The Kane Gang Newcastle Mayfair November 1984
I saw The Kane Gang at Newcastle Mayfair in late 1984, when they were touring around the time of their “Small Town Creed” and “Closest Thing to Heaven” singles, both of which made the singles chart that year. The Kane Gang come from the North East, and featured two vocalists, Martin Brammer and Paul Woods and Dave Brewis on guitar. This was a home gig for them. My memory is of a soul revue type show, with a large backing band. Support came from Big Sound Authority. I found a setlist from a gig of that period: Loserville; Amusement Park; How Much Longer; Printers Devil; Small Town Creed; Closest thing to heaven; Gun Law; Brother Brother; Respect Yourself; Mighty Day. Just watched “Small Town Creed” on YouTube. Its a pretty fine song, and brought back some memories of seeing the two guys sing it. This band is largely forgotten, other than for “Closest Thing to Heaven” which was their biggest hit. A CD retrospective has recently been released which includes their entire recorded output, and had had pretty good reviews.
Posts Tagged ‘pop’
10 Aug
The Kane Gang Newcastle Mayfair November 1984
7 Aug
King Crimson Newcastle Odeon 8th December 1972
King Crimson Newcastle Odeon 8th December 1972
My memory has been playing tricks with me again. I was convinced that I saw King Crimson in 1974, around the time of the “Red” album. But no, when I checked, I found that I was wrong again, as I often am these days. The concert that I saw took place on Friday 8th December 1972, when Robert Fripp and his mighty band played at Newcastle Odeon, not that long before the release of their fifth album “Larks’ Tongues in Aspic”. This was the one and only time that I saw King Crimson in concert, and I went with my friend John. Support came from Lloyd Watson who I have blogged on separately, as John and I went to see him playing in a pub in Peterborough a few years ago. Lloyd won the solo category of the Melody Maker competition in 1972, appeared on “The Old Grey Whistle Test” and did two British tours, one supporting King Crimson and the other Roxy Music.
I went along to the Odeon that night with tunes from Crimson’s glorious first album running through my head, hoping to hear songs like “In the Court of the Crimson King” and “Epitaph”. Of course, the band didn’t play either of those tunes. I should have expected that, as the line-up of King Crimson had changed completely (apart from main man Robert Fripp) just prior to the tour. The line-up for the late 1972 UK tour was: leader Robert Fripp on guitar; John Wetton, fresh from Family and now coming to the fore on vocals and bass; Bill Bruford, who had just left Yes, on drums, David Cross on violin, flute, and keyboards; and Jamie Muir on percussion. Newcastle Odeon was a massive venue which was far from full for this gig, and John and I claimed some empty seats, which were much closer to the front than the cheap (60p! bargain :)) rear stalls tickets we had bought. The show was not what I expected. It was much more improvisation, and jazz, than rock. 
King Crimson started with a long instrumental track featuring Cross on violin and Muir on percussion which, based on setlists from the period, must have been “Larks’ Tongues in Aspic (Part 1)”. Fripp remained seated throughout the performance, speaking to the audience only to announce the songs at one point. John Wetton handled the vocals on those songs that had any. But the guy who sticks in my memory from this concert is Jamie Muir. Muir came from a free improvisation background and “contributed an assortment of unusual sounds from a wide variety of percussion instruments, including chimes, bells, thumb piano, mbiras, a musical saw, shakers, rattles, found objects, and miscellaneous drums” (from Wikipedia). His performance that evening was just incredible. The only familiar song was “21st Century Schizoid Man”, which was was the final track and was loud, dark and very heavy. Overall I left the gig unsure as to what I had just witnessed. I found it pretty heavy going at the time. The set consisted of the entire “Larks’ Tongues in Aspic” album (which had not yet been released, so the material was all new and unfamiliar to the audience), closer “Schizoid Man”, and some free improvisation numbers. I’ve just googled and found a live recording on YouTube of a gig at Hull Technical College around the same time. I listened to some of it, and it sounds great! This concert is another one that seems much better on reflection than I probably realised at the time (if that makes any sense :)). And its also another concert which I would love to go back in time to, and experience all over again. Setlist from the Hull Technical College recording: Walk On… No Pussyfooting; Larks’ Tongues in Aspic (Part I); Book of Saturday; Robert Fripp announces the songs to be played; Improvisation: Vista Training College Under Spot Light; Exiles; Easy Money; Improvisation: Fallen Angel Hullabaloo; The Talking Drum; Larks’ Tongues in Aspic (Part II); 21st Century Schizoid Man. I am pretty sure that the Newcastle performance was a similar set. King Crimson are another band on my ever growing list of bands to see again (if, of course, Fripp ever decides to reform the band).
4 Aug
Howard Jones Newcastle City Hall March 1984
Howard Jones Newcastle City Hall 1984
Howard Jones first single “New Song” was released in September 1983 and rose to No 3 in the UK charts. His second single “What is Love?” was released a couple of months later and made No 2 in the charts. In March 1984, Howard Jones’ released his fist album “Human’s Lib”, which was a massive success in the UK, Japan and the USA. The album entered the UK album chart at the No. 1 spot, spending a total of 57 weeks in the chart, and reaching double platinum status. 
So Howard Jones was pretty big news when he toured the UK in March 1984 in support of the “Human’s Lib” album. “New Song” and “What is Love” are joyful songs, and Howard in concert was an enjoyable electropop experience. I read a review of a concert on the tour which mentions a revolving stage; which I don’t recall. Support for the tour was Scottish band Endgames. Howard’s single “Like to Get to Know You Well” was also a big hit later in 1984. I saw Howard Jones live once more, at Live Aid at Wembley Stadium in 1985, where he played “Hide and Seek”. He is touring quite regularly again at the moment.
3 Aug
Michael Jackson Roundhay Park Leeds August 29th 1988
Michael Jackson Roundhay Park Leeds
Ashleigh was massively into Michael Jackson around the release of his Bad lp. I aslo fancied seeing him, but his tour of the UK sold out straight away, before we decided we should go. So we agreed to drive to Leeds, on the off chance of picking tickets up outside Roundhay Park. It was actually quite difficult to buy tickets that day. There were touts outside the venue, but they were asking a lot more than face value for the tickets. We eventually managed to buy a couple of tickets for a reasonable price, and we excitingly entered the gates of Roundhay Park. Roundhay is a large park to the north of Leeds city centre, and has hosted concerts in the past by massive acts such as the Stones, Genesis and Springsteen. Laura, David and I went to see Robbie Williams there a good few years after this Michael Jackson gig. Support for Jackson came from Kim Wilde, who put in a good performance; but everyone was of course waiting for the main man. It was Michael’s Jackson’s 30th Birthday on the day of this concert, so it was a special event. He opened with Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’, and played a selection of his well known songs, going right back to the days of the Jackson Five. He was, as you would expect, a great showman and performer, and the crowd loved him, cheering his every dance move. Ashleigh was just amazed by him. I enjoyed the gig, it was very spectacular with lots of fireworks and explosions, although I also remember that the sound was quite poor. 
From the Yorkshire Post: “More than 60,000 fans turned out for the concert which was hailed at the time by critics as perhaps the most dazzling two hours of showmanship ever witnessed in Britain. One reviewer wrote: “When the opening fanfare reached a climax he shot out of the stage in a Jack-in-a-box and stood motionless in front of a seas of adoring faces for a full two minutes.” Jackson returned to Roundhay a few years later as part of the Dangerous tour, although we didn’t attend that gig. Laura and I had tickets to see him at the London O2 gigs which never, of course, took place. Setlist: Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’; This Place Hotel; Another Part of Me; I Just Can’t Stop Loving You; She’s Out of My Life; I Want You Back / The Love You Save / I’ll Be There; Rock With You; Human Nature; Smooth Criminal; Dirty Diana; Thriller; Bad Groove; Workin’ Day and Night; Beat It; Billie Jean; Bad. Encore: The Way You Make Me Feel; Man in the Mirror.
1 Aug
Jethro Tull Acoustic Middlesbrough Town Hall 2007
Jethro Tull Acoustic Middlesbrough Town Hall 2007
In 2007 Jethro Tull released “The Best of Acoustic Jethro Tull” which included some of the band’s best known acoustic tracks from 1969 onward. To promote the album the band toured an acoustic show, which called at Middlesbrough Town Hall. 
The line-up of Tull for this tour was Ian Anderson, Martin Barre, David Goodier, John O’Hara and James Duncan Anderson. They were accompanied by special guest Violinist Anna Phoebe. Setlist: Some Day The Sun Wont Shine For You; Living In The Past; The Water Carrier; Gypsy; Katerina’s Theme; Jack In The Green; The Donkey And The Drum; Thick As A Brick; Birnam Wood To Dunsinane; Fat Man; Bouree. INTERVAL. 99 Lives; Dun Ringill; Pastime With Good Company; Steal; Aqualung; America; My God; Beside Myself / Rocks On The Road / Budapest; Locomotive Breath. The folkier side of Tull was never my favourite in the late 70s and early 80s, but I grew to like it as time passed. I certainly enjoyed this gig, which presented the softer, acoustic side of the band.
31 Jul
Jethro Tull Newcastle City Hall 2004 and 2006
Jethro Tull Newcastle City Hall 2004 and 2006
I saw Jethro Tull at the City Hall in 2004 and 2006. Tull were involved in quite a number of projects during these years. In 2003 they released The Jethro Tull Christmas Album, which consisted of a collection of traditional Christmas songs, along with some Christmas songs written by Jethro Tull. The album was a big success and their best selling release since the 1987 Crest of a Knave.
The set for the 2004 concert included quite a few Christmas songs as a result, as well as some great old favourites like Beggars Farm and Nothing Is Easy, taking us right back to the very early days of the band. The setlist for the 2004 Newcastle concert (I got the list from a bootleg which was recorded at this gig): Aqua-Intro; Living In The Past; Nothing Is Easy; Beggar’s Farm; Eurology; A Christmas Song; Farm on the Freeway; Pavane; Weathercock; A Week of Moments; Mother Goose; Misére; Songs From The Wood; Too Old To Rock ‘n’ Roll: Too Young To Die; Heavy Horses; God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen; Flying Dutchman; My God; Holly Herald; Aqualung; Wind Up; Locomotive Breath; Protect and Survive; Cheerio. 
Both shows were great Tull fun. I went along with Norm and Will and we all enjoyed seeing the old guys again.
In 2005 Ian Anderson released a live double album and DVD called Ian Anderson Plays the Orchestral Jethro Tull. In addition, a DVD recorded live at the Isle of Wight 1970 and a live album called Aqualung Live (recorded in 2004) were both released in 2005. There were also further line-up changes in 2006 with bassist Jon Noyce leaving to be replaced by David Goodier, and keyboardist Giddings leaving to be replaced by John O’Hara. The 2006 tour was billed as the Aqualung tour, and Tull played that lp in its entirety. Setlist: Life Is A Long Song, Skating Away…, Living In The Past, Slipstream, Up To Me, Griminelli’s Lament¹, Aurora³, Wond’ring Aloud, Mo’z Art, Cheap Day Return/Mother Goose, She Is Like The Swallow, Bourée. Interval. Nocturne/Bohemian Rhapsody, Kashmir (incl. Whole Lotta Love), Cross-Eyed Mary, Hymn 43, Morris Minus, Flying Dutchman (intro)/My God, Budapest, Aqualung, Wind-Up, Locomotive Breath, Protect And Survive, Cheerio. Tull were accompanied by electric violinist Lucia Micarelli for this tour, and she also fronted the band herself for a couple of songs notably covers of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody and Zeppelin’s Kashmir. Electric violinists featured alongside Ian on a couple of Tull tours around this period. The 2006 concert was a sell out, proving that the band retained their popularity, and that they still have a loyal fan base.
30 Jul
Jethro Tull York Barbican 2001
Jethro Tull York Barbican 2001
My interest in Jethro Tull had been revived by the great show that I attended at Newcastle City Hall in 1999. I was therefore quite disappointed when their 2001 outing missed out Newcastle, so I persuaded Marie to come and see them with me in York, which was the nearest show on the tour. The concert was held at the York Barbican centre which was a sports complex and also used for concerts. This was the first time that I’d visited the Barbican. I did go with David to see Steve Winwood there a couple of years later. The Barbican has recently been refurbished, and it reopened a couple of years ago as an entertainment centre, which plays host to lots of concerts. I need to find a reason to visit again 🙂 
Tull were on grand form as usual, and I enjoyed the show, although there were quite a few songs which were unfamiliar to me. Looking at the setlist today, I understand why. At least four of the songs were Ian Anderson solo tracks (Ian had released three solo albums by 2001). Even Marie (sort of) enjoyed her Tull outing, although we had a (friendly) argument about Ian’s flute solos. When he started a solo he would press a foot pedal. Marie was convinced that the solo was on tape, and that Ian was switching the tape on with the pedal. I was equally convinced (and remain so to this day) that there was no such use of tapes at all, and that the pedal was merely an effects pedal. Setlist: Aqualung; My Sunday Feeling; Cross-Eyed Mary; Roots to Branches; Jack-in-the-Green; Thick as a Brick; Sweet Dream; Beside Myself; Hunt by Numbers; Bourée; The Water Carrier (Ian Anderson song); The Habanero Reel (Ian Anderson song); Set-Aside (Ian Anderson song); Pibroch (Cap in Hand) (Instrumental); A New Day Yesterday; In the Grip of Stronger Stuff (Ian Anderson song); Budapest; Mayhem Jig; Aqualung; Locomotive Breath; Living in the Past; Protect and Survive (Instrumental); Cheerio
28 Jul
Jethro Tull Newcastle City Hall 1999
Jethro Tull Newcastle City Hall 1999
It was another 9 years before I saw Jethro Tull again. By this time the line-up had changed a little (again) to: Ian Anderson (flute, vocals), Martin Barre (guitar), Andrew Giddings (keyboards), Jonathan Noyce (bass), and Doane Perry (drums). They had just released the album J-Tull Dot Com. The new material displayed Eastern and world music influences, but as usual the concert featured a mix of Tull material from throughout their career. 
I’d lost touch with Jethro Tull up to this point, but this concert reminded me how great they were (and still are), and how much I had enjoyed their music. It was great to see Ian Anderson and Martin Barre in particular. Ian was ever the showman, although his voice was not as strong as it had been. Martin’s guitar playing and quiet presence were as excellent as always. And they played classics like Living in the Past, Witches Promise and Fat Man. Great stuff. I was hooked again, and started to attend Tull concerts more regularly from that point onward. Setlist: Steel Monkey; For a Thousand Mothers; Serenade to a Cuckoo; Spiral; Witches Promise; Nothing Is Easy; Jeffrey Goes to Leicester Square; Fat Man; AWOL; A New Day Yesterday; Nellie the Revenge; Dot Com; Boris Dancing; Hunting Girl; Hunt by Numbers; Flying Dutchman; My God (with flute solo); Passion Jig; Locomotive Breath; Aquadiddley; Aqualung; Living in the Past; Dogs in the Midwinter; The Dambusters March; Cheerio
27 Jul
Jethro Tull Sunderland Empire 1990
Jethro Tull Sunderland Empire 1990
I went with a group of mates to this gig, some 19 years since we first saw Jethro Tull at the same venue. The late 80s and early 90s saw Tull return to rock and the blues for the albums Crest of a Knave (1987), Rock Island (1989), and Catfish Rising (1991). The one thing that sticks in my mind about this gig is Ian coming on stage with a massive search light which he then proceeded to shine at all of us. Looking back at the set list for the concert (of which live recordings exist) reminds me that Tull played some great old favourites that night; including Living In The Past and Love Story (that song is still a big favourite of mine). There was no support act for this show. 
Thanks to Doug for the great picture, which he took at this concert.
Setlist: Intro: Tanz, Wond’ring Aloud, Steel Monkey, Thick As A Brick, Living In The Past, Rock Island, Nellie The Revenge (inst.), Cheap Day Return/Nursie, Mother Goose/Jack-A-Lynn, Love Story, Serenade To A Cuckoo, A Christmas Song, Budapest, Strange Avenues, Kissing Willie, Pine Martin’s Jig/Drowsy Maggie, Dun Ringill, Jack-In-The-Green, Said She Was A Dancer, My God (including flute solo, Bourée), Pussy Willow/Pibroch (instrumental), Another Christmas Song, Farm On The Freeway, Too Old To Rock’N’Roll, Aqualung, Locomotive Breath, Fylingdale Flyer (instrumental), Cheerio.
26 Jul
Jethro Tull Newcastle City Hall 1984
Jethro Tull Newcastle City Hall 1984
Jethro Tull returned to Newcastle City Hall in September 1984. The tour was to promote their new album Under Wraps. This new release introduced an 80s electronic/synth-pop sound, to a mixed reaction from fans and critics. The concert was, however, a big success, with quite a long set drawing from many of Tull’s albums (by 1984 they had released 15 albums!). Tull also played a couple of track from Ian Anderson’s solo album Walk Into Light, which was released in 1983. 
Under Wraps #1; Locomotive Breath (Instrumental intro); Hunting Girl; Under Wraps #1; Later, That Same Evening; Nobody’s Car; Apogee; Thick as a Brick; Level Pegging; Skating Away on the Thin Ice of the New Day; Pussy Willow; Clasp; Living in the Past; Serenade to a Cuckoo; Fat Man; Fly by Night; Made in England; 
European Legacy; Black Sunday; Aqualung; Locomotive Breath; Too Old to Rock ‘n’ Roll, Too Young to Die; Different Germany; Thick as a Brick (reprise).
Thanks to Doug for the picture which was taken at the City Hall at Tull’s visit in 1982. The band at this point consisted of Ian Anderson (flute, vocals and part-time detective for this tour concept), Martin Barre (guitar), Dave Pegg (bass), Peter-John Vettese (keyboards) and new man Doane Perry (drums). The programme consists of photos of the band members, depicting Ian Anderson as a super-sleuth (the subject matter of the songs on Under Wraps is heavily influenced by Ian’s love of espionage fiction), and lyrics from some of the songs which were performed during the concerts.
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