I was due to see this concert back in March but sadly as announced by Martin Turner and The Cluny at the time: “It is with great regret and disappointment that we have to announce that Martin Turner’s show at The Cluny, Newcastle tonight is being postponed due to illness. As those who have attended recent shows may be aware, for the past week Martin has struggled bravely with throat / voice problems following a heavy cold and has continued performing shows the best as he could so as not to let fans, venues and promoters down. However, this morning he has woken up feeling extremely weak and with other added medical symptoms, and is simply in no condition to perform at all this evening. Martin truly regrets the obvious disappointment this will cause, particularly as the tour, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Wishbone Ash’s Live Dates double album – had been going extremely well with many sold out dates and delighted audiences everywhere. As long-time supporters will know Martin has very rarely cancelled or postponed shows due to personal illness across his career to date.“
But roll on 6 months to August and the concert was rearranged. The Cluny was ram packed for this show by Martin Turner, founder member of Wishbone Ash. I must say that I don’t particularly like to swear allegiance to either version of Wishbone Ash. I enjoy seeing Wishbone Ash with Andy Powell; a band I have seen many times over the years and Andy is to be applauded for keeping the Wishbone Ash flag flying high. Martin, on the other hand, has put together a band of excellent musicians to recreate the original sound of Wishbone Ash as close to the albums as possible. So, I am happy for both bands to coexist and to have the opportunity of experiencing two different views of Wishbone Ash. Andy has kept the band going and transformed them into a rockier, louder format. Martin, on the other hand, attempts to recreate the original sound.
Coincidentally, the evening before I had been watching an online streaming of a tribute concert for the great John Wetton, featuring Rick Wakeman, Laurie Wisefield, Roger Chapman, Mel Collins and many others. I saw John many times over the years including when he was a member of Family, Uriah Heep, Wishbone Ash and UK. During the show Martin Turner appeared on video, apologising for his nonappearance at the event. He went on to explain that he was in the North rehearsing for the start of his new tour, which commenced in Newcastle the following evening.
Roll on 24 hours and Martin opened the evening at the Cluny explaining how he regretted not being able to attend the John Wetton tribute event because he was up in Newcastle. He said he did consider postponing the concert but realised it would not be right to do so, as it had already been postponed once before. Still, he explained his thoughts were with John Wetton and his family, and his many memories of the guy.
This tour is billed as the 50th anniversary of the Live Dates album. Now another coincidence. I am pretty sure that some of the Live Dates album was recorded at Newcastle City Hall, a concert which I attended. I remember well how they announced that they were recording the concert for a future live album. There were microphones situated around the venue to record the sound from various vantage points. At the time we will very excited that we were going to be on a live album. Of course, I bought the album and still have a copy to this day. Sadly, I sold my record collection some years ago in foolishness. I have since rebuilt it all via car boot fairs, charity shops, vintage vinyl fairs and eBay.
The Cluny led Jackie, my carer for the evening, and me through a little hatch into the auditorium which holds 300 people and was sold out. It was already full by the time we arrived and the friendly guy led us through and asked people to make way for me in my wheelchair, taking us right down to the front of the stage with excellent view of the proceedings. 15 minutes later, at 8 PM sharp, Martin Turner and his band took the stage. We were immediately transported back to the 1970s and the classic Argos album with marvellous songs including “The King Will Come” (one of my favourites), followed by “Warrior ”and “Throw Down the Sword”. All three are classic Ash songs and Martin and his band delivered them true to the original. Then came another great track “Rock ‘n’ Roll Widow”. Now, I have often wondered what that particular song was about. I hadn’t really taken the trouble to listen carefully to the lyrics. I wrongly assumed that it was about a lady who was left behind while her man was out on the road playing with a band. Martin explained that the song was written by Ted Turner as a result of a concert they did in America where a guy turned up and shot the husband of someone, he had been having an affair with! It’s strange how you sometimes learn something new each time you see a band.
While I remember I must mention how impressed I was with Martin who looked well, was dressed incredibly bright and flashy which made him look even better! A bright red jacket and some really colourful trousers. Great gear. And of course, he was playing his usual Gibson Thunderbird bass, standing stage centre, clearly leading the proceedings, flanked on either side by two excellent guitarists who reproduced the twin guitar melodies of Wishbone Ash down to a T. Some great guitar duelling throughout the evening. This was followed by a track “Ballad of the Beacon” from Wishbone Four, which is less familiar to me. Then Martin took us right back to the start, to a song which he used to play with his brother in Torquay in the 1960s when they first formed a band The Empty Vessels with drummer Steve Upton. The song was the blues classic “Baby What You Want Me to Do” a cover of a Jimmy Reed song; Martin revealed that he and his brother preferred the Everly Brothers version. This was followed by another of my all-time favourite tracks, from the first album, the wonderful “Blind Eye”. The first set closed with the epic “Phoenix”, a track which I have grown to love over the years.
After a short break Martin returned resplendent in a very smart bright red top. Set Two commenced with yet another classic song “Lady Whiskey” taking me right back into the 1970s again. So many memories of Wishbone Ash at the City Hall, Sunderland Locarno, Newcastle Mayfair, the Lincoln Festival and headlining the Reading Festival. I was chatting to the guy next to me and he saw them at Reading as well! The audience was full of rockers of a certain age singing along with every track. Many wearing old Wishbone Ash T-shirts! “The Pilgrim”, an instrumental from their second album Pilgrimage followed, then another song this time from the Laurie Wisefield period of the band. A memory of a concert in Newcastle Odeon floods back: “F.U.B.B.” (F**ked up Beyond Belief, as I recall) is the tune in question. A song I had almost forgotten follows: “You See Red” and then another favourite, the excellent “Living Proof”. Next is “Blowin’ Free” and we know we are coming towards the end. The encore is, as it always used to be, “Jail Bait”. An excellent close to a wonderful concert reminding me just how great Wishbone Ash were, and continue to be through Martin and his band, and Andy Powell and his version of the Ash.
On the way out a guy recognises me and says “Were you at Soft Machine at York?” “Yes of course I was” I answer. It is great to touch base with friends old and new. Thanks to Jackie for taking some great photographs and to the staff in the Cluny for looking after me so well, as is always the case. And finally, thanks to Martin for a great evening.
Setlist: Set One: The King Will Come; Warrior; Throw Down the Sword; Rock ‘n Roll Widow; Ballad of the Beacon; Baby What You Want Me to Do; Blind Eye; Phoenix.
Set Two: Lady Whiskey; The Pilgrim; F.U.B.B.; You See Red; Living Proof; Blowin’ Free; Doctor; Jail Bait
I am a massive aficionado of the great diva 
Then she added a date close by at Tynemouth Priory as part of the Mouth of the Tyne Festival. So I passed on Glasgow and bought tickets for Tynemouth. I have vague memories of seeing her appear at Maxwell’s nightclub in Tynemouth around 1978 but I can’t really be sure if that really happened or if it is my mind playing tricks on me.
Tynemouth Priory is a lovely setting for seeing concerts. The backdrop on one side is the sea and on the other the ancient priory. We were situated up on a wheelchair platform with a good view of the stage. Jan and I took our place on the platform; Jan had brought along a small fold–away chair which was a good idea as there were only a few seats provided for carers and they were all taken. Siouxsie came on stage at 8:30 PM prompt as there was a 10 PM curfew, presumably to protect local residents from loud sound late at night!
Oh, I forgot to say I bought a lovely limited edition poster with a picture of Siouxsie and the date and location of the concert. An excellent momento of a great occasion.
The Cluny is a lovely little pub venue situated in the Ouseburn area of Newcastle upon Tyne. It often gets great bands on. Over the years I have seen many of my favourite acts perform there including The Groundhogs featuring the sadly recently passed Tony McPhee, Stray, the New York Dolls, Chicken Shack featuring the great Stan Webb, the Pink Fairies, Wishbone Ash and many others.
Last Wednesday they hosted the latest incarnation of the legendary American psychedelic pioneers 
So Jan and I arrive early enough to catch the support act, 
Now Forever Changes is an absolute classic, often rated as one of the best albums of all time. And I can’t disagree. Neither would the crowd in the Cluny. The place was absolutely packed and almost everyone sang along to every song. To my shame I can’t claim to know every song by Love but many sounded familiar.
Burt Bacharach’s “Little Red Book” sounded as fresh as ever and “Alone Again or” is undoubtedly one of the best songs of all time.
It was wonderful to say hello to a guy who introduced himself to me as a regular reader of my blog. Thank you so much for your support, my friend.
Setlist: A house is not a motel; Your mind and we belong together; My little red book; Softly to me; Can’t explain; Live and let live; The red telephone; Andmoreagain; Orange skies; Stephanie who knows; Signed DC; Alone again or; Maybe the people would be the times or between Clark and Hilldale; You set the scene; August; Your friend and mine ; Always see your face; Singing cowboy; 7 and 7 is
And so my search for Rod the Mod continues. This was the third time I had seen 
Each time I hope for old classics and Rod returning to the days when he was a spiky haired mod and had Ronnie Wood by his side in The Faces. And each time he delivers. Alongside the Las Vegas Rod Stewart, every now and then, he returns to the past and takes me back to my youth. Of course at the Albert Hall he really did have Ronnie Wood by his side.
First, the not so good side of the evening. It was pouring with rain all night and we got absolutely drenched. Also on the way in they were offering tickets at the door for 2 for £10, quite annoying when I paid full price for my tickets. Apparently only 5000 or so tickets had been sold out of 15,000. I would put this down to the fact that it is only 6 months since Rod played in the North-East. Also maybe some people would have come along on the night if the weather had been better, but as I said, it was sadly raining heavily all evening. But let’s quickly move on to the positives because this was still a great concert.
The support act was none other than 
After a short break Rod took to the stage. He opened with a great version of the late, sadly missed, Robert Palmer’s “Addicted to Love” and then I was transported back to 1971 and memories of Sunderland Top Rank and Sunderland Locarno with Rod the Mod singing “You Wear It Well”. Another Faces memory with “Ooh La La” and seeing that tour at Newcastle Odeon. Back to Robert Palmer territory and “Some Guys Have All the Luck”. Excellent so far. Soon it is another classic “Baby Jane” and memories of when that song was released and seeing Rod at Ibrox Stadium Glasgow. Apologies for all the reminiscences but please bear with an old guy and his memories 🙂
More classics follow: “I Don’t Want to Talk about It”, Cat Stevens’ “The First Cut Is the Deepest”. Then we are right back to 1971 again and “Maggie May”. I forget that I am drenched, this is classic Rod and at 78 he is still on great form. “I’d Rather Go Blind” is dedicated to the late Christine McVie. A few more songs and then Rod hands over to the female singers to deliver “I’m Every Woman”.
Rod returns with a new outfit and is joined by Boy George. George explains that the next song “The Killing of Georgie” means a lot to him personally, and how his mother gave it to him as a present in a brown paper bag. It was her way of letting him know that she realised he was gay. Rod and George deliver the song together and it is very appropriate and very moving. George explains that he has to leave because his Nan is not well.
A few more songs and then it is back to the female vocalists, a final rest and costume change for Rod and “Lady Marmalade”. Rod returns for “Stay with Me” which of course takes me back again. Rod do you really still need to sing “Do You Think I’m Sexy?”?. Finally I am back in Newcastle City Hall for his first solo tour, the single of the time and the usual closing song “Sailing”. Massive singalong. We (Jackie, Elaine and I) all enjoyed it even though we were completely soaked.
Setlist: Addicted to Love; You Wear It Well; Ooh La La; Some Guys Have All the Luck; Having a Party; Baby Jane; Forever Young; I Don’t Want to Talk About It; The First Cut Is the Deepest; Maggie May; I’d Rather Go Blind; Young Turks; Downtown Train; Rhythm of My Heart; I’m Every Woman; The Killing of Georgie; You’re in My Heart; Tonight’s the Night; Have I Told You Lately; Lady Marmalade; Stay With Me.
So, off to Leeds we went to see the mighty 
A short taxi ride took us from the station up to the Arena, in time to catch the support act who were a German heavy metal band called 
I have followed Iron Maiden since the very early days when Paul Di’Anno was the singer and the first single was “Running Free”. I remember seeing them at Sunderland Mecca and at Newcastle City Hall with Def Leppard as support act. I have seen them several times more over the years and always enjoy their concerts. I know what to expect and sure enough Maiden delivered as usual. Lots of guitar solos with mad antics and shape throwing from the three guitarists: original Dave Murray, long-term member Adrian Smith and north-east lad Janick Gers who used to be in a local band White Spirit, and who I saw several times in the early 1980s.
Steve Harris, on bass guitar, founder member and leader commands the stage alongside singer Bruce Dickinson who I first remember as Bruce Bruce in Samson, a New Wave of British Heavy Metal band led by guitarist Paul Samson and with drummer Thunderstick who performed with a leather mask from within a cage; I kid you not. And last but by no means least is long-term drummer Nicko McBrain.
Iron Maiden drew their songs from throughout their extensive catalogue. The recipe remained as always: superb guitar histrionics, Bruce’s soaring operatic vocals and Steve’s thundering bass driving the band forward. Great visuals and backdrops, including some of Patrick McGoohan (“I am not number, I am a person”) for song “The Prisoner”. We manage to catch quite a bit of the show but, as I expected, we need to leave before the end to catch the train back to Durham and then our taxi home.
We all enjoyed the event, with Jackie and even Elaine agreeing that Iron Maiden were superb. Oh, and I must not forget the mascot monster Eddie who appeared as a golden, gun toting, cowboy complete with gold Stetson during the first part of the set. I am sure he must have reappeared after we left.
So, my conclusion about travelling to shows in Leeds is that it is worth doing so for bands I really want to see as long as I am prepared to miss out on the last part of the concert. Such is life these days. I guess I can’t have everything.
Setlist: Caught Somewhere in Time; Stranger in a Strange Land; The Writing on the Wall; Days of Future Past; The Time Machine; The Prisoner; Death of the Celts; Can I Play With Madness; Heaven Can Wait; Alexander the Great; Fear of the Dark; Iron Maiden.
A journey to York to see a classic band. It doesn’t get much better. The Crescent is a lovely community venue that presents some great acts. This is the nearest place in the North-East that 
I have seen Soft Machine a few times over the years since the early 1970s. The last time I saw them was at Kendal Arts Centre, another lovely venue. So, I figured it was time to renew my acquaintance with Soft Machine and their music.
The Crescent proudly announces the band thus: “Soft Machine is one of the greatest UK avant/jazz-rock bands of all time. Their work, from their earliest performances as a psychedelic band, who were contemporaries of, and shared stages with Syd Barrett’s Pink Floyd and the Jimi Hendrix Experience, all the way to being one of Europe’s best known ‘fusion’ bands has influenced several generations of bands, and continues to be name-checked by today’s hip experimentalists.
Whilst the line-up of Soft Machine may have changed many times since the heady days of the late 1960’s, the band’s spirit of musical adventure, and the ease with which it freely avoids being pigeon holed and can move from powerful progressive jazz fusion to atmospheric psychedelia to free improvised jazz-rock to ambient loop music continues to make it both unique and totally contemporary.”
Soft Machine were formed in mid-1966 by Robert Wyatt (drums, vocals), Kevin Ayers (bass, guitar, vocals), Daevid Allen (guitar; who would go on to form Gong) and Mike Ratledge (organ). The band members would change many times over the years with Mike Ratledge fronting Soft Machine up until the mid-1970s when guitarist John Etheridge joined and became front man. The current line-up features John Etheridge on guitar, Asaf Sirkis on drums, Theo Travis on saxophones and Fred Thelonius Baker on bass. We take our seats close to the back with a great view of the entire stage.
The concert starts at 8:15 p.m. and is in two parts. The music is, as expected, all instrumental, quite jazzy and moves effortlessly from guitar led tracks during which John Etheridge takes to the fore and flute or saxophone led tracks featuring Theo Travis. All pleasant, challenging, mood provoking with many twists and turns. Fred Thelonius Baker takes front stage for some thundersome bass during some tracks and new drummer Asaf Sirkis (who has only recently joined the band, stepping into the shoes of John Marshall a member since 1972) also takes some solos. After a short interval and time for a lovely double Drambuie, the band return to the stage.
The music draws heavily from the mid-70s period, but also features selections from their current album. They also take us right back to 1967 and the band’s first single “Joy of a Toy” written by Kevin Ayers. Fantastic. The whole evening is highly enjoyable and both Jan and Jackie agree that the music is pleasant and find some of the tracks slightly familiar. We have to leave for our train back to Durham just as the band return for an encore. Then our friendly taxi driver is waiting for us at Durham station. We arrive at 12:13 a.m. Back home around 1 a.m. Another great visit to a lovely venue in a lovely city.
Setlist (something like this): First Set: Penny Hitch; Open Doors; The Visitor at the Window; The Tale of Taliesin; Broken Hill; Fourteen Hour Dream; Gesolreut.
Now, to my shame, 
St James Park proudly announced the concert thus: “Sam Fender has announced details of his first stadium headline show – and one of summer 2023’s hottest tickets – at St. James’ Park. Fender headlines at the home of Newcastle United on the 9th June 2023, following in the footsteps of Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan, and becomes the first Geordie musician to headline the iconic stadium. Over the past few months, Fender has solidified himself as one of the most celebrated and successful British artists of his generation, pulling a huge crowd on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury ahead of his own 45,000 sell-out show at London’s Finsbury Park. It’s been a huge 2022 so far for the North Shields hero, picking up a slew of BRIT, NME, and Ivor Novello Awards, and a first nomination for the prestigious Mercury Prize next week, for his second album, the critically acclaimed number one album, Seventeen Going Under.
Ahead of a series of shows alongside Florence & The Machine in the US, and his first Australian shows since 2019, this latest announcement suggests 2023 will be his biggest year yet. Sam Fender said: “Ever since I started this band, I always used to joke with the boys that one day we might play St. James’ Park in Newcastle.
Laura was with her partner Dale and they were sitting in a different part of the stadium to my carer Jan and me. We were in the wheelchair area towards the back of the pitch, on a raised area located within the rear stand. The ground was absolutely packed and the atmosphere was, to use an old phrase, simply electric. To say Sam Fender is a local hero, is an understatement. The guy is simply massive in the north-east. He hails from North Shields and is a big Newcastle United fan. This was obvious when we saw the crowd, everyone turned out proudly in their black-and-white shirts.
The atmosphere was like I imagine it must be on a big match day, everyone in party mood, singing and chanting along and that was before Sam took to the stage. Sam’s allegiances were clear. His programme is black-and-white and the T-shirts on sale at the merchandise stand gave a choice between one with the Newcastle Brown Ale symbol emblazoned with “Sam Fender” and another with “Greetings from St James Park, Newcastle upon Tyne” obviously modelled upon Bruce Springsteen’s album cover “Greetings from Asbury Park New Jersey”. Sam is a massive Springsteen fan.
We arrived just in time to catch the last song of support band 
But everyone was clearly waiting for Sam to take the stage which he did shortly after 9 PM to a rapturous reception. This was a celebration of a local lad done good and a massive singalong, everyone knowing the words of every song. Sam stood proudly out front, with a rock band and brass section behind him belting out songs which have clearly become anthems for the Newcastle fans. Sam Fender was obviously overwhelmed by the whole thing; this was a young man living his dream.
I didn’t know any of the songs, other than Springsteen classic “I’m On Fire” but that didn’t matter. You couldn’t help but get swept away by the atmosphere. Black-and-white flags waving aloft, everyone singing along and so many Newcastle United strips. This was like a cup final day. The show was pretty spectacular. Great screens and visuals. Fireworks, flames and masses of confetti falling from the sky and blowing about everywhere: I was covered in it! I was hoping he would play “Winter Song” the Lindisfarne classic which I saw him perform on a television programme about the band and its leader the sadly missed Alan Hull.
But the fact that he didn’t play that particular song did not detract from my enjoyment of a great concert. Just read that AC/DC star front man and fellow Geordie Brian Johnson took the stage with Sam on the second of the two concerts. I wish I had seen that! Still, I was elsewhere witnessing a great performance by Steve Earle, which you can read about soon.
So, this was the third leg of our concert tour having taken in the Jeff Beck tribute at the Albert Hall two weeks ago, Bruce Springsteen in Murrayfield Edinburgh last week and now back down to London and the O2 to see 
The evening at the O2 started with the nice perks of having an O2 phone and O2 priority as a result. And a result it was. We managed to avoid the long queues, joining a very short O2 priority queue which swiftly led us into the O2 Blue Room where we were fed and watered with some lovely pizza and chips for me, burger and chips for the ladies and nice drinks (double Jack Daniels was my choice tipple). Plus 10% discount for using my American Express card.
Then came a little diversion and adventure. To my shame I had somehow purchased ambulant accessible tickets rather than wheelchair tickets. Ambulant accessible tickets are intended for individuals who are able to walk but have other disabilities which require them to need a companion. For example, my daughter Laura who is blind, qualifies for ambulant accessible tickets. However, this meant I did not have a seat in the wheelchair area. Rather, I had a normal seat. Totally my own mistake. I don’t know how I managed to do this. Anyway, after some cajoling and pleading we managed to get my tickets swapped to seats on the wheelchair platform. Thank you so much to the O2 staff who were incredibly helpful. So, Jackie and I took all seats on the wheelchair platform and Jan went up into the upper tier for her seat.
The show opened with the music of “Comfortably Numb” and the several screens rising up towards the ceiling of the venue. This was a very spectacular show with Roger and his band performing in the round, in the central area of the arena floor, surrounded above by a series of screens which displayed images and the band to every corner of the arena. Then came a series of tracks from The Wall including the hit song “Another Brick in the Wall” with the famous hammers video imagery. Roger moved around the stage so that everyone got a chance to see him. The images on the screens alternated between the band and visuals.
To say this show was political is an understatement. Roger displayed a number of anti-war slogans across the screens and images of US presidents each with their “war crimes” displayed across them. The first half of the show closed with some wonderful videos of Syd Barrett as Roger performed “Wish You Were Here” and “Shine on you Crazy Diamond”.
Over the images of Syd, Roger told the story of how the two friends travelled from their home town Cambridge to London in order to see Gene Vincent in concert supported by the Rolling Stones, no less, and vowed to form a band, which of course they did when they returned to London as students a few years later. He then went on to display a story in words of how Syd became unwell (all of which is well documented and involved his descent into schizophrenia as a result of taking too much LSD) and was confused when they were playing in Los Angeles, believing he was in Las Vegas. All very sad and a fitting tribute to the genius who led Pink Floyd in their early days.
At one point Roger went into a long rant concerning how the media and the politicians were trying to “cancel” him as a result of the political elements of the concert and, in particular, the fallout from his recent Berlin show where he was criticised by the authorities for wearing a Nazi like uniform and for the flying pig which they believed contained anti-Semitic imagery.
Indeed, as we entered the O2, we passed a group of protesters with placards and who were asking us not to attend the concert. Roger had a long script for his aforementioned rant; this recent publicity has clearly annoyed the guy. At one point during the show Roger wore the military uniform which is actually not displaying Nazi swastikas, rather these are the hammers from The Wall imagery.
The first half of the show concluded with “Sheep” from the Animals album with a giant sheep slowly flying around the arena. All part of the wonderful spectacle that one has come to expect of a Roger Waters concert. A short interval and another double Jack Daniels later and I settled back into my perch in the wheelchair area.
The second half of the show started with the aforementioned flying pig slowly manoeuvring its way around the arena. The music consisted of Roger Waters solo material and more familiar territory including songs from Dark Side of the Moon including “Money” and “Us and Them” complemented by images from the Dark Side of the Moon era Pink Floyd. Fantastic. Roger concluded the show with himself and the band around a piano while he performed a new song in tribute to his recently passed older brother. The screen displayed images of Roger as a child beside his brother and his parents.
A great concert, with a rich mix of old, new, spectacle and politics. But then I guess this is what we have come to expect from Roger Waters, now 79, still looking well and performing world-class music from throughout his career. On our way back to our hotel I managed to give my head a nasty clash. I misjudged the height of the side entrance to a black cab as I manoeuvred up the ramp. Perhaps the two double Jack Daniels didn’t help. I was soon back in my bed, my head still a little sore. However, by the morning I was okay and we made our way home to rest after our two weeks of adventures.
Setlist: Set 1: Comfortably Numb; The Happiest Days of Our Lives; Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2; Another Brick in the Wall, Part 3; The Powers That Be; The Bravery of Being Out of Range; The Bar; Have a Cigar; Wish You Were Here; Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts VI-VII, V); Sheep.
Set 2: In the Flesh; Run Like Hell; Déjà Vu; Déjà Vu (Reprise); Is This the Life We Really Want?; Money; Us and Them; Any Colour You Like; Brain Damage; Eclipse; Two Suns in the Sunset; The Bar (Reprise); Outside the Wall.
Brooooce, Brooooce the crowd cheered as we waited for The Boss to take the stage. 7 PM, exactly as announced, 
The first hour consists of songs which, to my shame, are not so familiar to me. After all, this guy has a massive 50 year catalogue to draw from. And that is exactly what he does throughout the evening, selecting songs from throughout his career. Bruce and I have travelled some of his long road together. My first experience of Springsteen was at his debut UK concerts in Hammersmith Odeon 1975. Since then I have seen him at Newcastle City Hall, St James’s Park Newcastle, Dublin Point, the O2 Arena London, Hampden Park Glasgow, Leeds Arena and the Stadium of Light, Sunderland. Two of those concerts have been immortalised on DVD: the legendary 1975 London shows and the Dublin Seeger Sessions show.
“Darkness on the Edge of Town” takes me back to more familiar territory and then “Kitty’s Back” goes even further back; in fact right back to the very start. Class! Soon we are into “Backstreets” which takes me to 1975 and more familiar material. The rest of the evening passes in a blur. So many great songs and so many memories. “Because The Night” is of course a signature song for Patti Smith, for whom Bruce wrote the tune; but Bruce also does a great version of this classic anthem. “She’s the One” is as great as ever. The set closes with the haunting mouth harp of Bruce leading us into “Thunder Road” which is as haunting as ever. The audience take over and sing the majority of the vocals.
Steve Van Zandt looks as cool as ever. He and Bruce bounce off each other throughout the night, with Steve playing some great guitar.
“Glory Days” soon follows, then another classic “Dancing in the Dark”. Back to 1975 and “Tenth Avenue Freeze–Out”, with some great images of the late, sadly missed big man Clarence Clemons, he of the magnificent sax playing in the original E Street Band. Bruce closes the evening, a lone figure on the stage, with “I’ll See You in My Dreams”.
We all file out of the stadium and into the cool Scottish evening. Well organised buses transport us back to our hotel in Rose Street, just off Princes Street and Waverley station. Then, next morning, luckily unaffected by the train strike which was taking place that day, we board our LNER service to Newcastle. All works like magic. A great day with a great performer, songwriter and someone who has so much energy that he can ignite any stadium around the world. Long may you continue to do so Bruce.
Setlist: No Surrender; Ghosts; Prove It All Night; Death to My Hometown; Letter to You; The Promised Land; Out in the Street; Candy’s Room; Darkness on the Edge of Town; Kitty’s Back; Nightshift; Mary’s Place; The E Street Shuffle; Johnny 99; Last Man Standing; Backstreets; Because the Night; She’s the One; Wrecking Ball; The Rising; Badlands; Thunder Road.
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