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
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
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/
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
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).
Uriah Heep Workington Carnegie Theatre 29 Jan 2011
More and more I realise just how much old rock bands like Uriah Heep mean to me. Its a pity that we don’t seem more of them in the UK, and when they do play here it tends to be in smaller venues, and not in major cities. I saw a few weeks ago, to some surprise, that Uriah Heep were playing at the small (300 seater) Carnegie Theatre in Workington as a warm-up for an appearance at a rock show at Butlins Skegness. I decided that it was worth the 100 mile drive to see them again, particularly in such a small theatre. My only hesitation came from thinking about the possible winter weather, and how that might affect driving over to see them. As it happened; when the day arrived the weather was OK, with some frost and snow flurries, but no real problems on the road.
I set off at around 4.30pm to give myself plenty of time to drive over to Workington. The drive was pretty uneventful (except as usual I got a little lost in the centre of Carlisle) and I arrived in Workington just before 7pm. A visit to the local fish shop was in order, and after scoffing off fishcake and chips (not that nice actually) I wandered into the venue. When I got inside the place was pretty empty; everyone was still in the very packed pub which was just over the road from the theatre.
The Carnegie Theatre is a lovely little theatre with an adjoining bar (Munroes Bar I think) and community centre. Its pretty small with around a dozen rows of seats downstairs in the stalls and about 8 rows up in the balcony. I’d bought my ticket quite late and my seat was in the second from back row of the balcony. The show had apparently been sold out for a few weeks.
I took my seat in the balcony for the support act who were Hammerhead. They are a Cumbrian rock band who started in the 70s, and played a set of great melodic rock. Well worth checking out. During the interval I wandered downstairs to the bar which was now completely packed.
Uriah Heep took to the stage at around 9pm, opening with Wake the Sleeper from their recent album. Wake the Sleeper is a pretty good opening song, with the trademark Heep screaming harmonies. The next songs I recognise are Return to Fantasy (great) and Bird of Prey. Hearing Bird of Prey takes my mind back to an early tour at Newcastle City Hall (Magician’s Birthday tour perhaps?) where I swear they announced Bird of Prey as “an old song, that we won’t be playing again”. After Bird of Prey I decided to wander downstairs to see if I could get a better view. Everyone was standing up in the stalls, and there didn’t seem to be any security at all, so I managed to make my way to the very front of the stage. We were then into all the great old songs: Stealin’, the Wizard and Gypsy. It was nice to hear the full keyboard intro to Gypsy again; the last couple of times I’ve seen the band they’ve missed it out and gone straight to the riff. Mick takes centre stage and is clearly enjoying himself. Bernie Shaw is a great front man and vocalist and has the crowd with him on every word; singing along at the top of their voices. They finish with July Morning and Easy Livin’ (always my favourite). Encores are Sunrise (I’d forgotten how good that one is) and we all sing along to Lady in Black. I don’t usually sing along but couldn’t help myself. On the way out I hear a guy next to me say to his friend “that was awesome” (and it was!).
Easily the best gig I’ve been to in a long long time. You can’t beat a recipe of vast experience, great songs, small venue, enthusiastic crowd.
I leave around 10.45pm and get home just before 1am; ears still ringing. When I get home I tell Marie how great it was but she’s half asleep, and she turns over and goes back to sleep.
website: http://www.uriah-heep.com/
Setlist: Wake the Sleeper; Overload; Return to Fantasy; Only Human; Book of Lies; Bird of Prey; Stealin’; The Wizard; Free an’ Easy; Gyspy; Look at Yourself; Angels walk with you; July Morning; Easy Livin’
Encores: Sunrise; Lady in Black
Richard Thompson Sage Gateshead Jan 26 2011
Will and I went to see Richard Thompson at the Sage last week. Will is now well into Richard, having got the latest CD Dream Attic in preparation for the show. I’m afraid I wasn’t so prepared, so the first half of the show was all new to me. However that didn’t stop me from enjoying the show. Richard’s band was spot on, and his singing and guitar playing was excellent with quite a few extended solos. The second half of the show consisted of a selection of songs from his “greatest hits’, a few of which I actually recognised.
Richard has been getting a lot of good press recently, and it is much deserved. The show at the Sage demonstrated just how versatile he is and how strong his songs are. His guitar playing is superb; he is under-rated as a guitarist and is up there with the greats.
Both Will and I agreed it was a great show from a true master.
Band: Pete Zorn (guitars, flute, saxes, mandolin), Michael Jerome (drums), Taras Prodaniuk (bass) and Joel Zifkin (violin, mandolin).
Setlist:
First half (Dream Attic) :The Money Shuffle; Among the Gorse; Haul Me Up; Here Comes Geordie; Demons in Her Dancing Shoes; Crimescene; Big Sun; Stumble On; Sidney Wells; A Brother Slips Away; If Love Whispers Your Name’
Second half: The Angels Took My Race Horse Away; Can’t Win; One Door Opens; Al Bowlly’s In Heaven; I’ll Never Give it Up; Wall Of Death; Tear Stained Letter
Encores: Take Care The Road You Choose; I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight’.
Roxy Music Newcastle Metro Arena 25 Jan 2011
Great to see Roxy Music back in Newcastle. Last night’s setlist was a good mix of well known tracks and lesser known songs taken from their wonderful back catalogue. For me it was a much better performance than their last reunion show at Newcastle around 10 years ago. All of the four original members seemed genuinely glad to be back on stage together. Brian Ferry’s voice was strong and he seemed to be well up for the occasion, although he spent a lot more time at the piano than in the past. The visuals were very impressive, presenting images from their album covers alongside other stylish pictures. Two dancing girls graced the back of the stage in true Roxy fashion. I thought Phil Manzanera and Andy MacKay were particularly impressive. Not reaching the heights of the great 1970s shows that we saw at the City Hall, but a good start to the tour. Yes they could have played more hits, and an encore would have been nice; but hey ho still a good showing. I’d forgot how great a song Pyjamarama is. Will this be the last time? And if it isn’t can you please play In Every Dream Home for me next time?
Setlist: The Main Thing – Street Life – Pyjamarama – If There Is Something – Same Old Scene – Just Like You – Amazona – 2HB – Like A Hurricane – Tara – Bitter Sweet – Sentimental Fool – Prairie Rose – My Only Love – Avalon – Virginia Plain – Love Is The Drug – Editions Of You – Do The Strand – Jealous Guy – For Your Pleasure.
Thin Lizzy Newcastle City Hall 8 Jan 2011
I’m back in 1972. Its a Friday night and I’m in the upstairs bar of Sunderland Locarno (“the Mecca”). There’s a tall black guy standing next to me. He’s chatting away in a strong but soft Irish accent. He seems a friendly guy; looks like he could be in a band. An hour or so later the night’s group take to the stage. They are called Thin Lizzy, and the guy from the bar is the front man. None of us have heard of them; someone tells me that John Peel plays them quite a bit and that they have an album out called “Shades of a Blue Orphanage”. They play pretty well; the front man has great presence, the guitarist is pretty good and the drummer’s impressive. I find out later that the tall guy is called Phil Lynott and the other members are Eric Bell on guitar, and Brian Downey on drums.
Roll on a year. I’m watching Top of the Pops and Thin Lizzy are on my TV playing an Irish-folk sounding tune “Whiskey in the Jar” which has a great guitar riff. Next day I go out and buy the record. My journey with Lizzy is beginning.
Over the next few years they play Sunderland a few more times, hitting the stages of the Mecca and the Rink. They appear down the bill at the Reading festival once or twice. Each time I see them they are getting stronger and tighter, but they seem to be missing out on the big break.
We’re now in 1976 and Thin Lizzy have just released the Jailbreak album. The Boys are Back in Town is out as a single and suddenly they are everywhere. I buy the Jailbreak album and play it and play it. Thin Lizzy start to headline and sell out Newcastle City Hall and other major venues. We all go to see them at the City Hall on the tours that follow: Johnny the Fox; Bad Reputation; Black Rose. I stand in the field at Reading with 30,000 other people when they headline in 1977. At this stage Thin Lizzy are at the top of their game and can’t be matched as a live act. I go to every tour and can’t get enough of them. At this time, they really are the greatest live band on a good night.
Then come the later tours: Chinatown; Renegade; and finally Thunder and Lightning; which becomes their farewell tour. At these shows Thin Lizzy are OK, but they seem increasingly tired. Or maybe I am just becoming tired of seeing them. When the end comes in 1983 it feels sad; but sort of inevitable.
The next time I see Phil Lynott I’m in Middlesbrough Town Hall and he’s fronting his new band Grand Slam. Its July 1984. Phil looks tired and unwell. The band are OK, but not great. There aren’t many in the audience. Sort of sad to see. A couple of years later Phil sadly passes away.
Over the next twenty odd years I don’t have many Thin Lizzy things in my life. I think of them sometimes and visit the statue of Phil off Grafton Street when I visit Dublin which, because of work, is quite often. I even get a guy to take a photo of me next to the statue (the photo is now lost on an old camera and computer). I have most of the lps, but don’t play them very often.
Roll forward to 2007. A group of us go to see Deep Purple, Thin Lizzy and Styx at Newcastle Arena. I’m intrigued by the inclusion of Thin Lizzy on the bill. How can there be a Thin Lizzy without Phil? Anyway they seem pretty good (as good as any support act can be in a big arena) and perform credible versions of all the well-known songs.
I’m now in 2011 at the back of a packed City Hall waiting for Thin Lizzy to take the stage. I’m wondering what this incarnation of the band will be like. Will it work? Can it work? How can the new Thin Lizzy, who might be considered a tribute band by some, sell out the City Hall?
I’ve prepared myself by playing the Live and Dangerous double lp. My favourites were always Emerald and Cowboy Song. I’d forgotten how good they were.
The current line-up is Scott Gorham on guitar, original drummer Brian Downey, keyboardist Darren Wharton who was in the early 80s Lizzy, Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell, former Whitesnake bassist Marco Mendoza and singer Ricky Warwick from The Almighty.
Thin Lizzy explode onto the stage with Are You Ready. They’re loud and sound pretty true to the original. Ricky Warwick hails from Northern Ireland and his voice sounds like Phil’s. The twin guitar sound is as great as it ever was, and Scott Gorham looks good, the only visible difference being the lack of that great long mane of hair that I was always so jealous of. The crowd is up on their feet throughout and everyone is singing along. I get to hear my favourites Emerald and the Cowboy Song and also a great version of Whiskey in the Jar, with Vinnie Campbell squeezing wonderful licks from his guitar. As I recall they went through a spell of not playing Whiskey in the Jar during the 70s; its great to hear in included in the set tonight. Now and then the screens at the back of the stage show images of the old band and of Phil.
So did it work? Definitely. The current band consists of the right blend of previous members, excellent musicianship and Irish heritage to do justice to the material and to pay tribute to Phil in a fitting way. It reminds me how great the old rock bands were (and still are in this case). Its no good dwelling on, or comparing with, the past anyway. Lets just be grateful that there is still a Thin Lizzy out there playing Phil’s music; and doing a pretty damn good job of it too.
Roll on next tour. I guess that my journey with Thin Lizzy isn’t quite over yet. Is it really almost 40 years since we saw Phil in the bar in Sunderland? Where did the years go?
Selist: Are You Ready; Waiting For An Alibi; Jailbreak; Do Anything You Want To; Don’t Believe A Word; Dancing In The Moonlight; Massacre; Angel Of Death; Still In Love With You; Whiskey In The Jar; Emerald; Wild One; Sha La La La; Cowboy Song; The Boys Are Back In Town
Encore 1: Rosalie; Bad Reputation
Encore 2: Black Rose
Coldplay Newcastle Tyne Theatre 20 Dec 2010
I was lucky enough to score a ticket to this “secret” gig which Coldplay were playing for Crisis, a charity for the homeless. The two gigs, one in Newcastle and one the night before in Liverpool, were announced around one month ago. The venues were kept secret until 24 hours before the gig; all we were told was that it would be an intimate (1000 seater) venue in Newcastle. Tickets went on sale online: a small for local residents, some for general sale and some for auction. By the time I managed to get through to the website (a few minutes after they went on sale) all that was left was single seats. So I bought myself a ticket; although I am not a massive Coldplay fan, I quite fancied seeing them in such a small venue.
As the day of the gig drew closer, I’d sort of figured out that the venue was likely to be the Tyne Theatre. There aren’t many venues of that size in Newcastle and they was a break in the Pantomime run on 20 December! Others on the Coldplay Forum seemed to be of the same opinion. And sure enough on Sunday, I received an email from Crisis telling me that the venue was indeed the Tyne Theatre and instructing me to go along to the Metro Arena to collect my ticket.
So on Monday night I got the train through to Newcastle for the gig. A short walk through the snow to the Arena and I picked up my ticket: Row S in the Stalls! Not a bad position, and to be honest any seat in such a small venue would be fine. Another short walk to the Tyne Theatre and time for a quick drink before time for the support act. Our comperes for the evening were local guys Ant and Dec, who did a great job warming us for the main event. The support act was The Choir With No Name, who are a London based choir of homless people. They aren’t great singers but did a grand job of covering some favourites and got the crowd singing and clapping along with them.
There was a wonderful atmosphere in the theatre. The crowd was made up of Coldplay fans who had come from far and wide. Hearing people around me talking I could see that some had come from all over the UK and Europe. I saw one guy arrive during the interval without a ticket. He explained in a German accent that his plane had been delayed four hours, and that he had just been to the Arena to pick up his ticket and it was closed. The guys on the door seemed to let him in without too much discussion.
After a short break and a build up by Ant and Dec, Coldplay came on stage, starting with Yellow. By now I’d realised that this was a pretty special event. I also realised how many Coldplay songs I actually knew. Lots of singing along in the big choruses (Vida la Vida in particular), and the band looked like they were very much enjoying playing in a small venue. During the encore Chris Martin annouces that they is someone who wants to come on stage and say something. A guy and his girlfriend come up on stage and he kneels down and proposes to her (quite a few people shout “say no!”). The band finish with Christmas Lights, accompanied by and Ant and Dec who are both dressed as Elvis and are playing voilins.
All in all a pretty special event, which I feel lucky to have experienced. Perhaps I am a Coldplay fan after all.
Time for pattie and chips from the corner fish shop and then I catch a metro home.
Setlist: Yellow; Lost!; God Put A Smile Upon Your Face; Cemeteries of London; Trouble; Glass of Water; Til Kingdom Come; Shiver; In My Place; Lovers In Japan; Death And All His Friends; Clocks; Viva La Vida; Fix You
Encore: Politik; The Scientist; Christmas Lights
Coldplay website: http://www.coldplay.com
Choir with no name website: http://www.choirwithnoname.org
Crisis website: http://www.crisis.org.uk
Vintagerock's Weblog. 