Prince London O2 Arena 9th September 2007
Prince has been in the news recently, as he has been over here in the UK playing a series of guerrilla gigs in London and Manchester. The reviews of those gigs have been overwhelmingly positive, with fans and critics alike proclaiming the purple one as one of the best performers in the world. Now I don’t pretend to be a big Prince fan, but I did go to see him during his record-breaking unprecedented 21 night run at the O2 Arena in London in 2007, billed as the Earth Tour. Tickets were priced at a mere £31.21 a pop in order to “make the concerts affordable to everybody”, and also entitled the bearer to a free copy of Prince’s CD, Planet Earth. Similarly, the reviews of the time were extremely positive: “Every night, from the moment he hit the stage, he had the audience eating out of his hand with his consummate showmanship and musical genius — his guitar playing, in particular, was extraordinary. You got the feeling that he was simply pleasing himself, but the fun was mightily contagious” (totalproduction). I enjoyed the gig much more than I had anticipated, Prince included several of his hits, and some amazing covers. He stage was modelled in the shape of his trademark symbol, and he used it to its full extent, popping up at various different places during the evening. 
You can see shades of many influences in Prince’s music and style, but the artist who he most reminds me of is Sly Stone; now there is someone who I have never seen and would love to…(but I doubt I will get the chance to now). Prince may be back in the UK in the summer for shows at Glastonbury or Hyde Park.
Setlist: Let’s Go Crazy; Baby I’m a Star; Proud Mary (Creedence Clearwater Revival); All Along the Watchtower (Bob Dylan via Hendrix); Take Me With U; Guitar; Shhh; Musicology; Play That Funky Music (Wild Cherry); Sexy Dancer; Le Freak (Chic); What a Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong). Piano set: Somewhere Here on Earth; Diamonds and Pearls; Adore; Strange Relationship; Sometimes It Snows in April; 7; Come Together (The Beatles); If I Was Your Girlfriend. Encore: Black Sweat; Kiss; Purple Rain. Sampler set: Irresistible Bitch; Sign “☮” the Times; Raspberry Beret; When Doves Cry; I Wanna Be Your Lover; Soft and Wet; Lady Cab Driver. Encore 2: I Feel for You; Controversy
Posts Tagged ‘gigs’
26 Feb
Prince London O2 Arena 9th September 2007
25 Feb
The Pretty Things and Arthur Brown Newcastle Tyne Theatre 5th October 2002
The Pretty Things and Arthur Brown Newcastle Tyne Theatre 5th October 2002
When I was a kid, way back in 1968, I received some record vouchers as part of my Christmas present. Now lps were precious items in those days; I went to the local record shop and spent ages choosing which discs to spend my vouchers on. In the end I chose “Prophets Seers and Sages, the Angels of the Ages” by Tyrannosaurus Rex and “Crazy World of Arthur Brown”. Both good choices. A few months later I came across and bought a copy of The Pretty Things’ “S F Sorrow” in a second hand shop. I played those albums constantly on our new home stereo system. The Arthur Brown lp had such wonderful prog tracks as “Spontaneous Apple Creation”, “Child of My Kingdom” and (of course) “Fire” and “Fire Poem”, featuring Arthur’s manic soaring vocals and the late great Vincent Crane’s rich swirling Hammond organ. And S F Sorrow simply amazed me; with its rich mix of great pop hooks, R&B, and psych. “Baron Saturday”, “She Says Good Morning” and “Loneliest Person” were my favourite tracks.
I first got to see Arthur Brown live around 1973 at a Kingdom Come gig in Sunderland Polytechnic Wearmouth Hall. That concert was spectacular, and unlike anything I’ve ever see before or since. The show started with Arthur being tied to a large wooden cross in a simulated crucifixion, featured a massive brain being chased around the hall by the pope, and concluded with Arthur being dragged from stage in a straitjacket.
The first time I saw The Pretty Things live was at Sunderland Locarno, in January 1973. Their set at the time drew heavily from S F Sorrow and also included some of their classic 60s R&B singles. Phil May had the longest hair I had ever seen, and remains to this day one of our best rock vocalists and front men. I saw them a few times after that gig, supporting touring acts at Newcastle City Hall; once with Status Quo, and with a few other bands; exactly who I don’t remember, maybe Bad Company.
So some 30 odd years later, this gig at the Tyne Theatre teamed up two of my favourite acts. Arthur was as crazy and powerful as ever, and the Pretty Things played much of S F Sorrow, featuring a line-up which reunited many of the original band members. Arthur also joined The Pretty Things for a couple of songs. Arthur signed my ticket with a weird hippy third eye, and Phil May and the rest of The Pretty Things signed a reissue copy of S F Sorrow which was on sale at the venue. A great night. Oh and David came along with me and became a fan of Arthur and The Pretty Things that night 🙂
24 Feb
The Primitives Newcastle Mayfair 1st May 1988
The Primitives Newcastle Mayfair 1st May 1988
The Primitives burst out of the indie rock scene in the late ’80s with the single “Crash” which reached No 5 in 1988. It was on the strength of that single that a mate and I went to see them when they played Newcastle Mayfair. I can’t pretend to remember any of their material other than “Crash” but do recall enjoying the gig. From their official site: “Fronted by indiepop blonde bombshell Tracy Tracy, The Primitives emerged from the independent scene of the mid-80s …Their sound distilled the shimmering guitar jangle of the Byrds, the buzzsaw style of The Ramones and 60′s girl group melodies into two and a half minute pop gems….A widely acclaimed first album, Lovely, made them the UK’s indie darlings, while the huge success of the single ‘Crash‘ saw them cross over to a mass audience. Further chart success followed, along with two more studio albums, Pure and Galore, plus extensive tours of Europe and the US, before the band called it a day in 1992.” The Primitives have recently reformed and are now gigging again.
23 Feb
Roundhouse Rising Festival 21st – 24th February 2014
Roundhouse Rising Festival 21st – 24th February 2014
So the Shift-Static guys made it down to London for their big-city debut at Camden’s Chalk Farm Roundhouse, courtesy of Generator and the Roundhouse Rising festival. Second on the bill on the Saturday evening; Gordon, Laura, Charlie, Joe and Will took to the stage at 9pm in front of a packed Studio audience, including many friends and family who had ventured south especially for the occasion. After some technical glitches which were sorted during sound-check, their short 30 minute set went beautifully, without any further hitch. Their aural soundscapes filled the room much to the delight of the crowd, who gave the band a reception fit for heroes. Shift-Static music is a mix of pounding beats, soaring vocals and challenging musical dynamics. In it I hear elements of Joy Division, Julie Tippetts, Portishead and Eno with a smattering of the African rhythms of Osibisa; but they probably won’t thank me for any of those comparisons 🙂 .
Roundhouse Rising is the Roundhouse’s annual festival of new music. Taking place across 4 days, the festival sees live music from over 75 artists plus 3 days of special events dedicated to help new atcs break into the music industry. Each year the Roundhouse works with over 3,000 11-25 year olds enabling them to realise their creative potential in live music, circus, spoken word, theatre and new media. Around 45 of the artists performing this weekend have come through this route.
22 Feb
The Pretenders Newcastle City Hall 17th January 1984
The Pretenders Newcastle City Hall 17th January 1984
The Pretenders regrouped in 1983 with original members Chrissie Hynde (guitar and vocals), and Martin Chambers (drums). They were soon back in the UK charts with “Back on the Chain Gang” and “2000 miles”. By the time I saw them in concert at Newcastle Hynde and Chambers had been joined by Malcolm Foster (bass) and Robbie McIntosh (guitar). The line-up was professional, and the concert good, but I felt some of the rawness of the original band was lacking. However, Chrissie Hynde remains an engaging performer to this day. I last saw the Pretenders when they supported Rod Stewart at St James Park Newcastle a few years ago.
From an article by Andy Schwartz in New York Rocker (June 1980): “Seeing [The Pretenders] live brings home just how new they are to all of this. Their entire stage repertoire can’t encompass more than twenty numbers, and even Hynde, already a potent presence and the obvious center of attraction, hasn’t yet taken full command of the stage. 
She’s still awed by the roar of the crowd, still slightly amazed to find herself in the spotlight in place of her teenage idols: Lennon, Townshend, Ray Davies.”
A Pretenders setlist from 1984: The Wait; Message of Love; The Adultress; Time the Avenger; My City Was Gone; Show Me; Talk of the Town; Birds of Paradise; Thin Line Between Love and Hate; Thumbelina; Back on the Chain Gang; I Hurt You; Pack It Up; Bad Boys Get Spanked; Mystery Achievement; Middle of the Road; Up the Neck; Precious. Encore: Brass in Pocket;Tattooed Love Boys
21 Feb
The Pretenders Newcastle gigs 1979 – 1981
The Pretenders Newcastle gigs 1979 – 1981
Chrissie Hynde moved to London from the USA in 1973, finding work at the NME and at Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood’s clothes store. She became involved with the early punk scene, and hung around with the Pistols, The Clash and The Damned. She had a few short-lived bands and then formed the Pretenders in 1978 with Pete Farndon on bass, James Honeyman-Scott on guitar, and Martin Chambers on drums. They released a cover of The Kinks “Stop Your Sobbing” in 1979, followed by the great “Kid”. It was around the release of “Kid” when I first saw the Pretenders on 3rd August 1979 at Newcastle Mayfair. The Mayfair was a big heavy metal haunt, and the audience would give punk and new waves bands a hard time. The Pretenders were no exception, and they faced an onslaught of beer glasses.
If I remember right, Chrissie Hynde put on a brave front arguing with the hecklers, but they eventually abandoned the gig, soaked with beer. Nonetheless, they played a great set, and left me wanting to see them again. In January of 1980 the Pretenders hit No 1 in the UK charts with “Brass in Pocket”. On 8th February 1980 I saw them play to a packed, sold out, Newcastle Polytechnic. They gave a storming performance, and Chrissie was simply amazing. This was the best time I have seen them in concert, and a gig that sticks in my mind as something pretty special. It was one of those nights where you felt that you were seeing a band on the verge of the big time, they knew it, we knew it and the atmosphere was electric; I think they may have been No 1 the week of the gig. 
From there on the next couple of visits to Newcastle were to the City Hall; on 6th October 1980 with (Swords of 1000 men) Ten Pole Tudor as support and again on 30th November 1981. The Pretenders were a great live act; Chrissie all swagger, tunes with great hooks, and a sense of their ’60s pop roots blended with punk and new wave. By the end of 1982 both Pete Farndon and James Honeyman-Scott had died from drug overdoses, and it seemed that the band would be no more. However they were to regroup in 1983, and were back at the City Hall in 1984. I’ll blog about that gig tomorrow.
20 Feb
The Police & U2 Gateshead Stadium 31st July 1982
The Police Gateshead Stadium 1982
Support Acts: U2, The Beat, Gang Of Four, Lords Of The New Church.
Sting: “Seven years ago I left this town and I said I would make it. It’s nice to come back and make you part of the success.”
Another one day event headlined by The Police. This one was local to me (no three hour drive home; great 🙂 ). The weather was ok, dull but no major rain problems. Attendance was estimated at around 12,000; well below the capacity, and there was lots of empty space in the stadium. The Police were good, but for me and most of he crowd, the revelation of the day was U2. I had seen U2 a few times before this gig, and thought they were good, but it was at this Gateshead gig that I realised just how powerful a U2 performance could be. Bono was simply sensational; his singing, passion, energy and performance were amazing. He climbed all over the lighting towers and had the entire crowd on his side by the end of their set. The Police found it hard to follow U2, and Sting wasn’t in a particularly good mood; but after a slow start, all those hits got the crowd singing along. The standard Police three piece line-up was augmented by a brass section for this show.
From reviews of the time:
“U2 took advantage of the day’s upswing to reinforce the numerous claims made on their behalf to be ‘the next big thing’. Currently cooped up in the country getting their third album together, they exploded with a barrage of pent-up energy that no amount of pastoral activity can fulfil. “(Sounds)
“The Police were totally predictable. Coming on over a tape to ecstatic applause from the half empty stadium, Sting yodelled and changed basses for every other song in sight …. I can’t say that they played badly – they’re much too professional and slick for that – but their many hits were trotted out with a lack of excitement which suggests that their days as a group may be numbered [interesting comment in hindsight]….The audience loved it – but then at £8.30 a time they could hardly afford not to could they? ” (Record Mirror)
U2 setlist: Gloria; I Threw A Brick; A Day Without Me; An Cat Dubh; Into The Heart; Rejoice; Electric Co; I Will Follow; Out Of Control. Encore(s): A Celebration; 11 O’Clock Tick Tock; The Ocean
The Police setlist: Message In A Bottle; Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic; Walking On The Moon; Spirits In The Material World; Hungry For You; When The World Is Running Down; The Bed’s Too Big Without You; De do do do, De da da da; Demolition Man; Shadows In The Rain; Driven To Tears; Bring On The Night; One World (Not Three); Invisible Sun (with Bono); Roxanne; Don’t Stand So Close To Me; Can’t Stand Losing You; Regatta de Blanc; Be My Girl; Can’t Stand Losing You; So Lonely
19 Feb
The Police Milton Keynes Bowl 26th July 1980
The Police Milton Keynes Bowl 26th July 1980
Rockatta De Bowl
Support Acts: UB40; Squeeze; Tom Robinson’s Sector 27; Skafish
DJs: John Peel (who else) and Jerry Floyd
Not one of the best one day festival events that I’ve attended, but by no means the worst. It’s a long drive from the North East to Milton Keynes, and it seemed an even long drive back after standing all day getting soaked….
I went with a car load of mates; we had all recently discovered the Police and were quite big fans at the time, having seen them several times in Newcastle. This was the first big concert at the Milton Keynes Bowl, and it was organised by the same people that ran the Reading Festival. The Bowl is, as the name suggests, a natural round amphitheatre; “the site was a former clay-pit…filled in and raised to form an amphitheatre using sub-soil excavated by the many new developments in the area and it has a maximum capacity of 65,000. The arena is open-air grassland, without seats.” (Wikipedia). It was by no means full for the Police concert; reports suggest that around 25,000 people attended. There had been a lot of rain in the days leading up to the event and as a result, the bowl was a bit of a quagmire…. 
The line-up was interesting. I don’t recall whether or not we arrived in time to catch Tom Robinson and his new band Sector 27. I do remember SkaFace who were greeted by a hail of cans, and retreated after a few songs, the singer’s face was quite badly cut. Squeeze were good, as always; they can’t be anything other than good with those catchy pop songs like “Up The Junction”, and great hooks. UB40 were a big hit, with their reggae rhythms drifting around the bowl. There was then a long wait before The Police hit the stage, during which it poured down. The weather and the wait put a damper on things, and I remember that the Police were good, but I couldn’t really get into it for two reasons; first I was soaked (no tents or anywhere else to hide from the rain) and secondly I knew that I had a long four hour drive home. Sting had a pretty classy looking new upright bass (was it hanging from the roof on a wire? Or did I just imagine that?) and he led us all through lots of Yo Yo Yo..ing which started to annoy me after too long….
Some reviews from the time:
“The show by The Police in the hitherto rock and roll backwater of Milton Keynes, proved that there are still few greater thrills available anywhere than to witness a group playing at the absolute peak of its prowess and confidence… One is always astonished at any show The Police perform, by the remarkable power they manage to create with the basic line-up of bass, guitar and drums…” (Evening Standard)
“…they showed a move towards a more varied and mainstream approach, while retaining more than a hint of the white reggae style.” (The Guardian)
“They achieved a better overall sound with three musicians than anyone else did with eight… The white reggae beat was certainly conducive to the festival atmosphere, and the tribal chants brought out the football supporter in all of us.” (Sounds)
Police setlist: Voices Inside My Head; Don’t Stand So Close to Me; Walking on the Moon; Deathwish; Fall Out; Bring on the Night; De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da; Truth Hits Everybody; The Bed’s Too Big Without You; Driven to Tears; When the World Is Running Down, You Make the Best of What’s Still Around; Message in a Bottle; Roxanne; Can’t Stand Losing You; Reggatta de Blanc; Next to You; So Lonely
18 Feb
Jimmy Page Newcastle City Hall 23rd November 1988
Jimmy Page Newcastle City Hall 23rd November 1988
Support from Dare.
In 1988 Jimmy Page released his solo album Outrider, which featured guest musicians included Chris Farlowe, who sang on a number of tracks, Robert Plant, who sang on one track, John Miles (sang on two tracks) and John Bonham’s son Jason on drums. Jimmy subsequently went out on tour with a band featuring John Miles (vocals and guitar), Durban Laverde (bass) and Jason Bonham (drums). The tour was relatively short, luckily he called at Newcastle City Hall. Jimmy reflected on the album and tour afterwards: “Outrider’s all right. It’s demo-like compared with those overproduced albums that came out at the time. It didn’t do very well — doesn’t matter — but I did tour. I was playing music on that tour going right back to The Yardbirds. Jason [Bonham] was the drummer on that tour.” Jimmy’s set included tracks from Outrider, Zeppelin classics, songs by his previous band (with Paul Rodgers) The Firm, and back to his Yardbirds days for Train Kept a Rollin’. 
It was a great concert; we had seats looking down on the stage, but a pretty good view nonetheless and it was amazing seeing the guitar maestro so close up. Jimmy did the full bit; violin bow; theremin, and classic Zep solos. Great stuff. Setlist: Who’s to Blame; Prelude; Over the Hills and Far Away; Wanna Make Love; Writes of Winter; Tear Down The Walls; Emerald Eyes; Midnight Moonlight (including excerpts from White Summer, Black Mountain Side and Kashmir); In My Time of Dying; City Sirens; Someone To Love; Prison Blues; The Chase; Dazed and Confused; Wasting My Time; Blues Anthem (If I Cannot Have Your Love …); Custard Pie; Train Kept A-Rollin’; Stairway to Heaven (instrumental version).
17 Feb
Robert Plant Strange Sensation Sage Gateshead 30th October 2005
Robert Plant Strange Sensation Sage Gateshead 30th October 2005
My next encounter with Robert Plant in concert was at the Sage Gateshead in 2005. The band was Strange Sensation and they were promoting Mighty ReArranger, which was Plant’s 8th solo album. The setlist consisted of songs from the new album, plus some oldies and was as follows: Tin Pan Valley; Shine It All Around; Black Dog; Freedom Fries; 7 and 7 Is; Win My Train Fare Home (If I Ever Get Lucky); Going to California; Another Tribe; Thank You; Hey Joe; Four Sticks; Gallows Pole. Encore: The Enchanter; Boogie Chillen’; Whole Lotta Love. Another good show, with the Eastern and psych influences showing through even more strongly; to the extent that the reworkings of Zep classics had moved even further from the originals. I saw Plant once more, at the Sage again in 2010, and blogged about that show at the time. I have yet to see his latest band, something which I intend to put right this year if I can. This concludes my reflections on Mr Plant; I have one Jimmy Page concert to write about, and will do so tomorrow.
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