be part of the event and the band didn’t let us down. The performance was stunning, and showed how their songs and approach fits well with a venue of this sort. Can’t wait to see the full video.
Setlist:
IL1 / IL2
Get the Echo
Fathers Footsteps Part 1
The Furrow
Haystacks
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Visit their myspace site at :
6 Feb
P J Proby Sunderland Empire 3 Feb 2011
One Night of Elvis with Lee Memphis King & P J Proby Sunderland Empire 3 Feb 2011
This was an Elvis tribute show starring a guy called Lee Memphis King. I wouldn’t normally choosie to go along to an Elvis show; however the added attraction of my old hero P J Proby as special guest tempted me. Marie also (somewhat suprisingly) quite fancied coming and went along to the Empire theatre and bought two tickets for the show.
Come the night we took our seats in the circle of the Empire. The theatre was by no means full, but a respectably sized crowd of Elvis (and P J Proby?) fans had turned out on a very wet and windy night to see the show. The show started with a few songs from the main attraction Lee Memphis King who does a pretty mean Elvis impersonation. He soon introduced P J Proby who came on stage to a great reception from the crowd. P J has, of course, been in the press of late because of his legal problems relating to benefit claims, which he mentioned a couple of times, laughing it off as a joke. He performed a series of Elvis songs including Are you Lonesome Tonight, How great though art and Lawdy Miss Claudy. His voice is still good, but didn’t sound as strong as last time I saw him a few years ago. To be honest I don’t think P J was on top form, forgetting his words to one song and having to start it again. Still it was good to see the great man again; you have to admire him for still going out there are treading the boards at his age (he’s 72).
Marie and I beat a retreat to a local hostelry at the interval (sorry Lee Memphis).
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