Thursday, July 13, 2006

Billy Joel - Wembley Arena - Wednesday 12th July

Now if it's rare I pay £75 +b/f for a ticket, it must be even rarer that I repeat the trick 2 days later! However, we managed to get seats in the 8th Row (moved up to 3rd row a bit later in the show) and got to see everything close up. Sound was as good as you'll ever get for an arena show and there were a few setlist changes from Monday. All in all, just as well he only did 2 nights, otherwise I'd be broke! Brilliant.

Setlist
Prelude / Angry Young Man
My Life
Everybody Loves You Now
Vienna
The Entertainer
The Ballad of Billy the Kid
Just the Way You Are
Zanzibar
New York State of Mind
The Downeaster Alexa
She's Always a Woman
Don't Ask Me Why
Allentown
Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)
Keeping the Faith
An Innocent Man
Uptown Girl
The River of Dreams
We Didn't Start the Fire
It's Still Rock and Roll to Me
You May Be Right
+
Only the Good Die Young
Scenes From an Italian Restaurant
Piano Man

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Billy Joel - Wembley Arena - Monday 10th July

It's not often I pay £75 +b/f for a ticket and say it was good value, but this was brilliant. First shows in London for 14 years and worth every penny. 

Setlist
Prelude / Angry Young Man
My Life
Everybody Loves You Now
The Entertainer
Just the Way You Are
Zanzibar
Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)
New York State of Mind
The Downeaster Alexa
She's Always a Woman
Don't Ask Me Why
Allentown
Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)
Keeping the Faith
Spanish Harlem
Stand by Me
An Innocent Man
Uptown Girl
The River of Dreams
Highway to Hell
We Didn't Start the Fire
Big Shot
It's Still Rock and Roll to Me
You May Be Right
+
Only the Good Die Young
Scenes From an Italian Restaurant
Piano Man

Friday, July 07, 2006

Status Quo - Epsom Racecourse - Thursday 6th July

For the 3rd year running, Quo play the "Epsom Live!" series of shows at the racecourse. They normally finish the sequence, but due to touring commitments, they are opening it this year. Maybe as a result, attendance is down. Rumour has it that there were around 20,000 last year - I'm guessing this was more 10-12,000. 

We got a good spot in the grandstand and after an unsuccessful evening betting wise, the band lifted our spirits. Pretty much the normal "festival set" of recent years, but with "Hold You Back" and no "4500 times/Rain". I don't know if it was my imagination, but got the feeling that Rick's voice was being protected. Still got the 3 "Heavy Traffic" songs (Why?), but unlike last year, a later curfew and a full encore, including "Burning Bridges". I normally dislike that with a passion, but Francis appeared to be playing lead for the main tune (it's normally keyboards) and this improved it immensely. All over by 10.30 and a happy crowd drifted into the night.

Setlist
Caroline
Something 'bout You Baby I Like
Don't Waste My Time
Forty-Five Hundred Times
Rain
All Stand Up (Never Say Never)
The Oriental
Creepin' Up on You
Mystery Song / Railroad / Most of the Time / Wild Side of Life / Rollin' Home / Again and Again / Slow Train
Gerdundula
Drum Solo
Roll Over Lay Down
Down Down
Whatever You Want
Rockin' All Over the World
+
Burning Bridges
Junior's Wailing
Rock and Roll Music / Bye Bye Johnny

Monday, July 03, 2006

The Who - Hyde Park Calling - Sunday 2nd July

40,000 in a field? Not my idea of fun. Most of the other bands on the bill? Not my cup of tea. But the lure of the Who proved to much, and here I am, reluctantly at an outdoor festival. 

We arrived just in time to see Razorlight on the main stage and moved away ASAP - their singer cannot sing! Went instead to see Primal Scream on the "B" stage (in a tent!) and that was much better. Not going to go into too much detail on the Who, other than to say they were excellent as always! Oh, and the Bitburger beforehand in the Star was nice too. No sign of "Pogo Patterson" though. 

PS Hello to my new "Pompey" friend I met on the last train back to Sutton. Nice to meet you and apologies for suggesting you may be called a "skate" in some quarters !! (Well, if you will insist that Fratton Park is "nice"...)

Setlist
I Can't Explain
The Seeker
Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere
Who Are You
Bargain
Behind Blue Eyes
Real Good Looking Boy
Drowned
Mike Post Theme
Baba O'Riley
Love, Reign O'er Me
The Kids Are Alright
My Generation
Won't Get Fooled Again
+
Substitute
Pinball Wizard
Amazing Journey
Sparks
See Me, Feel Me