live music maniac

Mike Stern Band

2011-10-24T01:26:00.012+01:00

Ronnie Scotts, Soho

Mike Stern (vocals);Dave Weckl (drums);Bob Malach (tenor saxophone);Chris Minh Doky (bass);

Tumble Home (?) - Who Let the Cats Out 2006
Avenue B - These Times 2004
Wishing Well - Voices 2001
Chatter (?) - These Times 2004
Coupe De Ville - Big Neighbourhood 2009
Who Knows (?) - Give and Take 1997
What Might Have Been - Voices 2001
Big Neighbourhood - Big Neighbourhood 2009
- encore -
You Never Know (?) - Between the Lines 2000

Blackmore's Night

2011-10-08T20:30:00.005+01:00

City Hall, Salisbury

Ritchie Blackmore (guitar); Candice Night (vocals); Malclm Dick (drums); David Baranowski (keyboards); Elizabeth Cary (violin, backing vocals); Mike Clemente (bass); Albert Dannenmann (bagpipes)

Locked Within the Crystall Ball
Queen for a Day, Part I
Queen for a Day, Part II
Under a Violet Moon
Soldier of Fortune
Durch den Wald zum Bach Haus
Toccata and Fugue in D Minor - Johann Sebastian Bach
- my memory gets blurry from here -
All the Fun of the Fayre
Diamonds and Rust - Joan Baez
The Clock Ticks On
Journeyman - Nordman
Barbara Allen
Carmina Burana - Carl Orff
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Toast to Tomorrow
Bad Romance - Lady Gaga
Gilded Cage
Fires at Midnight
Wind in the Willows
The Times They Are a-Changin' - Bob Dylan
Greensleeves
Home Again
Hava Nagila and drinking songs - traditional
- encore -
Village Lanterne
- can't remember them all, as the security guy was doing his job and asked me not to photograph the setlist -

Blackmore is a legendary god of hard rock, nobody can argue with that and furthermore, for me he is simply the best. But what he does nowadays is just a sad joke. I can only feel terribly sorry seeing a genius wasting his divine talent...

The band he tours with is formed of notorious nobodies. A guy who was very fond of his bagpipes and who played a dull and unrefined Ode to Joy of Ludwig van Beethoven. The guy on the drums was decent and did a good job on the solo, but he didn't get enough space to play in the simple pop tunes. On the keyboards, another decnt-ish chap, but whose backing vocals skills were peculiar to say the least. On the violin a lady who savagely murdered a Johann Sebastian Bach Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, performing in a crude manner from start to finish. There was of course the dude on the bass guitar, freaking me out behaving like a rat, if you don't know what I'm talking about, think about an overzealous Timothy Spall doing Peter Petigrew in Harry Potter. And above all, Candice Night who is a very charming creature, she has a beautiful voice, sings well and all that, but there is nothing to say wow about, nothing to make her worthy of singing along Ritchie Blackmore. Think about the guys who sang in his bands before: Ronnie James Dio, Ian Gillan, David Coverdale, even Doogie White and Joe Lynn Turner - the best rock singers ever! Candice Night is leagues below, lightyears back, I see her doing backing vocals for Toto or maybe Shakira, or just lead a small folk band.

There was a general issue with using gadgets. The security guys were just paranoid. I took some pictures during the supporting act and as a result my bag got searched and I was told to turn off all my recording equipment including my 6 year-old phone. They told me I would be kept an eye on during the entire show which is what actually happened: a guy came every other song or so to have a look around... myself. I was told my camera produces a crackling sound in the monitors and that is how I got detected. I was not wearing any fancy dress so I keep wondering why they assumed I was an idiot. My good friend likes Deep Purple so I wanted to call him during Soldier of Fortune as he hasn't had a chance to see Ritchie Blackmore live yet. Obviously no chance to even try and reach for my phone in such an Orwellian environment. Under normal circumstances I don't complain about strict policies in this regard - it is, in my opinion, understandable for such special shows as Peter Gabriel's New Blood DVD recording or Roger Waters' The Wall. But this time it was just pointless. They played drinking songs and vulgarly wore pink wigs while covering Lady Gaga on a stage with plastic trees, rocks on wheels and fake ivy wrapped around the microphones, which was far from special, felt more like a countryside fair from Romania.

Ritchie Blackmore's performance was truly brilliant, but it was strange, because he didn't feel like the band leader; his guitar was very low in the mix and he sounded just like another minstrel at times. I only had ears for him though and the intros and lead bridges were exquisite indeed. His notorious arrogance was present as well. He got me overexcited with his white Stratocaster for Journeyman, but then abandoned it after the song in favour of the balalaikas and hurdy-gurdys. His main solo started brilliantly, all the audience was completely absorbed, but then somebody from the crowd (I suspect a security guy) dropped something (plastic glass?) and that was it. Four bars into the solo, Ritchie Blackmore abruptly decides it's enough. Should I say anything about his mysterious sudden unplugging of the guitar and walking off the stage during a song, leaving his wife to sing a cappella one verse? Or about the guy who was eating in the front row? Or about the chair incident? Well... perhaps you got the idea.

So the greatest guitar player of all time quits rock 'n' roll for something more mature and sophisticated. We've seen that before. You'd think he starts a jazz band, or a prog rock super group, or goes on an experimental solo career to explore his classical affinities. Well none of these is mature enough for him. So he now plays for a grown up audience - dressed in Robin Hood costumes and plastic armor suits - an eclectic mix of pop, rock ballads, crude classical, renaissance music, drinking songs, eastern European folk, Rednex, Bee Gees and other stuff as well. Before the concert I had hoped to get Child in Time, Self Portrait, or Temple of the King mixed in the setlist. Well I am now thankful he didn't play them. It would have been a dire insult for those songs to be blended in such a context.

Diamonds and Rust was a wonderful touching moment (but only briefly, before the violin messed everything with a strident debut). Greensleeves was superb as well, but I was mostly thinking how much better Sixteen Century Greensleeves is in every aspect. Actually all I could see the entire night was California Jamming 1974, glimpses of old stereotypical hand habits, head turns, the lip thinning gesture, the spark in his dark, deep eyes and hints of Mistreated... but all that's left is a subtle shade of Deep Purple.

In our teens we all have role models... In the 2000', Michael Schumacher, Shakira, Roger Federer and Angelina Jolie were hot. Despite them, Ritchie Blackmore was my only idol... Is he still my hero? Sadly, yes he is, undoubtedly. His Rainbow and Deep Purple years are immortal. The only thing that changed after seeing this gig was that I no longer believe in, nor hope for a reunion with one of the bands of old...

I am listening to Rainbow Eyes (the original Rainbow, not the cover) as i am writing this and I've got tears in my eyes... for Ronnie James Dio and Cozy Powell... and now for Ritchie Blackmore as well.... Long Live Rock 'n' Roll!

Nevada Street Four

2011-09-26T21:00:00.003+01:00

Oliver's Jazz Bar, Greenwich

Martin Wheatley

Richard White

Malcolm Earle-Smith

Martin Wheatley

Richard White

Colin Good

Malcolm Earle-Smith (trombone); Richard White (clarinet; baritone saxophone); Colin Good (piano); Martin Wheatley (guitar);

Deed I Do - Fred Rose & Walter Hirsch 1926

Black and Tan Fantasy - Duke Ellington 1927

Chinatown, My Chinatown - William Jerome & Jean Schwartz 1910

The Glad Rag Doll - Milton Ager & Jack Yellen 1928

Undecided - Sid Robins & Charlie Shavers 1938

(Up a) Lazy River - Louis Armstorng 1931

If I Could Be With You (One Hour Tonight) - James P. Johnson & Henry Creamer 1926

- encore

Oh, Baby (?)

The reason I went to see this band was the previous collaboration of Malcolm Earle Smith with Bryan Ferry. Obviously nothing in common between Nevada Street Four and Roxy Music; this was a '30 jazz night with an outstanding Richard White on clarinet.

The best part of the evening for me was the baritone saxophone, an instrument that I had never heard live before. The vocal interludes were a very nice treat as well, with Malcolm Earle-Smith confidently delivering a scat improvisation.

Laura J. Martin

2011-09-16T20:00:00.004+01:00

Union Chapel, Islington

Laura J. Martin (vocals, flute, mandolin, piano); David Levin (percussion on Jesse);

Salamander
Fire Horse
Jesse (with David Levin)
Doki Doki
Tom
- questionable

Red haired elf with plenty of stamina and a very unorthodox approach to live performance. The music itself is pretty experimental, hard to describe, with its roots fading into folk, hip hop, jazz and far eastern sonorities.

Despite the prolonged technical struggle that marked the beginning of the set, Laura J. Martin was in a transmissible well-spirited shape. I personally loved the narrative quality of the songs and the flamboyant gestures calling to mind the image of another exquisite flute-wielder, Ian Anderson.

The looping and sampling techniques were mastered gracefully; Laura producing single-handedly a very rich sound, without gratuitously abusing the technology; her posture pressing the floor pedals reminding me of Adrian Belew and his confidence in exploiting his sound processing machinery.

Quirky! (good quirky!)

Sarah Johns Music Party

2011-09-16T08:30:00.003+01:00

Union Chapel, Islington

Sarah Johns (vocals, guitar, drum); David Levin (percussion); ? (backing vocals); ? (backing vocals);

Loyal
Keep Holding Me
Green Bud
others I can't remember

Why? Why do they look so unfortunate and insipid while they sing on a stage? I understand it is part of an act, but... why? I found myself feeling guilty and sorry for the poor sad things.

The music itself was not bad, but there was hardly any at all. A few lethargic notes repeated stereotypically, on a candy-commercial-type of rhythm; one of those situations where you expect something to happen, but it never does. I listened to one song, it was all rather fun, but the rest were all the same, which was no longer fun at all.

And this entire apathetic performance and lack of enthusiasm was all dressed in the brightest joyful red! And called a Music Party! Three tired, indifferent girls dragged to the party by force, that's how it all looked. Even the jokes were said in an awkward voice: Thanks for coming... to church.

I have a strong suspicion that this is the kind of atmosphere they were trying to convey, and they succeeded brilliantly, although I can't see why? So looking back, I still find myself confused by this peculiar, minimalist act.

Maurizio Minardi

2011-09-03T21:00:00.143+01:00

Oliver's Jazz Bar, Greenwich

Maurizio Minardi (piano, accordion); Luke Fowler (double bass); Chris Grant (drums)

Magritte Canicola 2010
Tulipano Nero Canicola 2010
Cofferatzingher Works 2011
Libertango Ástor Piazzolla 1974
Suggestions? - yet to be titled song
Einaudito Canicola 2010
- unknown - most probably Mozart
Questa non e' una Rumba Works 2011
Tango pour Claude Richard Galliano
- unknown - Bach inspired song
- unknown - tango
- unknown - Gioachino Rossini inspired Dinner for Three maybe
Prelude No. 2 Presentiment of Death Chopin 1835
Canicola Canicola 2010
- unknown - from Works album
Hegel Holidays
- unknown - Bertolucci film soundtrack
Non, je ne regrette rien Charles Dumont (Édith Piaf) 1960
- encore -
And I Love Her Paul McCartney (The Beatles) 1964

Great surprise from this small jazz group, with a pretty well constructed setlist with original songs as well as covers from other genres.

A particularly successful blending of jazz and tango was happening when he was playing the accordion, but nonetheless his piano skills were equally exquisite.

Hegel Holidays, probably inspired from Rene Magritte's painting, was a tasty improvisation on Bizet's Carmen, while what I enjoyed most was saved for the encore, with an instrumental cover of the Beatles song.

I have to mention as well the flamboyant style of the drummer, apparently on his first venture with the group, and the brilliant double bass solos which captivated the audience as rarely a bass improvisation does.

Beautiful!

Michael Schenker

2011-07-24T16:00:00.003+01:00

Temple of Rock Tour @ High Voltage Festival
Victoria Park, Tower Hamlets

Michael Schenker (guitar); Michael Voss (vocals); Herman Rarebell (drums); Wayne Findlay (guitar; keyboards); Elliott 'Dean' Rubinson (bass); Rudolf Schenker (guitar); Doogie White (vocals); Pete Way (bass); Jeff Scott Soto (vocals);

Into the Arena - Michael Schenker Group - The Michael Schenker Group 1980
Armed and Ready - Michael Schenker Group - The Michael Schenker Group 1980
Another Piece of Meat - Scorpions - Lovedrive 1979
- Doogie White replaces Michael Voss;
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead - Temple of Rock 2011
- Michael Voss replaces Doogie White; Rudolf Schenker joins in;
Rock You Like a Hurricane - Scorpions - Love at First Sting 1984
Hanging On - Temple of Rock 2011
- Pete Way joins in; Rudolf Schenker & Elliott Rubinson retire
Rock Bottom - UFO - Phenomenon 1974
- Doogie White, Rudolf Schenker, Elliott Rubinson; Jeff Scott Soto join in
Doctor Doctor - UFO - Phenomenon 1974

An unexpected brilliancy! Skeptical after reading bad reviews about drunken Schenker unable to tread on stage in previous years, I was amazed by the animated live performance and by the German hyper guitar solos.

And as if this weren't enough, surprise guests kept coming. First was Doogie White, ex-Rainbow frontman (I have always had the deepest respect for people who withstood working with Blackmore). Next came Rudolf Schenker, who brought in the rhythm nerve that his brother needed. Pete Way was the perfect final touch to this epic performance, with his classic red striped trousers and waysted appearance.

Truth being told, the surprise guests were not exactly a surprise, since a lot of rumors had circulated during the previous weeks. Furthermore, during the sound check, the engineer asked for Rudolf's guitar; speaking of whom, black adders say he came to test the ground for next year, when Scorpions might headline High Voltage as part of their goodbye tour.

Bottom line is, in my humble opinion, Schenker was one of, if not the highlight of the entire festival.

Pallas

2011-07-24T12:00:00.006+01:00

High Voltage Festival
Victoria Park, Tower Hamlets

Paul Mackie (vocals); Graeme Murray (bass); Niall Mathewson (guitar); Ronnie Brown (keyboards); Colin Fraser (drums);

Falling Down - XXV 2011
Young God - XXV 2011
Monster - XXV 2011
Alien Messiah, The - XXV 2011
XXV Part 1 - Twenty Five Good Honest Men - XXV 2011
Eyes in the Night (Arrive Alive) - Sentinel 1984

Dinosaurs of British prog rock...

Niall Mathewson is a fascinating thing to watch, he comes from a totally different age altogether, bringing this fascinating alien music. And he contrasts harmoniusly with the businessman Graeme Murray and with Paul Mackie, the vivacious newcomer who brings some young vigor to the band.

Deep Purple + Joe Bonamassa

2011-07-08T23:59:00.004+01:00

The Sunflower Superjam
Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore

Ian Gillan (vocals); Ian Paice (drums); Roger Glover (bss); Don Airey (keyboards); Steve Morse (guitar); Joe Bonamassa (guitar); Bill Bailey (cowbells); Jack Moore (guitar)

Highway Star - Machine Head 1972
Joe Bonamassa joins in
Maybe I'm a Leo - Machine Head 1972
Joe Bonamassa retires
Strange Kind of Woman - Fireball 1971
Contact Lost - Bananas 2003
When a Blind Man Cries - Machine Head 1972
The Well Dressed Guitar - Rapture of the Deep 2005
Black Night - In Rock 1970
Joe Bonamassa and Bill Bailey join in
Smoke on the Water - Machine Head 1972

Greatest disappointment of the evening was that Jon Lord - who was present in the hall and whose hammond organ was still on stage - did not join the band his heart belongs to; not even for at least a chorus. Nevertheless, Joe Bonamassa was jaw-dropping on Maybe I'm a Leo, while Smoke on the Water was quirky to say the least, with Bailey's cowbells and Joe Bonamassa and Jack Moore joining Steve Morse to give some extra punch to the riff.

It was a short - less than one hour - performance, with no encore, which finished well after midnight. What was annoying though was the fact that despite all the rush, they still played songs off their new albums, which I regard as ridiculous compared to their brilliant jewels of the 70s. I just wish they played Pictures of Home or maybe Perfect Strangers instead.

Anyway, they're still my favourite band in the whole world, so I like whatever they do and one-off performances such as this one are sure to be remembered.

Copyright: Gabrielle McMillan

Gary Brooker

2011-07-08T19:30:00.019+01:00

The Sunflower Superjam
Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore

Gary Brooker (vocals, piano; ex-Procol Harum); Micky Moody (guitar; ex-Whitesnake); Paul 'Wix' Wickens (keyboards); Nick Fyffe (bass); Jerry Brown (drums); Murray Gould (guitar); ? (saxophone); Margo Buchanan (backing vocals); ? (backing vocals); ? (backing vocals);

Good Golly Miss Molly Little Richard 1958
A Whiter Shade of Pale Procol Harum A Whiter Shade of Pale 1967

What a surprise! Gary Brooker's voice is unchanged, warm and vibrant like on the studio recording. And the rock and roll classic was more than welcome too.

Copyright: Gabrielle McMillan

BB King + Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, Mick Hucknall, Slash & Ronnie Wood

2011-06-28T19:00:00.165+01:00

European Tour
Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore

B.B. King (guitar, vocals); Derek Trucks (guitar; ex-The Allman Brothers Band); Susan Tedeschi (vocals, guitar); Mick Hucknall (vocals; ex-Simply Red); Slash (guitar; ex-Guns N' Roses); Ronnie Wood (guitar; ex-The Rolling Stones); Ernest Vantrease (keyboards); Reggie Richards (bass); Tony Coleman (drums); Charlie Dennis (guitar); Melvin Jackson (saxophone); Walter King (saxophone); Stanley Abernathy (trumpet); James 'Boogaloo' Bolden (director, trumpet);

Key to the Highway - Charlie Segar 1940
See that My Grave Is Kept Clean - One Kind Favor 2008 (Blind Lemon Jefferson 1927)
- Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi join in -
Rock Me Baby - Rock Me Baby 1964 (Lil' Son Jackson 1940)
- Slash, Mick Hucknall and Ronnie Wood join in -
You Are My Sunshine - Jimmie Davis 1939
Sweet Little Angel - Singin' the Blues 1956 (Lucille Bogan 1930)
The Thrill Is Gone - Completely Well 1969 (Roy Hawkins 1951)
Guess Who - Guess Who 1972
- encore -
When The Saints Go Marching In

Surreal! It is impossible to describe what I went through as the surprise guests flooded the stage.

B.B. King announced some surprises at the beginning of the show. That's when I noticed some suspicious guitar amps on stage. We're recording the show came first. Then Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi which was amazing! They had a gig the next day that I could not go to, so I was very excited to see them there. But I thought that was it... enough surprises. So when I saw Slash, I could not believe my eyes! And then the guy from Simply Red! and through my tears I spotted a blue jacket and a sunburst guitar... Ronnie Wood. And they all played together for about three quarters of an hour.

Looking back I still find it hard to believe that I had such an amazing opportunity to attend a night that is definitely going in the music history book.

B.B. King did Key to the Highway on his own brilliantly, despite the 85 years he's got in his pocket. The rest can not be described in words. I can't wait for the DVD.

Copyright: JonCC

Toto

2011-06-26T20:00:00.001+01:00

In the Blink of an Eye Tour
HMV Apollo, Hammersmith

Steve Lukather (guitar, vocals); David Paich (keyboards); Steve Porcaro (keyboards); Joseph Williams (vocals); Nathan East (bass; ex-Eric Clapton); Simon Phillips (drums); Jenny Douglas-McRae (backing vocals); Mabvuto Carpenter (backing vocals); Trevor Lukather (guitar);

Child's Anthem - Toto 1978
Till the End - Fahrenheit 1978
Afraid of Love - Toto IV 1982
Lovers in the Night - Toto IV 1982
Somewhere Tonight - Fahrenheit 1978
No Woman No Cry - Bob Marley & The Wailers Natty Dread 1974
Pamela - The Seventh One 1988
Lea - Fahrenheit 1978
Gift of Faith - Tambu 1995
Keyboard Extravaganza
Africa - Toto IV 1982
Human Nature - Michael Jackson Thriller 1978
Rosanna - Toto IV 1982
Georgy Porgy - Toto 1978
Stop Loving You - The Seventh One 1988
Drum Solo on Heartbreaker riffs Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin II 1969
Home of the Brave - The Seventh One 1988
- encore - Trevor Lukather joins in -
Hold the Line - Toto 1978

Progressive pop, that's what this was! Plus impeccable sound quality, no wonder these guys are so busy as session musicians.

The band's thoughts went to Mike Porcaro, whose illness keeps him home, but Toto was joined on this tour by Nathan East. Very nice setlist and Trevor Lukather joined at the end which made everything feel like a family business - in a good way.

Simon Phillips' drum solo was one of the highlights of the evening - with Steve Lukather and Nathan East framing the drums with the heavy Heartbreaker riff of Led Zeppelin.

Copyright: Roger Goodgroves

Night Ranger

2011-06-23T21:00:00.075+01:00

O2 Academy, Islington

Jack Blades (vocals, bass; ex-Damn Yankees); Brad Gillis (guitar; ex-Ozzy); Kelly Keagy (vocals, drums); Joel Hoekestra (guitar); Eric Levy (keyboards)

Rock N'Roll Tonite - Somewhere in California 2011
Touch of Madness - Midnight Madness 1983
Sing Me Away - Dawn Patrol 1982
Growin' Up in California - Somewhere in California 2011
The Secret of My Success - Big Life 1987
Eric Levy keyboard solo
Sentimental Street - Seven Wishes 1985
Eddie's Comin' Out Tonight
L.A. No Name - Somewhere in California (Japan release) 2011
Goodbye - Seven Wishes 1985
Lay It on Me - Somewhere in California 2011
Coming of Age - Damn Yankees Coming of Age 1990
Four in the Morning - Seven Wishes 1985
When You Close Your Eyes - Midnight Madness 1983
Don't Tell Me You Love Me - Dawn Patrol 1982
- encore -
No Time To Lose Ya - Somewhere in California 2011
Sister Christian - Midnight Madness 1983
(You Can Still) Rock in America - Midnight Madness 1983

Night Ranger came back to London after 26 very long years! So the last time was before I was even born...

I hadn't even heard of these guys until a few days before the gig, when some black adders talked me into this must-see act. So I went for it and never looked back. Brad Gillis is a hell of a guitar player and L.A. No Name was absolutely exquisite.

Airrace

2011-06-23T19:30:00.002+01:00

Night Ranger supporting act
O2 Academy, Islington

Keith Murrell (vocals); Laurie Mansworth (guitar); Simon Dawson (drums); Dean Howard (guitars); Jim Reid (bass); Chris Williams (keyboards);

Two of a Kind - Back to the Start 2011
Caught in the Game - Shaft of Light 1984
Open Your Eyes - Shaft of Light 1984
Promise to Call - Shaft of Light 1984
First One over the Line - Shaft of Light 1984
Better Believe It - Back to the Start 2011
Brief Encounter - Shaft of Light 1984

An awesome singer and one of the best supporting bands I have ever seen.

Now the history lesson. The band was formed back in the early 80s, with a 17-year-old Jason Bonham among the original members. After their first album, they split up and waited for 26 years to reunite and release a new album. And I have to say Back to the Start is exquisite... you'd Better Believe It! But the old songs are equally good, First One over the Line was one of my favourite moments of the night.

Copyright: Karen Trott

Ozzy Osbourne

2011-06-21T21:00:00.012+01:00

Kerrang 30th Anniversary
HMV Apollo, Hammersmith

Ozzy Osbourne (vocals); Adam Wakeman (ex-Black Sabbath); Gus G (guitar); Rob Nicholson (bass; ex-Rob Zombie); Tommy Clufetos (drums; ex-Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie);

I Don't Know - Blizzard of Ozz 1980
Suicide Solution - Blizzard of Ozz 1980
Mr. Crowley - Blizzard of Ozz 1980
Goodbye to Romance - Blizzard of Ozz 1980
Bark at the Moon - Bark at the Moon 1983
War Pigs - Black Sabbath Paranoid 1970
Road to Nowhere - No More Tears 1980
Shot in the Dark - The Ultimate Sin 1986
Rat Salad - Black Sabbath Paranoid 1970
Iron Man - Black Sabbath Paranoid 1970
Fairies Wear Boots - Black Sabbath Paranoid 1970
I Don't Want to Change the World - No More Tears 1980
Crazy Train - Blizzard of Ozz 1980
encore
Mama, I'm Coming Home - No More Tears 1980
Paranoid - Black Sabbath Paranoid 1970

Very nice setlist, with more than half of the Paranoid album being played, plus a healthy selection from Blizzard of Ozz.

I liked the sound, Ozzy being loud and clear, his metallic voice cutting through the audience.

He abused the foamy liquid hose and bucket after bucket of refreshing water was thrown at the public. Being so close to the stage I unavoidably got hit a number of times which, don't get me wrong, was quite fun.

During Paranoid there was a continuous flux of fainting guys being extracted from the central sector.
Source: Metalship

Revoker

2011-06-21T19:00:00.003+01:00

Ozzy Osbourne Supporting Act
HMV Apollo, Hammersmith

Jamie Mathias (vocals, guitar); Chris Green (guitar); Shane Phillips (bass); Jack Pritchard (drums);

Time to Die - Revenge for the Ruthless 2011
Psychoville - Revenge for the Ruthless 2011
The Great Pretender - Revenge for the Ruthless 2011
Not Be Moved - Revenge for the Ruthless 2011
Nature of the Beast - Revenge for the Ruthless 2011
Stay Down - Revenge for the Ruthless 2011
Born to Be an Outlaw - Revenge for the Ruthless 2011

I thought it was pretty impressive for these four very young guys with only one album out to support Ozzy. Well apparently he has never had good supporting bands, but Revoker was not that bad.

Still an immature thrash, very noisy and with lyrics for teens, but some decent riffs and overall well played.

Source: Revoker

Whitesnake + Bernie Marsden

2011-06-20T21:00:00.004+01:00

Forevermore Tour
HMV Apollo, Hammersmith

David Coverdale (vocals); Bernie Marsden - surprise guest (guitar); Doug Aldrich (guitar, backing vocals); Reb Beach (guitar, backing vocals); Brian Tichy (drums); Michael Devin (bass, backing vocals); Brian Ruedy (keyboards);

Best Years - Good to Be Bad 2008
Give Me All Your Love - Whitesnake 1987
Love Ain't No Stranger - Slide It In 1984
Is This Love - Whitesnake 1987
Steal Your Heart Away - Forevermore 2011
Forevermore - Forevermore 2011
Love Will Set You Free - Forevermore 2011
- guitar duel -
My Evil Ways - Forevermore 2011
- drum solo -
Fare Thee Well - Forevermore 2011
Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City - Bobby 'Blue' Bland Dreamer 1974 / Snakebite 1978
Fool for Your Lovin' - Ready an' Willing 1980
- surprise guest Bernie Marsden joins in -
Here I Go Again - Saints and Sinners 1982
- encore -
Still of the Night - Whitesnake 1987
- a cappella -
Soldier of Fortune - Deep Purple Stormbringer 1974

I can't describe my excitement when I saw Bernie Marsden's silhouette in the backstage moments before David Coverdale introduced the surprise guest. His presence, his conventional suit and grey hair looked out of place between the rough bare-chested guys of the new Whitesnake. But musically... it was absolute harmony. I just wish his guitar was a tad louder for the first solo. I saw him playing (and singing) Here I Go Again solo before, but this time it was different. It was only the second time ever that the two guys who wrote the song played it live together. And where else if not at the Odeon? their spiritual home, deep in the heart of the city.

The second surprise of the evening was David Coverdale singing a cappella a song he co-wrote back in the Deep Purple days. And with that, I imagine, he reduced to silence the last person who still was not convinced that his voice still rocks.

Source: Whitesnake Italia

The Union

2011-06-20T19:30:00.003+01:00

Whitesnake supporting act
HMV Apollo, Hammersmith

Luke Morley (guitar; ex-Thunder); Peter Shoulder (vocals, guitar; ex-Winterville); Chris Childs (bass; ex-Thunder); Phil Martini (drums);

Easy Street - The Union 2010
Siren's Song - Siren's Song 2011(tbr)
Black Monday - The Union 2010
Saviour - The Union 2010
Step Up to the Plate - The Union 2010
Watch the River Flow - The Union 2010

I don't know what this is... modern take on classic rock or whatever, but it's not bad. I prefer the classic Luke Morley side of the band rather the modern one of Peter Shoulder. But in truth they work well together, and the result is not bad at all.
Copyright: Hannah Yates

Bob Dylan

2011-06-18T22:30:00.000+01:00

Never Ending Tour @ Feis Festival
Finsbury Park, Haringey

Bob Dylan (vocals, guitar, harmonica, organ); Stu Kimball (guitar); Donnie Herron (lap steel, mandolin, violin); Charlie Sexton (guitar); Tony Garnier (bass); George Receli (drums);

Gonna Change My Way of Thinking - Slow Train Coming 1979
It's All Over Now, Baby Blue - Bringing It All Back Home 1965
Things Have Changed - Wonder Boys soundtrack 2000
Tangled Up in Blue - Blood on the Tracks 1975
Summer Days - Love and Theft 2001
Simple Twist of Fate - Blood on the Tracks 1975
Cold Irons Bound - Time Out of Mind 1997
A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall - The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan 1963
Highway 61 Revisited - Highway 61 Revisited 1965
Forgetful Heart - Together through Life 2009
Thunder on the Mountain - Modern Times 2006
Ballad of a Thin Man - Highway 61 Revisited 1965
-encore-
Like a Rolling Stone - Highway 61 Revisited 1965
All Along the Watchtower - John Wesley Harding 1963
Blowin' in the Wind - The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan 1967

One of those living shrines you have to see before you die (or rather before he dies). One thing you notice immediately is that Bob Dylan's voice has dramatically changed in the past years, being now very deep and harsh, making his songs hard to recognize at times, specially if you are not exactly familiar with his work.

The band was extremely good, Bob Dylan was in good shape for a 70-year-old and all that, but I did have quite a frustrating time and did not enjoy the performance to its full potential. And that's because just 5 minutes before the evening kicked off, I caught a glimpse of a glamorous white coat in the backstage area... Bob Dylan - I thought at first, although something was not quite right, there was no hat. But then the white coat ran towards a pocket by the mixing decks, closely followed by a young feminine silhouette... Ronnie Wood!! Ronnie Wood was on stage!! And he even waved out at the crowd for a fraction of a second. I was beginning to be quite aware of my heartbeat and there I was, standing for the rest of the night, anticipating a Like a Rolling Stone duo. The big moment comes... Like a Rolling Stone, first song of the encore, yet Ronnie Wood was still hidden in his pocket, occasionally lit by a stray spotlight beam. Well don't just stand there! Grab your sunburst and go get them!! Pointless... the night came to an end, Ronnie Wood left mysteriously just the way he came and I had the feeling that it could have been a really special night.

Copyright: UNKNOWN

Christy Moore + Declan Sinnott

2011-06-18T19:45:00.001+01:00

Feis Festival

Finsbury Park, Haringey

Christy Moore (vocals, guitar); Declan Sinnott (guitar);

City of Chicago Ride On 1984
Biko Drum Unfinished Revolution 1987
Viva la Quinta Brigada Ride On 1984
Lisdoonvarna Ride On 1984
North and South Graffiti Tongue 1996
Ride On Ride On 1984
Smoke and Strong Whiskey Smoke and Strong Whiskey 1991
I'll Tell Me Ma

I respect people who believe in what they do.

Copyright: efestivals.co.uk

The Cranberries

2011-06-18T16:00:00.004+01:00

Feis Festival
Finsbury Park, Haringey
Link: Zombie

Dolores O'Riordan (vocals); Noel Hogan (guitar); Michael Hogan (bass); Fergal Lawler (drums); Denny DeMarchi (keyboards, guitar);

Zombie - No Need to Argue 1994
Animal Instinct - Bury the Hatchet 1999
How - Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? 1992
Linger - Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? 1992
Ode to My Family - No Need to Argue 1996
When You're Gone - To the Faithful Departed 1996
I Can't Be With You - No Need to Argue 1994
Waltzing Back - Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? 1992
Free to Decide - To the Faithful Departed 1996
Tomorrow - Roses 2011 (tbr)
Salvation - To the Faithful Departed 1996
Ridiculous Thoughts - No Need to Argue 1996
Promises - Bury the Hatchet 1999
Dreams - Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? 1992

Average performance.

Copyright: kale750

The Gaslight Anthem

2011-06-18T14:00:00.000+01:00

Feis Festival

Finsbury Park, Haringey

Brian Fallon (vocals, guitar); Alex Rosamilia (guitar); Alex Levine (bass); Benny Horowitz (drums);

High Lonesome - The '59 Song 2008
American Slang - American Slang 2010
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues - The '59 Song 2008
The Diamond Church Street Choir - American Slang 2010
Old White Lincoln - The '59 Song 2008
Bring It On - American Slang 2010
Wherefore Art Thou, Elvis? - Señor and the Queen EP 2008
Wooderson - Sink or Swim 2007
Miles Davis and the Cool - The '59 Song 2008
The '59 Sound - The '59 Song 2008
The Queen of Lower Chelsea - American Slang 2010
Film Noir - The '59 Song 2008
We Came to Dance - Sink or Swim 2007
Here's Looking at You, Kid - The '59 Song 2008
The Backseat - The '59 Song 2008

Some good tunes, but I've seen better live performances.

One thing I have to say... the bass player was from a different story altogether, he reminded me of the boys from Accent - a crappy Romanian band I accidentally saw twice.

Copyright Kale750

Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band

2011-06-17T21:00:00.175+01:00

Hampton Court Palace, Richmond

Ringo Starr (vocals, drums); Edgar Winter (saxophone, keyboards, vocals, drums; ex-Johnny Winter, david Lee Roth); Rick Derringer (guitar, vocals; ex-the McCoys, Edgar Winter); Wally Palmer (guitar, vocals; ex-the Romantics); Garry Wright (vocals, keyboards); Richard Page (bass, vocals; ex-Mr. Mister); Gregg Bissonette (drums; ex-David Lee Roth, Joe Satriani);

Ringo Starr on vocals
It Don't Come Easy - It Don't Come Easy 1971
Honey Don't - Carl Perkins Blue Suede Shoes 1956
Choose Love - Choose Love 2005
Rick Derringer on vocals
Hang on Sloopy - The McCoys Hang on Sloopy 1965
Edgar Winter on vocals
Free Ride - The Edgar Winter Group They Only Come Out at Night 1972
Wally Palmer on vocals
Talking in Your Sleep - The Romantics In Heat 1983
Ringo Starr on vocals
I Wanna Be Your Man - Lennon/McCartney With the Beatles 1963
Garry Wright on vocals
Dream Weaver - Gary Wright The Dream Weaver 1975
Richard Page on vocals
Kyrie - Mr. Mister Welcome to the Real World 1985
Ringo Starr on vocals
The Other Side of Liverpool - Y Not 2010
Yellow Submarine - The Beatles Revolver 1966
Frankenstein - The Edgar Winter Group They Only Come Out at Night 1972
Peace Dream - Y Not 2010
Back Off Boogaloo - Stop and Smell the Roses 1981
Wally Palmer on vocals
What I Like About You - The Romantics The Romantics 1980
Rick Derringer on vocals
Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo - Johnny Winter Johnny Winter And 1970
Ringo Starr on vocals
Boys - The Shirelles Tonight's the Night 1961
Garry Wright on vocals
Love Is Alive - Gary Wright The Dream Weaver 1975
Richard Page on vocals
Broken Wings - Mr. Mister Welcome to the Real World 1985
Ringo Starr on vocals
Photograph - Ringo Starr Ringo 1973
Act Naturally - Buck Owens 1963
With a Little Help from My Friends - The Beatles Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart Club Band 1967
Give Peace a Chance - Plastic Ono Band Give Peace a Chance 1969

Amazing set list performed brilliantly! It was a class about how to play music live.

Ringo Starr was absolutely amazing, I wonder how it feels to be a living legend, I surely know how it feels to see one. His new album has some beautiful, sincere music and I welcomed the two songs he played from it.

Edgar Winter was fantastic, on keyboards, saxophone, vocals and even drums, in an epic Frankenstein. Rick Derringer had some superb solos, and he even went back to his The McCoys years to play the catchy Hang on Sloopy.

It was quite rainy that day, so quite a few people did not show up and as a consequence I got upgraded from the 12th to the 3rd row, which was seriously close to Edgar Winter.

Source: AAA Music

Jack Bruce & his Big Blues Band + Joe Bonamassa

2011-06-04T20:00:00.173+01:00

Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre
Listen to: Sunshine of Your Love

Jack Bruce (vocals, bass, piano); Joe Bonamassa (vocals, guitar); Tony Remy (guitar); Paddy Milner (keyboards); Nick Cohen (bass); Frank Tontoh (drums); Winston Rollins (trombone); ? (sax); ? (trumpet);

Send for Me
Never Tell Your Mother She's Out of Tune - Songs for a Tailor 1969
First Time I Met the Blues - Buddy Guy I Was Walking Through the Woods
Jack Bruce replaces Nick Cohen
Neighbor Neighbor - Cities of the Heart 1994
This Anger's a Liar - Shadows in the Air 2001
Born Under a Bad Sign - Cities of the Heart 1994
We're Going Wrong - Cream Disraeli Gears 1967
Joe Bonamassa joins
Midnight Blues - Gary Moore Still Got the Blues 1990
Nick Cohen joins back for one song, Jack Bruce on piano
Theme for an Imaginary Western - Songs for a Tailor 1969
White Room - Cream Wheels of Fire 1968
Politician - Cream Wheels of Fire 1968
Sunshine of of Your Love - Cream Disraeli Gears 1967
encore
Spoonful - Cream Wheels of Fire 1968 / Willie Dixon + Howlin' Wolf 1960

This was a historic gig! Seriously good.

Very nice crescendo, first the band, than Jack Bruce and finally Joe Bonamassa doing a Gary Moore tribute - as always very impressive - and some remarkable Cream stuff, culminating with a guitar / bass dialog on Sunshine of Your Love, which had the psychedelic Cream feel allover.

Jack Bruce is almost 70, but his voice is still in quite a good shape, although quite shouted at times - in a very down to earth manner - not the Peter Hammill kind of shouting. Nevertheless he had Joe Bonamassa's support on Sunshine of Your Love wich was brilliant. But forget about his singing... this guy with his fretless bass, playing Cream riffs, is one of the archetypal icons of classic rock! And boy did his Warwick massively erupt in a ballsy way! Just the way I like a bass to be: loud and present... absolutely impeccable.

And of course, on top of it all, the neat guitar solos and accurate playing of Joe Bonamassa. He did the singing as well on Midnight Blues... starting timorously but than exploding in a flamboyant voice with precise intensity accents.

Gigantic!

Copyright Peter Chow

Ian Siegal

2011-06-04T19:30:00.002+01:00

Jack Bruce + Joe Bonamassa supporting act
Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre
Listen to: Mary Don't You Weep

Ian Siegal (vocals, guitar);

The Silver Spurs - The Dust 2008
Mary Don't You Weep - The Dust 2008
others I can't remember

This guy is definitely from another Universe - or at least planet - he's got into some trouble and ended up accidentally on Earth, but I'm sure he's not aware of it. So detached and so into what he was playing, making it all a very intense performance, and throwing in the odd piece of British humor about him not advertising his albums while winding up the bizarre tuning on his gorgeous Resonator. He bought all the audience instantaneously with the first few crazy bends and slides of The Silver Spurs.

Laid back and almost isolated in his own self-contained bubble, he boldly worked out some Mississippi blues jewels all alone on a stage big enough to fit the upcoming Joe Bonamassa and Jack Bruce. All with a voice resonating with a rough depth reminding of Howling Wolf.

Source: Noble PR

Andy Fairweather Low & The Low Riders

2011-06-01T19:30:00.005+01:00

Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood Supporting Act
Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore
Listen to: Hymn 4 My Soul

Andy Fairweather Low (vocals, guitar; ex-Roger Waters, Eric Clapton, Bill Wyman); Paul Beavis (drums; ex-Robert Fripp, Andy Summers); Dave Bronze (bass, backing vocals; ex-Eric Clapton, Roger Daltrey, Ringo Starr; Procol Harum, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Brian Ferry, Bo Diddley); Nick Pentelow (sax; ex-Gary Moore, B.B. King, Albert King);

Low Bend Me Shape Me
Lightning Boogie
La Booga Rooga
Baby What You Want Me to Do - Jimmy Reed 1959
I Got Love if You Want It - Johnny Winter The Progressive Blues Experiment 1968
Hymn for My Soul
Slowly - Webb Pierce 1954
When You're Smiling - Teddy Wilson ft Billie Holiday 1949
If Paradise Is Half as Nice - La Ragazza 77 Lucio Battisti 1969
Wide Eyed and Legless

Even better than the first time!
Copyright: Judy Totton

Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood

2011-06-01T09:42:00.004+01:00

Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore
Watch: Had to Cry Today

Eric Clapton (vocals, guitar); Steve Winwood (vocals, guitar, piano; ex-Traffic, Blind Faith); Chris Stainton (keyboards; ex-Joe Cocker, The Who, Bryan Ferry, Andy Fairweather Low, Ian Hunter, B.B. King, David Gilmour, Roger Waters); Willie Weeks (bass; ex-David Bowie, Buddy Guy, Bo Didley, George Harrison, B.B. King, The Rolling Stones); Steve Gadd (drums; ex-Chick Corea, Paul Simon, Paul McCartney, Al Di Meola, Joe Cocker, The Bee Gees); Michelle John(backing vocals); Sharon White (backing vocals);

Had to Cry Today - Blind Faith Blind Faith 1969

Low Down - Live from Madison Square Garden 2008 / J.J. Cale Guitar Man 1996

After Midnight - Eric Clapton Eric Clapton 1970 / J.J. Cale 1966

Presence of the Lord - Blind Faith Blind Faith 1969

Glad - Traffic John Barleycorn Mudt Die 1970

Well All Right - Blind Faith Blind Faith 1969

Hoochie Coochie Man - Eric Clapton From the Cradle 1994 / Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters 1954

While You See a Chance - Steve Winwood Arc of a Diver 1980

Key to the Highway - Derek and the Dominos Layla and Other Assorted Songs 1970 / Charlie Segar 1940

Pearly Queen - Traffic Traffic 1968

Crossroads - Cream Whels of Fire 1968 / Robert Johnson 1937

Georgia on My Mind - Live from Madison Square Garden 2008 / Hoagy Carmichael & his Orchestra 1930

Driftin' - Eric Clapton From the Cradle 1994 / Johnny Moore's Three Blazers 1954

That's No Way to Get Along - Eric Clapton Clapton 2010 / Robert Wilkins 1929

Layla - Derek and the Dominos Layla and Other Assorted Songs 1970

Can't Find My Way Home - Blind Faith Blind Faith 1969

Gimme Some Lovin' - The Spencer Davis Group Gimme Some Lovin' 1966

Voodoo Chile - Live from Madison Square Garden 2008 / Jimi Hendrix Experience Electric Ladyland 1968

Cocaine - Eric Clapton Slowhand 1977 / J.J. Cale Troubadour 1976
- encore -
Dear Mr. Fantasy - Traffic Mr. Fantasy 1967

Had to Cry Today was absolutely brilliant, and I generally enjoyed more the songs where Winwood was on guitar as well.

But the absolute highlight of the evening was Chris Stainton's solo on Cocaine. You rarely gat an occasion to see such a powerful performance on keyboards, feeling the music around and through you and completely binding you mouth wide opened.

Copyright: Where's Eric

Gerry Jablonski & the Electric Band

2011-05-28T20:00:00.002+01:00

The Underworld, Camden Town
Listen to: Breaking the Stones

Gerry Jablonski (guitar, vocals); Peter Narojczyk (vocals, harmonica); Dave Innes (drums); Gregor Leslie (bass);

A Scotsman made entirely out of talent playing a very solid Blues / Hard Rock. Heavily influenced by Led Zeppelin and fascinating to watch.

Copyright: AlDonnelly / houdi

Rush

2011-05-25T20:30:00.003+01:00

The Time Machine Tour

The O2 Arena, Greenwich

Watch: Neil Peart Solo

Geddy Lee (vocals, bass); Alex Lifeson (guitar); Neil Peart (drums);

The Spirit of Radio; Time Stand Still; Presto; Stick It Out; Workin' Them Angels; Leave That Thing Alone; Faithless; BU2B; Freewill; Marathon; Subdivisions; Tom Sawyer; Red Barchetta; YYZ; Limelight; The Camera Eye; Witch Hunt; Vital Signs; Caravan; Drum Solo; Closer to the Heart; 2112 Part I: Overrture; 2112 Part II: The Temples of Syrinx; Far Cry; La Villa Strangiato; Working Man;

The God of rock drumming himself... there is a good reason why he is at the top of that Rolling Stone magazine list. Unfortunately I was very tired that night, after a long session of interviews, but nevertheless very fun gig.
Copyright: RushIsABand

Andy Fairweather Low & The Low Riders

2011-05-20T20:30:00.002+01:00

Eric Clapton Supporting Act
Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore
Listen to: La Booga Rooga

Wide Eyed and Legless; If Paradise Is Half as Nice; Low Bend Me Shape Me; La Booga Rooga; Hymn 4 My Soul; (others as well, but i can't remember)

Very experienced guys, and a very solid and crispy blues.
Copyright: Judy Totton

Eric Clapton & His Band

2011-05-20T09:01:00.004+01:00

Eric Clapton & His Band Tour

Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore

Watch: Old Love

Eric Clapton (vocals, guitar); Chris Stainton (keyboards; ex-Joe Cocker, The Who, Bryan Ferry, Andy Fairweather Low, Ian Hunter, B.B. King, David Gilmour, Roger Waters); Tim Carmon (keyboards; ex-Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Carlos Santana, B.B. King, Herbie Hancock); Willie Weeks (bass; ex-David Bowie, Buddy Guy, Bo Didley, George Harrison, B.B. King, The Rolling Stones); Steve Gadd (drums; ex-Chick Corea, Paul Simon, Paul McCartney, Al Di Meola, Joe Cocker, The Bee Gees); Michelle John (backing vocals); Sharon White (backing vocals);

Key to the Highway; Tell the Truth; Hoochie Coochie Man; Old Love; Tearing Us Apart; Driftin'; Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out; Still Got the Blues (Gary Moore); Same Old Blues (J.J. Cale); When Somebody Thinks You're Wonderful; Layla; Badge; Wonderful Tonight; Before You Accuse Me; Little Queen of Spades; Cocaine; <encore> Crossroads;

I must confess that I wasn't so impressed with the first few songs. Not untill the solo after Hoochie Coochie Man and Old Love. The amount of feeling that he gave out just dampened my eyes. A very tender and sensible guitar part, crawling from the ground up your body and paralyzing you bit by bit like a narcotic ivy.

Still Got the Blues was a special moment as well, another tribute to the premature departure of Gary Moore. It was an acoustic version in Eric Clapton's style of the electric original. It was almost saying that without Gary Moore, the song lost its spirit, being now only a confused thing that lost its origin. Do not get this wrong, it was still absolutely impressive and very well done cover, but nothing like the violently expressive original version. Just a quiet fair-well.

Layla was also acoustic, but Tearing Us Apart and Cocaine were very lively, with extensive solos and crunchy sounds.

Very nice band, quite intimate for Eric Clapton standards. He was the main focus obviously, but the keyboards did have reasonable room for some solos. Steve Gadd sat quietly at the back and did his thing with sophistication, but he was a different drummer from the Steve Gadd I saw with L'Image in 2010.
Copyright Danny Clinch

Roger Waters

2011-05-18T20:00:00.028+01:00

The Wall Live Tour
The O2 Arena, Greenwich
Watch: The Trial

Roger Waters (vocals, bass, guitar, trumpet; ex-Pink Floyd); Dave Kilminster (guitar; ex-John Wetton, Keith Emerson); Snowy White (guitar; ex-Pink Floyd, Thin Lizzy); Graham Broad (drums, ukelele; ex-Tina Turner, Jeff Beck, Bill Wyman); G. E. Smith (guitar, bass; ex-Tina Turner, Mick Jagger, SNLB, Bob Dylan); Jon Carin (keyboards, guitar, lap steel; ex-Pink Floyd, Gipsy Kings, The Who); Harry Waters (hammond organ, keyboards, accordion; ex-Ozric Tentacles); Robbie Wyckoff (vocals); Jon Joyce (backing vocals); Kipp Lennon(backing vocals; ex-Venice); Mark Lennon (backing vocals); Pat Lennon (backing vocals);

In the Flesh?; The Thin Ice; Another Brick in the Wall, Part 1; The Happiest Days of Our Lives; Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2; Mother; Goodbye Blue Sky; Empty Spaces; What Shall We Do Now?; Young Lust; One of My Turns; Don't Leave Me Now; Another Brick in the Wall, Part 3; The Last Few Bricks/Almost Gone; Goodbye Cruel World; Hey You; Is There Anybody Out There?; Nobody Home; Vera; Bring the Boys Back Home; Comfortably Numb; The Show Must Go On; In the Flesh; Run Like Hell; Waiting for the Worms; Stop; The Trial; Outside the Wall;

Speechless for the second time.
Copyright: TimeOutChicago

Roger Waters

2011-05-15T20:15:00.001+01:00

The Wall Live Tour
The O2 Arena, Greenwich
Watch: The Trial

Roger Waters (vocals, bass, guitar, trumpet; ex-Pink Floyd); Dave Kilminster (guitar; ex-John Wetton, Keith Emerson); Snowy White (guitar; ex-Pink Floyd, Thin Lizzy); Graham Broad (drums, ukelele; ex-Tina Turner, Jeff Beck, Bill Wyman); G. E. Smith (guitar, bass; ex-Tina Turner, Mick Jagger, SNLB, Bob Dylan); Jon Carin (keyboards, guitar, lap steel; ex-Pink Floyd, Gipsy Kings, The Who); Harry Waters (hammond organ, keyboards, accordion; ex-Ozric Tentacles); Robbie Wyckoff (vocals); Jon Joyce (backing vocals); Kipp Lennon (backing vocals; ex-Venice); Mark Lennon (backing vocals); Pat Lennon (backing vocals);

In the Flesh?; The Thin Ice; Another Brick in the Wall, Part 1; The Happiest Days of Our Lives; Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2; Mother; Goodbye Blue Sky; Empty Spaces; What Shall We Do Now?; Young Lust; One of My Turns; Don't Leave Me Now; Another Brick in the Wall, Part 3; The Last Few Bricks/Almost Gone; Goodbye Cruel World; Hey You; Is There Anybody Out There?; Nobody Home; Vera; Bring the Boys Back Home; Comfortably Numb; The Show Must Go On; In the Flesh; Run Like Hell; Waiting for the Worms; Stop; The Trial; Outside the Wall;

Orgiastic.

Bernie Marsden

2011-05-03T23:00:00.004+01:00

Bernie Plays Rory

Jazz Café, Camden Town

Watch: Til' The Day I Die

Bernie Marsden (guitars, vocals); Guy Fletcher (violin); David Levy (bass; ex-Rory Gallagher); Richard Newman (drums; ex-Rory Gallagher); Jim Kirkpatrick (slide guitar/vocals);

The Time Is Right for Love (Whitesnake); Trouble (Whitesnake); Til' the Day I Die (Whitesnake); Ain't Gonna Cry No More (Whitesnake); Cradle Rock (Rory Gallagher); Continental Op (Rory Gallagher); What's Going On (Taste); Sugar Moma (Taste); Ghost Blues (Rory Gallagher); Walkin By Myself (Gary Moore); Bad Blood; The Loop (Rory Gallagher); I Wonder Who (Muddy Waters); Tattoo'd Lady (Rory Gallagher); Bought and Sold (Rory Gallagher); Blister on the Moon (Taste); Hands Off (Rory Gallagher); Here I Go Again (Whitesnake); Don't Start Me Talking (Rory Gallagher); Going to My Home Town (Rory Gallagher); Calling Card (Rory Gallagher); Toredown (Rory Gallagher); A Million Miles Away (Rory Gallagher); Messin' With The Kid (Rory Gallagher);

A very impressive act, with a lot of passion, feeling and personal involvement. This guy is a giant, and he's all made of soul only. He conveyed emotion in almost physical lumps. Extremely sensitive with his Paul Reed Smith and very raw, untamed sound out of those Marshalls, absolutely brilliant! He was switching from solid rhythm to sharp bluesy lead and back all night and he was having a really good time doing it.

A lot of Gallagher stuff obviously, but also some well appreciated true Whitesnake oldies and a tribute to the bitterly grieved Gary Moore, whom I have never had a chance to see live.

The Whitesnake bits where unplugged with some nice extra fiddle on top. Luckily for me one of the strings let him down on his Taylor halfway into the first song, and so the weak D is proudly sitting round my wrist as I type this.

Copyright Jan Slob

All Stars

2011-03-30T23:50:00.008+01:00

Mikhail Gorbachev's 80th Anniversary
Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore

Paul Anka (vocals); Andrey Makarevich (vocals; ex-Mashina Vremeni); Klaus Meine (vocals; ex-Scorpions); Melanie C (vocals; ex-Spice Girls); Turetski Choir (Mikhail Turetsky; Eugene Kulmis; Borys Goryachev; Oleg Blyahorchuk; Alex Alexandrov; Konstantin Kabo; Eugene Tulinov; Igor Zverev; Vyacheslav Fresh; Mikhail Kuznetsov); Valery Gergiev (conductor); London Symphony Orchestra; Milla Jovovich; Kevin Spacey; Sharon Stone;

The Man Who Changed The World

Pathetic... but unique nonetheless.
Copyright Bridget Kendall

Scorpions and the London Symphony Orchestra

2011-03-30T23:50:00.004+01:00

Mikhail Gorbachev's 80th Anniversary
Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore
Listen to: Wind of Change

Klaus Meine (vocals); Rudolf Schenker (guitar); Matthias Jabs (guitar); Paweł Mąciwoda (bass); James Kottak (drums);

Wind of Change; Rock You Like a Hurricane

Annoyingly good! A true Moment of Glory, this time with the London Symphony Orchestra and at the Royal Albert Hall, so arguably better. Besides, it was a symbolic and meaningful act, singing the song about the Moskva to Gorbachev himself.

Copyright AP Photo/Jens Kalaene

Paul Anka and the London Symphony Orchestra

2011-03-30T23:35:00.000+01:00

Mikhail Gorbachev's 80th Anniversary
Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore
Watch: My Way

Paul Anka (vocals); Valery Gergiev (conductor)

You're My Destiny; My Way;

Poor guy had a very uncooperative and awkward audience who did not join him, but he managed to get on with it and did his brilliant My Way.

Copyright: Eamonn McCormack

Melanie C + London Symphony Orchestra

2011-03-30T23:02:00.019+01:00

Mikhail Gorbachev's 80th Anniversary
Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore
Watch: Ain't Got No

Melanie C (vocals; ex-Spice Girls); London Symphony Orchestra;

I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself - Tommy Hunt 1962
Ain't Got No/I Got Life - Nina Simone Nuff Said 1968

Although Spice Girls and orchestra sounds like mixing water and oil... it's actually way better than you'd expect. Totally impressed! Very jazzy and mature!

Source: SNT Online

Bryan Ferry

2011-03-30T21:38:00.000+01:00

Mikhail Gorbachev's 80th Anniversary
Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore
Watch: Slave to Love & Don't Stop the Dance

Brian Ferry (vocals); Jorja Chalmers (sax, keyboards); Oliver Thompson (guitar); Aleysha Gordon (backing vocals); Hannah Kemoh (backing vocals); Tara Ferry (drums);

Slave to Love; Don't Stop

Copyright Jon Furniss

Dame Shirley Bassey and the London Symphony Orchestra

2011-03-30T19:17:00.000+01:00

Mikhail Gorbachev's 80th Anniversary
Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore
Listen to: Diamonds Are Forever

Diamonds are Forever; The Lady Is A Tramp

Sent shivers of mesmerization down my spine.

Lara Fabian

2011-03-30T16:00:00.000+01:00

Mikhail Gorbachev's 80th Anniversary
Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore

Lara Fabian (vocals);

Je t'aime Pure 1996

Touching.

Van der Graaf Generator

2011-03-27T20:00:00.003+01:00

The Barbican, Square Mile
Listen to: Childlike Faith In Childhood's End

Peter Hammill (vocals, keyboard, guitars); Hugh Banton (organ); Guy Evans (drums);

Interference Patterns; Mr. Sands; Your Time Starts Now; Mathematics; Lemmings; Lifetime; Bunsho; All Over the Place; Over The Hill; Scorched Earth; Childlike Faith In Childhood's End; <encore> La Rossa;

Peter Hammill has a breathtaking voice! He is amazing on the studio recordings, but when you hear him sing live, it's absoulutely impressive.

David Jackson was not present, but no surprise there; Guy Evans was spontaneous and dynamic; Hugh Banton was very intricate playing his adapted church organ using his fingers and feet alike.

The venue is cozy and warm, but the lighting was terrible at times as some strong projector shed its beam straight into my eyes for minutes.

Copyright e301

Mike Stern Band

2011-03-25T22:58:00.094Z

Union Chapel, Islington
Listen To: 6th Street

Mike Stern (guitar; ex-Miles Davis, Billy Cobham); Dave Weckl (drums; ex-Chick Corea); Bob Malach (tenor sax); Tom Kennedy (bass);

KT; I Know You;

Amazing solos, brilliant improvisations, superb venue and an awesome grin! This guy is one of the demigods who played with Miles Davis. Very inspiring and fluid playing, very expressive and strong music.

The atmosphere was very uplifting, in a wonderful gothic church on Annunciation day, with candles, stained glass and of course, divine music.

I have always had a supreme consideration for three jazz drum legends: Steve Gadd, Vinnie Colaiuta and Dave Weckl. It was a fulfilling feeling for me to finaly see live the third one, after seeing Vinnie Colaiuta with John McLaughlin and Steve Gadd with l'Image. They are all really impressive.

I swallowed overdrily, my mouth had probably been opened since the first solo, got an autograph from Mike and hummed on the tube all the way back to Greenwich.

Peter Gabriel

2011-03-23T23:05:00.003Z

New Blood Tour
HMV Apollo, Hammersmith
Listen: Solsbury Hill

Peter Gabriel (vocals); John Metcalfe (master-arranger); Ben Foster (conductor); Anne Brun (backing vocals); Melanie Gabriel (vocals); New Blood Orchestra (46 musicians);

Intruder; Wallflower; The Boy In The Bubble (Paul Simon); The Book Of Love (The Magnetic Fields); The Power Of The Heart (Lou Reed); Après Moi (Regina Spektor); Washing; Darkness; Biko; San Jacinto; The Drop; Digging In The Dirt; Signal To Noise; Downside Up; Mercy Street; The Rhythm Of The Heat; Blood Of Eden; Red Rain; Solsbury Hill; In Your Eyes; Don't Give Up; The Nest That Sailed The Sky;

A suspense-filled performance, beautifully arranged for orchestra.

Still can't decide whose version of Don't Give Up was more inspiring live(his or Herbie Hancock's), but it was definitely memorable hearing the tune from the guy who wrote it, along with Solsbury Hill of course.

The Delta Ladies

2011-03-19T21:00:00.171Z

Oliver's Jazz Bar, Greenwich

Listen to Delta Ladies

Vicky Martin (vocals, guitars); 'Lady' Diana Stone (vocals, piano, violin); 'Little' Rosie Swan (backing vocals); Terry McInerney (cajon, percussion);

3 O'Clock Blues (Lowell Fulson/B. B. King); Route 66 (Nat King Cole/Bobby Troup); Blues All Day Long; <a song about prison farm in US>; Like A Hurricane (Neil Young); All Along The Watchtower (Bob Dylan); Mystery Train (Elvis/Junior Parker & Sam Phillips); Just Another Someone; Hellbound; Trouble; Morning Letter Blues; Miscommunication Blues; Brown Water Everywhere; Devil Calling Out My Name; Last Train;

Overall, this was not that great, I'm sad to say it. The beginning was very promising, with the evergreens of B.B. King and Nat King Cole, but it was all downwards from there. Lady Di was all right on piano, but her violin skills and voice were either too avant-guard for me, or pretty bad, and I tend to go for the latter option.

I was also annoyed by the absence of a bass and proper drum session. The cajon does have a fuller, warmer tone, but the piano did not always fill in the low register gaps and then it was sometimes replaced with the dreadful violin.

Not my kind of blues really, I'm more of a Stevie Ray Vaughan-electric-blues guy, and the Delta Ladies were very acoustic, pop, folk and without the jazzy complexity that I enjoy in this king of music.

Nevertheless, they had some strengths as well. The cajon guy did throw in some pleasant surprises every now and then - despite the volume fluctuation - the backing vocals lady was absolutely brilliant and the set-list was not bad at all. They played Brown Water Everywhere, which was inspired by an interview with Ronnie Wood about Katrina and dedicated it to the victims of the disaster in Japan. Just Another Someone was a nice juicy hook as well. Vicky Martin was pretty decent on guitar as well I'd say, and she's got a very deep solid masculine voice, which backed up by the colourful voice in the background was quite impressive.

To sum up, the band sounded quite tired, but it had a feeling of decency and honesty about it which made it enjoyable.

Bottom line is about Oliver's, which has to be the perfect place for live gigs, very small, intimate, makes you feel comfortable just like between friends.
Copyright Helen Love

April In Paris

2011-03-19T19:30:00.000Z

Greenwich Theatre

Story & directed by John Godber;
Wendi Peters (Bet); Rob Angell (Al);

Bet: I haven't danced like that in years!

Al: Well, no one has...

Witty, humorous and English to the bone. Very expressive and very off-West-End.
Copyright Offwestend.com

The Wizard of Oz

2011-02-28T23:00:00.017Z

The London Palladium

See: Red Shoes Blues

Story by L. Frank Baum; Music by Harold Arlen, E. Y. Harburg, Andrew Lloyd Webber & Tim Rice; Directed by Jeremy Sams;

Danielle Hope (Dorothy); Michael Crawford (The Wizard of Oz/Professor Marvel); Hannah Wadingham (The Witch of the West/ Miss Gulch); Paul Keating (Scarecrow/Hunk); Edward Baker-Duly (Tin Man/Hickory); David Ganly (Lion/Zeke); Emily Tierney (Glinda); Helen Walsh (Aunt Em/Munchkin Barrister); Stephen Scott (Uncle Henry);

I was fortunate enough to get to the last preview of the show - tomorrow, March 1 is the big opening. The Wizard of Oz runs at the London Palladium - one of the biggest West End theatres and it's an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical - on paper it simply cannot get any better than this. It's big and loud and colourful and grandiose and it's got lasers and fireworks and revolving stages and it's got Michael Crawford. It's the first time I've ever seen a British audience really enthusiastic about something - Danielle Hope just made everybody go through the roof. And the Wicked Witch of the West was totally wicked - my absolute favourite part.

The Wizard of Oz has some strong roots in the British culture. I read Frank Baum's novel when I was 7 and I remember enjoying it a lot, particularly for the big colourful illustrations. But I think it's more than children literature - it's a tale about home and homecoming, a story about enjoying simple things in life and being able to see beauty everywhere around you rather than looking for unique wonders.

Now down to serious business - I cannot refrain from mentioning Ritchie Blackmore's version of Over the Rainbow that he used to play as a prelude to Rainbow concerts. Toto, I feel we're not in Kansas anymore... We must be over the Rainbow... and then the wizard's Stratocaster would descend into some Kill the King or Man on the Silver Mountain riffs. I'm going to stop here before Ronnie James Dio nostalgia gets hold of me.

Copyright The Really Useful Group

Saint Jude

2011-01-22T23:45:00.043Z

The 100 Club, Oxford Street
Listen: Little Queen

Lynne Jackman (vocals; looks); Adam Greene (guitar); Joe Glossop (keyboards); Colin Palmer (bass); Lee Cook (drums);

In My Head; Garden Of Eden; Leave A Light On; Parallel Life; Angel; Little Queen; Pleased To Meet You; Soul On Fire; Sweet Melody; Down And Out; Southern Belles; I'm Losing You;

The 100 Club is one of the classic spots in London dedicated to live music. A short while ago Paul McCartney played here, and before him Metallica, The Sex Pistols, The Rolling Stones, Muddy Waters. The reputation is well-deserved - it's got a good vibe about it and it's small enough for a particular warm and cozy atmosphere. Nevertheless, the sound quality was average-ish or below, although I don't know whose fault it was.

Saint Jude? These guys are rally in vogue. Partly because of the ravishing reviews they get from everywhere and partly thanks to their gigs with Jimmy Page and Ronnie Wood, but mostly because they are actually that good! Their songs are strong, dynamic, catchy - proper rock'n'roll tunes that hook you in the mood straight away. Lynne Jackman is being put in the same league with Tina Turner, Etta James, Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin and if you listen to their recordings, you'll immediately understand why.
Copyright Noel Buckley

Asia

2010-12-14T23:25:00.018Z

The Omega Tour

HMV Forum, Kentish Town
Listen: Finger On The Trigger

John Wetton (vocals, bass; ex-King Crimson); Geoff Downes (keyboards; ex-The Buggles); Steve Howe (guitar; ex-Yes); Carl Palmer (drums; ex-Emerson, Lake and Palmer);

I Believe; Only Time Will Tell; Holy Water; Never Again; Through My Veins; Lute Concerto in D Major (Antonio Vivaldi); In The Course Of The Day (Steve Howe); Don't Cry; The Smile Has Left Your Eyes; Open Your Eyes; Finger On The Trigger; Time Again; An Extraordinary Life; End Of The World; The Heat Goes On; Drum Solo; Sole Survivor; Go; Heat Of The Moment;

The three most successful and complete prog rock bands are undoubtedly, King Crimson; Emerson, Lake and Palmer and Yes. Put them together, add the eight or so keyboards that killed the radio star and you get the most amazing super-group ever. Nothing special about their studio work, same old story with all super-groups really. Some commercial success with some commercial tunes - Heat Of The Moment, Sole Survivor, Only Time Will Tell - but these are nowhere near the cosmic prog work that these guys have done before - Tank, Roundabout or Lark's Tongues In Aspic.

But when it comes to performing live - that's a whole different world, and these guys are walking legends. Carl Palmer was absolutely remarkable - his wild solo was done while swiftly juggling the drumsticks (not as swiftly as he used to) and taking off his t-shirt (his chest is not how it used to be either) and ended up hitting his trademark gongs. Steve Howe had his moment as well - alone on stage playing Vivaldi on acoustic guitar and some of his painfully difficult solo work. There were moments when I had the feeling that he wasn't in his best shape (he had cancelled the previous performances because of health problems indeed) but maybe that was only because of his quirky tones.

Copyright Missmoolight74

Anderson / Wakeman Project

2010-11-15T23:30:00.002Z

The Living Tree Tour
The O2 Bubble, Greenwich
Listen to: Forever

Jon Anderson (vocal, guitar; ex-Yes); Rick Wakeman (keyboards; ex-Yes);

Starship Trooper (Yes); Sweet dreams (Yes); Forever; And You and I (Yes); Living Tree (I); Morning Star; Long Distance Runaround (Yes); Garden; Living tree (II); Time and a Word (Yes); Owner of a Lonely Heart (Yes); Yours Is No Disgrace (Yes); South Side of the Sky (Yes); Just One Man; Wonderous Stories (Yes); 23/24/11; I've Seen All Good People (Yes); Turn of the Century (Yes); Houses of Freedom; Roundabout (Yes); <encore> Soon (Yes); The Meeting (Yes);

This was nice. But for two Yes giants, nice is a slightly serious under-achievement. But it was still really nice, with beautiful stories, fantastic atmosphere and very personal interpretation of Yes songs. Playing prog rock anthems from their heyday was again nice, but only as nice as it can be with only two guys on stage. Rick Wakeman only had 2 keyboards. Not 2 stacks, but 2 pieces. And their new album is nice-ish as well. But seriously, they're the guys who did Fragile, and Close to the Edge. They can do seriously better than nice.

But enough nice nonsense. Overall it was a good intimate performance with a decent set-list. Deep down inside though I wanted to see Rick Wakeman doing his Yes wizardry. Hope I'll get the chance one day.

Copyright John Hessenthaler

Herbie Hancock

2010-11-14T23:00:00.004Z

The Imagine Project Tour @ London Jazz Festival

Southbank Centre, London
Listen: Don't Give Up (Peter Gabriel)

Herbie Hancock (piano; ex-Miles Davis); Lionel Loueke (guitar); Greg Phillinganes (keyboards, vocals; ex-Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney, Toto, Phil Collins); Trevor Lawrence Jr (drums); James Genus (bass; ex-Chick Corea, Saturday Night Live band); Kristina Train (vocals, violin);

Actual Proof; Imagine (John Lennon); Watermelon Man & Improv; Don't Give Up (Peter Gabriel); The Times They Are a' Changin (Bob Dylan); A Change is Gonna Come (Sam Cooke); Space Captain, Chameleon;

What a drummer! Heavy metal-fast and powerful, but jazz-intricate. Very experimental, very avant-garde, the kind of music that makes you forget about time passing by; and before you know it, two and a half hours of legendary Herbie Hancock jazz are gone.

Copyright the Guardian

Ibrahim Electric

2010-11-14T22:27:00.006Z

London Jazz Festival
Southbank Centre, London
Listen: Dubberman

Niclas Knudsen (guitar); Stefan Pasborg (drums); Jeppe Tuxen (hammond);

Apparently these guys are pretty famous in Denmark and once you listen to them, you will realise why. Very experimental, energetic, bluesy jazz, definitely worth seeing live!

Christine Tobin

2010-11-10T23:55:00.005Z

Ronnie Scotts, Soho
Listen: Scat

Christine Tobin (vocals); Phil Robson (guitar); Dave Whitford (double bass); Gene Calderazzo (drums);

Come in she said, I'll give you... shelter from the storm

Jazz group, very enjoyable, extremely inspired and exotic set, included Leonard Cohen's Everybody Knows and Bob Dylan's Shelter From The Storm, both in splendid jazz style.

Copyright Christine Tobin

L'Image

2010-11-10T13:05:00.007Z

Ronnie Scotts, Soho

Listen: Reunion

Tony Levin (chapman stick, double bass; ex-King crimson, Peter Gabriel); Steve Gadd (drums; ex-Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Chick Corea); Mike Mainieri (vibraphone); David Spinozza (guitar; ex-Paul McCartney, John Lennon); Warren Bernhardt (piano; ex-Simon and Garfunkel, Don McLean)

Gadd-Ddagitt, The Bratt, Coming Home, Hidden Drive, Reunion, Love Play, Praise (some others as well, but I can't remember)

Reunion was my favourite moment. I'm not a great fan of piano, but this combination with Mainieri's vibraphone was absolutely breathtaking. The Bratt had what i wanted to see most: Tony Levin doing his wizardry on a chapman stick, while Hidden Drive was a blues tune played by jazz masters which is always fun to listen to.

Ronnie Scotts is a legendary venue in London's Soho, which featured giants such as Ella Fitzgerald, Buddy Rich, Jeff Beck and Jimmi Hendrix's last live performance. It was my first time there and I was quite impressed - very friendly and cozy.

Copyright David Sinclair

Adrian Belew Power Trio

2010-10-24T23:30:00.009+01:00

O2 Academy Islington
Listen: Indiscipline

Adrian Belew (guitar; ex-King Crimson, Frank Zappa, Talking Heads, David Bowie); Julie Slick (bass); Tobias Ralph (drums);

Writing On The Wall; Ampersand; Elephant Talk (King Crimson); Young Lions; Beat Box Guitar; Dinosaur (King Crimson); Madness; Drive; Within You Without You (The Beatles); Drum Solo; Of Bow And Drums; All Of Her Love Is Mine; Futurevision; Neurotica (King Crimson); Indiscipline (King Crimson); e; Three Of A Perfect Pair (King Crimson); Thela Hun Ginjeet (King Crimson);

I wish Tony Levin was there to properly play his chapman stick on Elephant Talk. Nevertheless, stunning performance. And I got to stand in the front row. Plus this was Adrian Belew's first solo live performance in London.

Copyright WJCruttenden

Sting and the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra

2010-10-02T23:55:00.008+01:00

Symphonicity Tour

Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore
Listen: Englishman in New York

Sting; Dominic Miller (guitar); David Cossin (drums); Jo Lawry (vocals); Ira Coleman (double bass); Steven Mercurio (conductor);

If I Ever Lose My Faith In You; Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic; Englishman In New York; Roxanne; Straight To My Heart; When We Dance; Russians; I Hung My Head; Shape Of My Heart; Why Should I Cry For You; Whenever I Say Your Name; Fields Of Gold; Next To You; A Thousand Years; This Cowboy Song; Tomorrow We'll See; Moon Over Bourbon Street; End Of The Game; You Will Be My Ain True Love; All Would Envy; Mad About You; King Of Pain; Every Breath You Take; Desert Rose; Happy Birthday; She's Too Good For Me; Fragile; I Was Brought To My Senses;

In 2009 Sting performed at Sala Palatului in Bucharest during his Songs from the Labyrinth tour. Unfortunately, no matter how hard we tried, me and my friend Bogdan were unable to get in; nevertheless, reviews were pretty harsh - the gig was very short, no lights, no drums, no guitars, no classic Police tunes, too folky - you get the point. So I was pretty reserved when I bought my ticket only a few days before the concert - especially since Symphonicity has a rather unconventional spirit as well.

How Wrong I was! This was the exact opposite - almost 30 songs and almost all of them hits, 3 hours, more than 40 people on stage, electric guitars, drums and an incredible aussie singer (thank God gorgeous looks and gorgeous vocals is not pleonastic).

The surprise for me was that October 2 is his birthday, so the audience got to sing for him, just after Desert Rose. And then there was a balloon invasion launched from the ceiling. It was undoubtedly a special evening for everybody.

He played all his classics - with more or less electric guitar in them. Some were surprisingly good - I liked Fragile and Englishman in New York; while in others I almost felt something was missing - Roxanne was just a shadow of the vibrant punk tune on the album.

Overall very interesting although not a very audacious rearrangement for orchestra.