Renaissance Newcastle City Hall 20th September 1978
Renaissance originally rose from the ashes of the Yardbirds, formed by Keith Relf and Jim McCarty with Keith’s sister Jane Relf on vocals. The idea was to form a progressive rock band drawing heavily from classical influences. The line-up soon changed completely with Annie Haslam and Michael Dunford joining in the early 1970s; this heralded the most successful period of their career with music which fused folk rock with classical. By the time of this concert at Newcastle City Hall in 1978 the line-up of Renaissance was Annie Haslam – lead vocals, Jon Camp – bass, John Tout – piano, Michael Dunford – guitar, and Terrance Sullivan – drums. 
It was at this time that Renaissance scored a hit single in Britain with “Northern Lights”, which reached No. 10 during the summer of 1978. The single was taken from the album “A Song for All Seasons”. Renaissance are a vastly under-rated and largely forgotten band. Annie Haslam has an excellent voice with a tremendous range, and their albums contain some epic prog rock classics. I found a setlist from 1978 (although not from this gig): Can you hear me?; Carpet of the sun; Things I don’t understand; Northern lights; Mother Russia; Day of the dreamer; Midas man; The vultures fly high; Running hard; Song for all seasons; Prologue; Ashes are burning. Renaissance have reformed on a couple of occasions, based around the core of Annie Haslam and Michael Dunford, who sadly passed a couple of years ago. Annie Haslam continues to lead the band.
Posts Tagged ‘pop’
3 Apr
Renaissance Newcastle City Hall 20th September 1978
2 Apr
B A Robertson Newcastle City Hall 13th April 1980
B A Robertson Newcastle City Hall 13th April 1980
“OK.- So I’ve had a couple of hit singles (Bang Bang – Know what I mean?!!), done 2 or 3 radio shows and been on the telly – Top of the Pops. Whoopee!! But I don’t know what I’ll be like “live” any more than you. – Fancy coming along to find out? It’ll be a drag if there’s more of me on stage than you in the audience. Maybe together we could “Knock it off”? 🙂 (Opps sorry man). Stay Kool, Luv. B A. (sing the above to the tune of “We’ll Meet Again”). Sentimentality Rools OK?” (B A Robertson tour programme, 1980). “Initial Success” The Album coming soon. “Kool in the Kaftan” The single out now. (Also from the programme).
Not sure whether this is a guilty pleasure or not. I’d all but forgotten about this gig. One of the great things about writing this blog is that it reminds me of concerts that lie long forgotten somewhere in the depths of my fading memory. Another great thing is that it encourages me to read a bit about each act. Now all I remembered about B A Robertson until yesterday was the great fun single “Bang Bang”, which I though was pretty cool at the time; in a quirky sort of way. But a little googling and I find that he had a few more hits (including “Knocked it off” and the above mentioned “Kool in the Kaftan” which was out at the time of this concert; of course now I remember).
And he had a hit with an excellent cover of the equally excellent P J Proby’s “Hold Me”, on which he dueted with the wonderful Maggie Bell. I’d forgotten about that song too, until I saw Maggie Bell perform it with Pete Barton of the Animals a few weeks ago (and good it was then, and now, too). I’ve just watched “Bang Bang” and “Hold Me” on YouTube. Top of the Pops really was great, wasn’t it. Today I also discovered that B A Robertson wrote some hits for Cliff Richard and “The Living Years” for Mike and the Mechanics. Quite an accomplished guy. Now back to this concert. My ever-fading memory tells me that it was good, harmless pop fun, and also that it wasn’t particularly well attended. But there wasn’t more of B A on stage than us in the audience, as B A had feared.
I’ve decided that it isn’t a guilty pleasure after all, and that B A is a cool guy. Bang Bang. 🙂
1 Apr
Chris Rea in the 70s, Redcar 1983 and Newcastle 2006
Chris Rea Redcar Coatham Bowl 6th March 1983 and Newcastle City Hall 5th April 2006
Chris Rea was quite a well known figure on the North East music scene during the late 70s. Chris was born in Middlesbrough, his family owned an ice cream factory and ran 21 cafés around Teesside. He played in local bands and went solo in 1978. I first came across Chris Rea when I saw him as the support act for Lindisfarne on a couple of occasions at Newcastle City Hall. I would also often see him and his pals at gigs in Middlesborough Rock Garden and the Town Hall. You could easily spot them as they would all be wearing jackets which displayed the phrase “Whatever Happened to Benny Santini?” across their backs. This was the title of Chris’ debut album, and the name that the record company wanted him to use, instead of his own. I recall seeing their jackets, and wondering whi Benny Santini was 🙂 Then I became aware of the single “Fool (if you think it’s over)” which was a big hit for Elkie Brooks. After the Lindisfarne gigs the next time I saw Chris in concert was at a packed home-coming gig at Redcar Coatham bowl. He was on great form that evening, and the local crowd gave him an amazing reception. 
In the years that followed Chris went on to major stardom, and massive hits such as “Road to Hell”. Chris became very ill with cancer in 2001, and underwent a series of operations. He recovered and returned in 2005. The next time I saw him live was on his “farewell tour” in 2006, when it called at Newcastle City Hall. He had just released a CD set celebrating the blues, and the show was a mix of blues classics, tracks from Chris’ massive back catalogue and, of course, his hits. My tickets for that gig never arrived in the post, and I had to collect the hand written ticket pictured here at the door. Chris Rea is a versatile artist, a great songwriter, and a pretty nifty guitarist to boot. Although his 2006 tour was billed as a farewell, he has toured since then. A setlist from 2006: Jazzy Blue; That’s the Way It Goes; Where the Blues Come From; Josephine; Work Gang; Head Out on the Highway; Easy Rider; ‘Til the Morning Sun Shines on My Love and Me; Stony Road; KKK Blues; Julia; Stainsby Girls; Somewhere Between Highway 61 & 49; I Can Hear Your Heartbeat; The Road to Hell; On the Beach; Let’s Dance; Fool (If You Think It’s Over)
31 Mar
Terry Reid Sage Gateshead 25th November 2005
Terry Reid Sage Gateshead 25th November 2005
Aretha Franklin once famously said: “There are only three things happening in England: the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Terry Reid.” Terry Reid, he of the Superlungs, he who turned down the job in Jimmy Page’s New Yardbirds soon-to-be Led Zeppelin, he of the amazing soulful voice. Just listen to some of his early stuff: “Stay with me baby”, “Bang Bang”, “Rich Kid Blues”, “Hand don’t Fit the Glove” and “Season on the Witch”. The guy just oozed passion, and sang on the edge, squeezing every inch of his soul through his performance. His voice and performance in the mid to late 60s matched that of other great rock and soul singers of the time such as Steve Marriott, Robert Plant, Eric Burdon and Joe Cocker. Terry Reid was someone who I’d always wanted to see in concert. I never got to see him in the early days, and he decamped to the USA in the early 70s, and became a very infrequent visitor to his home country. However, in 2005 he came over to play Glastonbury, and started to gig over here again. He has continued to come over every year or so since. I finally got to see Terry play at The Sage Gateshead in 2005. 
I was really looking forward to the gig, wondering how a modern Terry would approach his songs. The performance was interesting to say the least. Terry seemed the worse for wear, and must have had (more than) a drink or two before he took to the stage. At times he seemed close to falling over. The performance veered from the shambolic to the brilliant. Some of the audience gave up on Terry early in the set, and a few demanded their money back (yes it was that shambolic at times). I think they were given a refund, and they left during the first half of the set. Those of us who stayed were treated to an honest, passionate, right-on-the-edge performance of a man who still has charisma and sings with a passion, authenticity and honesty that is seldom seen. I understand that several of his performances of this period were of a similar nature, but recent reports that I have read suggest that he is in better shape these days.
29 Mar
Red Hot Chili Peppers Edinburgh Murrayfield Stadium 13th June 2004
Red Hot Chili Peppers Edinburgh Murrayfield Stadium 13th June 2004
Support from N.E.R.D and Ash
I quite fancied seeing what the Red Hot Chili Peppers were like in concert, so when they toured the UK in 2004, David and I went along to see their concert at the massive Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh. By this point in their career the Chili Peppers were mega-big; their UK tour included massive (and sold-out) open-air shows in Hyde Park, Manchester Stadium and Cardiff Millennium Stadium. The Hyde Park gig was recorded for a live album. I was late buying tickets, and all I could manage to get was a couple of single seats a row apart, right up the back of the stadium. We drove up to Edinburgh on a nice warm Sunday afternoon, arriving just as the first support act Ash were finishing their set. The second support were N.E.R.D. featuring the (now very famous of course) front man Pharrell Williams, who got the crowd up and chearing, and were pretty good. The Chili Peppers came on stage quite early perhaps 8pm; it was certainly still light throughout their set. They played a set which drew from throughout their career and got a pretty good reaction from the crowd, but the sound was very murky where we sitting. Their friend, Johnny Ramone, hadn’t been well (and sadly passed shorty after this tour), so guitarist John Frusciante phoned Johnny at home from the stage.
We were all asked to shout “Johnny, we love you!” as loudly as possible, which of course we did. A nice moment and for me the best bit of the show, and one of the only points where the band really engaged with the crowd. It was the same day as England were playing France in Euro 2004, and towards the end of their set, Flea announced the result from the stage: “We have some news for you…France have just kicked the shit out of England.” Cue a big cheer from the Scottish crowd. We managed to make our way down to the pitch area during the encores, and the sound was much clearer. A good show, but by no means amazing, and I would suspect not one of the Chili Peppers better gigs. Setlist: Can’t Stop; Around the World; I Feel Love (Donna Summer cover); Scar Tissue; By the Way; Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl); Otherside; Easily; The Zephyr Song; Get on Top; Fortune Faded; Throw Away Your Television; I Like Dirt; Leverage of Space; Californication; Right on Time; Parallel Universe. Encore: Drum & Trumpet Jam; Under the Bridge; Black Cross; Give It Away
28 Mar
The Rezillos and The Mekons Newcastle City Hall 30th November 1978
The Rezillos and The Mekons Newcastle City Hall 30th November 1978
The Rezillos had appeared at the City Hall the year before as support to the Ramones. This time they returned as headliners, riding on the success of their “Top of the Pops” single. The Rezillos were a wonderful quirky punk / new wave act from Edinburgh who took a much more light-hearted approach to their music than many other bands of the time. They were fronted by vocalist Fay Fife, who seemed to me to be a cross between Lulu, Twiggy, Sandie Shaw and Mary Quant; fellow singer Eugene Reynolds, who was a very cool cross between James Dean and Steve Zodiac, and guitarist Jo Callis, who went on to join the Human League. Their influences came through very clearly as 60s pop, rock n roll, and B movie sci-fi. The Rezillos split shortly after this tour, to re-emerge with a new line-up as The Revillos. “Top of the Pops” was their biggest hit, but their earlier singles “Can’t Stand my Baby” and “(My baby does) Good Sculptures” were also both good clean fun, as were their covers of Fleetwood Mac’s “Somebody’s Gonna Get their Head Kicked in Tonight”, The Dave Clark Five’s “Glad All Over” and Gerry and the Pacemakers’ “I Like It”. The album “Can’t Stand the Rezillos” is generally recognised as a classic of its genre and era. The Mekons were a punk band formed by a group of Leeds University students ; quite left wing and noisy as I recall. They continue to this day, and are now based in Chicago. A fun night for all super sci-fi pop hipsters.
PS The Rezillos have recently reformed and are gigging again.
26 Mar
Johnny Marr Leeds Brudenell Social Club 25th March 2014
Laura and I went to see the great Johnny Marr last night at the equally great Leeds Brudenell Social Club. Johnny played two sold out gigs there as a warm up to some South American gigs. The Brudenell is an intimate club venue and the tickets for these gig sold out immediately. Johnny broke his hand a few weeks ago in a fall while he was running, and it was touch and go if the gigs would go ahead. However, his plaster came off last week, and he felt ok to do the shows. The set consisted of tracks from his latest album “The Messenger”, a couple of brand new tracks which will appear on his next album and the Smiths classics: Panic, Bigmouth Strikes Again, How Soon Is Now?, There Is A Light That and Never Goes Out. He also played a great cover of I Fought The Law (ala The Clash) and Electronic’s Getting Away With It. Really clear sound, great atmosphere, and pretty neat renditions of the Smiths songs. Great stuff!
25 Mar
Rush Newcastle City Hall June 12th 1980: a dilemma and a culture “clash”
Rush Newcastle City Hall June 12th 1980: a dilemma and a culture “clash”
This was one of those nights were I was torn between two gigs. Rush were playing at Newcastle City Hall and The Clash were playing at Newcastle Mayfair on the same night. Now you couldn’t get two more different bands which made my dilemma all the more interesting. I already had a ticket for Rush, I was going with a group of mates, and the gig was sold out (in fact Rush played two sell out shows on this tour, as had become the norm for their visits), when The Clash gig was announced. I hadn’t missed a Newcastle gig by either band; what could I do? I decided to buy a ticket for The Clash and try and times things so I would see both bands. Now on the rare occasions I have tried to do this, it usually hasn’t worked out very well, and I’ve ended up not enjoying either gig that much. So on the night of the gig(s) I went along to the City Hall with my mates to see Rush. This was the Permanent Waves tour, and my mates were massive Rush fans who couldn’t believe that I would leave the gig early to see The Clash. But that is exactly what I did. The norm at The Mayfair was for the band to take the stage around 10pm at that time, so I watched around one hour or so of The Rush gig then quickly drove down the road to the Mayfair to see The Clash. Rush were at the peak of their success of the time, and the City Hall was packed with rock fans who lapped up the complex melodic rock and mystical lyrics that Rush are masters of. Very different to the fast punk energy that I was about to witness down at the Mayfair.
I arrived at the Mayfair ballroom just as The Clash had started the first song of the night. I always find it strange entering a gig late. Its like coming into a party uninvited when everyone is already drunk. Picture this. I enter the packed ballroom, having just left the sold out City Hall where everyone was sitting down listening intently to Rush, and The Clash are playing Safe European Home, and the place is going completely nuts. The atmosphere is electric, the air hot and sweaty. I stand on the balcony and wander around the place, taking it all in. The Clash were fast, loud, energetic and Strummer was amazing.
For once my aim of taking in two (very different) gigs on the same night worked, although I didn’t see that much of Rush, and couldn’t really get into their set as my mind was more focussed on getting my timings right in order to catch The Clash.
This was the last time that Rush played in Newcastle for 27 years, when they played at Newcastle Arena.
15 Mar
Uli Roth and Pallas Newcastle City Hall 21st May 1983
Uli Roth and Pallas Newcastle City Hall 21st May 1983
Uli Roth obviously has fond memories of Newcastle City Hall. When I last saw him in concert, at The Office in South Shields a year or so ago, the City Hall was facing possible closure, and Uli told us that we must not let it happen: “get a petition; do something, you can’t let it close, that hall is one of the most beautiful in your country”. Well Uli, we did. The City Hall gained a reprieve, and continues to host rock concerts. From the Newcastle Journal: “Newcastle’s under-threat City Hall has been saved from closure after the city council announced it would not axe 100% of its arts budget…Plans to remove the City Hall from the council’s books were met with strong opposition. Around 11,000 people, both online and on paper, signed a petition against the move, started by the North East Music History group.” Anyway, back to Uli Roth. Uli formed his band Electric Sun after leaving the Scorpions in the late ’70s. 
Uli is a charismatic and flamboyant character who developed his own guitar style. Technically excellent, and a massive influence on many of today’s players, he blends the blues with indian and classical influences, and this; coupled with showmanship and virtuosity, make him a unique guitar player. He is also massively influenced by Jimi Hendrix. This show at Newcastle City Hall was recorded and segments of it appear on the 2006 DVD release Historic Performances. I remember being totally stunned by his playing, and the epic nature of his songs. Support came from the excellent Pallas, who had just released their first single “Paris is Burning”. I picked up a copy of their fanzine “The Sentinel” (pictured here) at the concert. Pallas were one of the few bands flying the prog-rock flag in the early ’80s, when that particular genre had become very unfashionable in the wake of punk, and the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal.
13 Mar
The Runaways 1976 and 1977
The Runaways 1976 and 1977
The Runaways were an American all girl rock ‘n’ roll band who came along in the late ’70s. Although they were seen at the time as being part of the punk and new wave movement, and they certainly shared some of the same raw energy and directness, they were actually a pretty straight ahead rock ‘n’ roll band. The Runaways were Joan Jett (lead vocals and guitar), Lita Ford (guitar), Jackie Fox who was replaced by Vickie Blue (bass) and Sandy West (drums). Cherie Currie (vocals) was an early member of the band. I saw the Runaways twice, once at Leeds University Refectory on 9th October 1976 and again at Newcastle City Hall on 10th November 1977. Both great shows. A group of us drove down to Leeds for the first gig, which was one of the first new wave concerts that we all saw. Support came from Old Tennis Shoes. By the 1977 gig, Cherie Currie had departed, and the band became a four piece, but lost none of their raw rock ‘n’ roll power. Support at the City Hall gig was the excellent UK punk band 999, who had great powerpop songs like Emergency and Homicide (also check out their version of Little Red Riding Hood). 
From the programme: “Outdated rock n roll authorities would suggest the day of the all girl group wound up with the end of the sixties – but the raw fact is; its just begun. ..The Runaways are the new phenomenon and they not only spit out tough, raunchy vocals that would slice a man in half, but they write first class songs and handle their instruments with near phallic indecency…the idea of a cute chick sweating on stage beside the big boys is a little hard to swallow, so the idea of four such ladies is four times as hard to swallow…” Joan Jett, Lita Ford and Cherie Currie all went on to have successful solo careers.
Runaways setlist: Wasted, Take It Or Leave It, Blackmail, Queens Of Noise, You’re Too Possessive, Wild Thing, You Drive Me Wild, Rock And Roll, Wait For Me, I Wanna Be Where The Boys Are, I Love Playing With Fire, Schooldays, American Nights. Encores: C’mon, Little Sister.
999 setlist: Pick It Up, Hit Me, Quite Disappointing, My Street Stinks, No Pity, Chicane Destination, Titanic Reaction, Crazy, Nasty Nasty, Emergency, I’m Alive, Nobody Knows. Encores: Nasty Nasty, I’m Alive.
Thanks to Mitch for the setlist and his picture from the concert at Newcastle City Hall.
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