Saturday, December 16, 2017

Thunder - Friday 15th December - Wolverhampton Civic Hall

One Line Review: My third show in 3 days and it's a jaunt to the midlands for an excellent Christmas show in Wolverhampton - lot's of good covers including The Who & Queen plus an enthusiastic audience. Also featured another chart act in the shape of Heather Findlay.

Setlist
Acoustic Set
Blue Eyed Girl
Star 
Xmas Day
Here Comes The Sun 
The Rain
Big Yellow Taxi 
Don't Say That
Love Walked In (with Heather Findlay)
The Thrill Of It All
A Day In The Life 

Electric Set
Loser
Laughing on Judgement Day
In Another Life
20th Century Boy 
Everybody's Laughing
Gimme Shelter
Lido Shuffle 
The Chosen One
Who Are You 
Castles In The Sand
Don't Stop Me Now 
She's So Fine
+
An Englishman On Holiday
Fairytale Of New York (with Heather Findlay)
I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day (with Heather Findlay)

Friday, December 15, 2017

Bucket & Co - Thursday 14th December -The Tavern, Raynes Park

One Line Review: Local show featuring the ex Bad Company guitarist and fronted by Paul Manzi from Cats In Space. An excellent evening of classic rock.

Setlist anyone?

Thursday, December 14, 2017

Jimmy Barnes - Wednesday 13th December - Islington O2 Academy

One Line Review: A decent show from Mr Barnes and various family members, but the audience more subdued (sober?) than on many previous appearances - security not called into action! Plus another version of "I Put A Spell On You" to add to the recent collection.

Setlist
Driving Wheels
Ride The Night Away
Love & Hate
I'd Die To Be With You Tonight
Red Hot
Love Is Enough
I'm Still On Your Side
Lay Down Your Guns
Boys Cry Out for War
Too Much Ain't Enough Love
Little Darling
Resurrection Shuffle
Merry-Go-Round
Flame Trees
No Second Prize
Seven Days
Khe Sanh
Working Class Man
+
Four Walls
I Put A Spell On You
Good Times 
Goodbye (Astrid Goodbye) 

Saturday, December 09, 2017

Status Quo - Friday 8th December - Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith

One Line Review: Quo's Hammersmith show changed from Acoustic to Electric and all the better for it. View from "side standing" - better than we could have hoped for and "Don't Waste My Time" made a welcome return.

Setlist
Caroline
Something 'bout You Baby I Like
Rain
Little Lady
Softer Ride
Beginning of the End
Hold You Back
What You're Proposing / Down the Dustpipe / Wild Side of Life / Railroad / Again and Again
Paper Plane
The Oriental
Creepin' Up on You
Don't Drive My Car
In the Army Now
Roll Over Lay Down
Down Down
Whatever You Want
Rockin' All Over the World 
+
Don't Waste My Time
Burning Bridges (On and Off and on Again)
Rock and Roll Music / Bye Bye Johnny

Sunday, November 26, 2017

Scouting For Girls - Saturday 25th November - Guildford G-Live

One Line Review: Great show musically, but one of the worst lighting setups I have ever seen, meaning the band were only silhouettes for most of the show whilst the balcony was blinded!

Setlist
I Need a Holiday
Heartbeat
Famous
Love How It Hurts
It's Not About You
I Wish I Was James Bond
Michaela Strachan
Bad Superman
Posh Girls
Millionaire
The Airplane Song
Elvis Ain't Dead / (I Can't Help) Falling In Love With You 
This Ain't a Love Song
Livin' on a Prayer
Keep on Walking
Dancing In the Daylight
+
1+1
Christmas in the Air (Tonight)
She's So Lovely

Saturday, November 25, 2017

T'Pau - Friday 24th November - Concorde 2, Brighton

One Line Review: Excellent trip to the south coast and a rip roaring sing-a-long with a small but enthusiastic crowd.

Setlist
Thank You for Goodbye
Sex Talk
Island
Monkey House
Valentine
I Will Be With You
Secret Garden
Road to Our Dream
Walk on Air
Say You Will
Whenever You Need Me
Read My Mind
One Lesson In Love
The Promise
Bridge of Spies
Heart and Soul
China in Your Hand

Thursday, November 16, 2017

Joanne Shaw Taylor - Wednesday 15th November - Royal Festival Hall

One Line Review: Really good solid show as usual and great seats in the 3rd row. Shame one of my favourites from the new album was dropped.


Setlist
Dyin' to Know
Nothing to Lose
No Reason to Stay
Jump That Train
Diamonds in the Dirt
Tried, Tested & True
Bones
Time Has Come
You Should Stay, I Should Go
Just Another Word
Wild Is The Wind
Tied And Bound
+
Going Home


Saturday, November 11, 2017

Homemade Sin without Dan Baird - Friday 10th November - Bush Hall

One Line Review: Not the same without Dan obviously, but a really good show none the less - the boys did him proud.

Setlist
Shake It 'Til It's Sore
Open All Night 
?
Red Light 
Two For Tuesday 
Younger Face 
Mon Cheri 
Knocked Out Cold
The Myth of Love 
Railroad Steel 
Ghost On The Road
Six Years Gone 
Julie + Lucky 
I Love You Period 
Happy Birthday To You [with audience]
Get Loud
Don't Pass Me By 
Dirty White Lies 
Sheila / ? / Do You Wanna Dance / I Wanna Be Sedated / Tush / Sheila
Shake Em On Down 
Right Back Where We Started
Keep Your Hands to Yourself 
Take Me Home Country Roads 


Friday, November 03, 2017

Michael Schenker Fest - Thursday 2nd November - Shepherds Bush Empire

One Line Review: Weakest show I have been to this year. Crowd seemed lacklustre and it only really got going for the extended encore. He can certainly play guitar though!

Setlist
Searching for Freedom
Into the Arena
Let Sleeping Dogs Lie [Gary Barden on vocals]
Victim of Illusion Gary Barden on vocals]
Cry for the Nations [Gary Barden on vocals]
Attack of the Mad Axeman [Gary Barden on vocals]
Armed and Ready [Gary Barden on vocals]
Coast to Coast 
Desert Song [Graham Bonnet on vocals, mike failure near end of song]
Dancer [Graham Bonnet on vocals, assisted by Barden and Mcauley]
Assault Attack [Graham Bonnet on vocals]
Captain Nemo 
No Time for Losers [Robin McAuley on vocals]
Save Yourself Robin McAuley on vocals]
Bad Boys [Robin McAuley on vocals]
Love Is Not a Game [Robin McAuley on vocals]
Rock Bottom [Robin McAuley on vocals]
+
Doctor Doctor [McAuley, Bonnet and Barden on vocals]
Shoot Shoot [McAuley and Barden on vocals]
Natural Thing [McAuley and Barden on vocals, with Tyson Schenker on guitar]
Lights Out [McAuley, Bonnet and Barden on vocals]

Sunday, October 29, 2017

Slade / Mud 2 - Saturday 28th October - Guildford G-Live

Don Powell & Dave Hill - Slade 2017
One Line Review: Mud (not sure if this is an "official" version) were OK, but not much atmosphere. Decent show from Slade with a couple of set changes.

Setlist anyone please?

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Tom Robinson - Wednesday 25th October - 100 Club, Oxford St

One Line Review: Excellent all round - surprised by how much of the material I knew.

Setlist
Up Against the Wall
Grey Cortina
Too Good to Be True
Ain't Gonna Take It
Long Hot Summer
The Winter of '79
Man You Never Saw
Better Decide Which Side You’re On
You Gotta Survive
Power in the Darkness
+
Martin
(Sing If You're) Glad to Be Gay
2-4-6-8 Motorway
Don't Take No for an Answer

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Scouting For Girls - Tuesday 17th October - HMV, Oxford St

One Line Review: Decent acoustic mini-set with a smaller than expected crowd (probably due to date change) - did not hang around for signing as signed CD was in the post!

Setlist
Heartbeat
Dancing In The Daylight
This Ain't A Love Song
Posh Girls
Butterflies
Kids At Christmas
She's So Lovely

Saturday, October 14, 2017

Belinda Carlisle - Friday 13th October - Indigo2

One Line Review: Front row view and a fantastic set.

Setlist
I Feel Free
Nobody Owns Me
World Without You
I Get Weak
Circle in the Sand
Fool for Love
Summer Rain
Should I Let You In?
Vision of You
We Can Change
Valentine
(We Want) The Same Thing
Leave a Light On
Heaven Is a Place on Earth
+
Big Scary Animal
Mad About You
Live Your Life Be Free
+
Runaway Horses
Love Never Dies

Friday, October 13, 2017

Broken Witt Rebels - Thursday 12th October - Old Blue Last, Shoreditch

One Line Review: Really good show with excellent vocals and musicianship, despite me only knowing one song.



Setlist
Low
Howlin'
Wait For You
Breathless
Bang Bang
Bottom Of The Hill
Fearless
Give It Up
Spell On You
Snake Eyes
Loose Change
Turn Me On
Georgia Pine
Getaway Man
Guns
+
Shake Me Down

Saturday, September 30, 2017

Belinda Carlisle - Friday 29th September - HMV, Oxford Street

One Line Review: No performance, but Belinda signing new releases in support of "Wilder Shores" and the 40th Anniversary Super Deluxe "Heaven On Earth"

Monday, September 18, 2017

Quireboys - Sunday 17th September - Nell's Blues Club, Kensington

One Line Review: Good show from the boys, with blues material from their new album mixed in with a few Quireboys classics. Also nice to have a chat & photo with Spike afterwards.

Setlist
Going Down
Leaving Trunk
Misled
There She Goes Again
White Trash Blues
I Wish You Would
Take Out Some Insurance
Mona Lisa Smiled
I Don't Love You Anymore
Tramps and Thieves
Hey You
Crosseyed Cat
Walkin' the Dog
7 O'Clock
+
I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man
Sweet Mary Ann

Saturday, July 29, 2017

Johnny Warman (British Invasion Show) - Friday 28th July - Half Moon, Putney

One Line Review: The normal solid show from Johnny and the boys with a great range of 60's and 70's British Rock classics.

Monday, July 17, 2017

Lee Aaron - Sunday 16th July - Underworld, Camden

Tonight a new record for me. Longest gap between me seeing an artist again now goes to Lee Aaron - a month short of 30 years! Having seen the Canadian songstress at the 1987 Reading Rock Festival (and very much enjoyed her set), it has taken this long to get another chance to see her again. In the meantime, she has released a number of CDs - including venturing into Jazz based material, but has recently return to her hard rock roots.

And I for one am glad she has. Vocally an excellent set, aided and abetted by decent musicians - this was a really fun evening. From the powerful opener from the new album - "Fire and Gasoline" through the classic Powerline and via a Deep Purple cover ("Mistreated"), this was rock and blues at its finest. The only disappointment was that the venue was only half full - possibly the normal "Sunday Night in London" syndrome - and a lack of a few classics from her eponymous album (I would have loved to hear "Number One" & "Only Human")

Lee appeared after the show, graciously chatting with fans, signing CDs and having photos taken. Her career appears to be on an upwards curve and with a couple of excellent tracks from the next album previewed here, hopefully it will be a much shorter gap until I see her again.

Setlist
Tom Boy
Hands On
Rock Candy
Fire and Gasoline
Diamond Baby
Powerline / Lady Of The Darkest Night
I'm A Woman
Baby Go Round
Some Girls Do
Sex With Love
Mistreated
Whatcha Do To My Body
Barely Holdin' On
Metal Queen
+
Hot To Be Rocked



Video
As you know, I don't normally record or post video, but here's 2 minutes of "Powerline" from the show. (Visuals heavily compressed to meet Blogger's upload limit). Enjoy!




Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Brian Setzer - Tuesday 11th July - Forum, Kentish Town

Brian Setzer plays a solo show in Kentish Town. Nearly a faux pas by me as I almost wore a Ben Sherman "target" T-Shirt. I may not have got out alive with the packed house wearing altogether different styles and fashion! As it was, the torrential rain outside meant there were some very soggy "cats" inside.

Still, an enjoyable show - very busy on the floor (think it was sold out as it was the only UK date) and a decent amount of Stray Cats material to keep the very casual fan (me!) happy.

Brian's guitar playing was excellent - as were the rest of the band. We did speculate on where else a double bass player can find employment these days - especially as Imelda May seems to have changed musical direction.

Go cats go!

Setlist
Put Your Cat Clothes On
Rumble in Brighton
Vinyl Records
Stray Cat Strut
Nothing is a Sure Thing, Baby
Stiletto Cool
Cry Baby
'49 Mercury Blues
Whathsername
Drive Like Lightning
Slow Down / Folsom Prison Blues
Gene and Eddie
Blue Moon of Kentucky (Instrumental)
Runaway Boys
Jump, Jive an' Wail
Fishnet Stockings
Let's Shake
+
Sleep Walk
Rock This Town

Thursday, June 29, 2017

Ian Hunter - Wednesday 29th June - Student Central (ULU)

The fantastic Mr Hunter - coming around again quickly on tour - and a new venue for me at the Student Bar / Hall of the University of London. As you might expect, it was pretty cramped on the floor. What you might not expect was the outrageous £6 for a beer - they are taking advantage of the audience demographic somewhat!

Ian was in fine voice and a decent choice of setlist made for a very enjoyable evening, even if the people near us decided that the quiet ballad of "Irene Wilde" was a perfect time to have a chat. The 2 girls from the support act added pleasant backing vocals to "I Wish I Was Your Mother" and the excellent Rant Band complemented Ian as always.

A really enjoyable evening.

Setlist
That's When The Trouble Starts
Once Bitten Twice Shy 
Fatally Flawed
When I'm President
Saint
The Truth, the Whole Truth, Nuthin' but the Truth 
Morpheus
Just Another Night
Fingers Crossed
All American Alien Boy
Irene Wilde
All the Way From Memphis
Ghosts
Roll Away the Stone
I Wish I Was Your Mother
23A, Swan Hill
Bastard
Sweet Jane 
+
Dandy
Long Time
Life / All the Young Dudes / Goodnight Irene

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Dan Baird & Homemade Sin - Monday 19th June - Boom Boom Club, Sutton Utd FC

A Monday night - never the best time for a gig, but this is one of my favourite artists and kind enough to play 15 minutes from home! Therefore on a very warm summer evening it was off to an indoor gig.

Unfortunately the venue was not as packed as the band deserve, but predictably we got a hot and sweaty romp through a mixture of Dan's material from across the years. I do get what he says about "New Is Good", but feel like the older material (especially Georgia Satellites stuff with which he made his name) is relegated slightly too much into the set and I would be among the minority who see him enough to recognise the more obscure material. Certainly by the number of GS T shirts in the crowd, and the fact that it's a venue he hasn't played before, I would have thought a few more well known older songs would have been appropriate.

That said, it was nice to hear Warner E Hodges take the vocals for "Don't Pass Me By".

Dan is legendary for cutting from the set any songs that are requested from the crowd. I am considering using this to my advantage next time I see him by calling for those I don't want to hear!

Anyway, all this is being slightly picky. As is usually the case, this was a great evening of Rock N Roll in suburbia and the merchandise stall seemed to be doing good business afterwards. Come back soon Dan.

Setlist anyone please?


Saturday, May 13, 2017

Rhino's Revenge - Friday 12th May - 100 Club, London

Rhino's Revenge (Rhino is Status Quo's bassist) at the famous 100 club on Oxford Street. Rhino gave us the normal mix of Quo tracks (some co-written by him) and a selection from the 1st and 2nd Rhino's Revenge albums. The latter isn't his best work in my view, but the live show is always good fun. Could have done with being able to hear his chat in between songs a bit clearer, but even though the backing band was without the normal family members, the music was loud and clear. Unlike the red lighting which ruined all attempts at a decent bit of photography! He seemed to be enjoying himself as we even got an unscheduled second encore of "Roll Over Beethoven". On the basis the band needed to work out keys and rhythm, I guess this had not been rehearsed!

Setlist (approximate!)
Rocker
My Name Is Stan
Belavista Man 
Two Way Traffic 
Famous
Busy Doing Nothin'
Get Out of Denver 
Obstruction Day 
Spend Spend Spend
Lucinda 
Mine All Mine
Secretary
Bad News 
+
Paper Plane 
Jam Side Down 
+
Roll Over Beethoven

Friday, May 12, 2017

Elio Pace - Thursday 11th May - Epsom Playhouse

Elio Pace plays a local show at the Epsom Playhouse Theatre. This is the third time I've seen his interpretation of the Billy Joel songbook and as previously, the songs are performed with skill and passion plus some interesting background on how they were written and musical influences. It's obvious that Elio is a huge Billy Joel fan and his solid band (including current Queen touring bassist, Neil Fairclough) complement the excellent piano work nicely. Well worth the short trip.

Setlist
Prelude/Angry Young Man
Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)
My Life
This Night
The Longest Time
Vienna
And So It Goes
Leningrad
Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)
New York State of Mind
Root Beer Rag
She's Always A Woman
Scenes From an Italian Restaurant
+
Goodnight Saigon
Allentown
Captain Jack
It's Still Rock and Roll to Me
Honesty
She's Got A Way
An Innocent Man
Just the Way You Are
Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)
We Didn't Start the Fire
The River of Dreams
Tell Her About It
Uptown Girl
+
You May Be Right
Piano Man

Sunday, April 30, 2017

Fire & Water - Saturday 29th April - Cavern, Raynes Park

A local show for the excellent Free / Bad Company / Led Zeppelin tribute and a venue I had not visited before.

Personally I could have done with the set having more Bad Co and less Zeppelin, but it was an enjoyable evening. The lead guitarist was particular impressive. It just proves once again that there are some really talented musicians out there and good quality local shows to go to without spending a fortune.

I liked the venue and will look to return soon. Check the the band out too if this is your kind of music, although their online presence is lacking somewhat.

Monday, April 24, 2017

Quireboys - Sunday 23rd April - Islington O2 Academy

More Quireboys and an electric show in Islington. Spike and the boys seem to favour Sunday nights in the capital - assume the venues are cheap then!

Decided to skip the ridiculous number of support acts (please stick to one maximum) and the venue was pleasantly busy enough without being packed. Only downside was not being able to get a phone signal or WiFi to enable the O2 2 for 1 Tubourg offer!

Show was good - with a slight change of set from recently. Loads of old favourites and a vocal audience. A real surprise with Black Mariah being in the encore too.

Setlist
Twisted Love
Too Much of a Good Thing
Misled
There She Goes Again
Gracie B
This Is Rock 'N' Roll
Mona Lisa Smiled
Breaking Rocks
Tramps & Thieves
Hey You
I Don't Love You Anymore
Roses & Rings
Sweet Mary Ann
7 O'Clock
+
I Love This Dirty Town
White Trash Blues
Black Mariah
Sex Party (with support bands)

Thursday, April 13, 2017

The Who - Wednesday 12th April - Birmingham Barclaycard Arena

I had not been to Birmingham's Barclaycard Arena since December 2008 when it was the NIA and Elton John described it as the worst venue acoustically he had ever played in. It seems to have been spruced up a bit since then and is set in a nicely regenerated part of Birmingham alongside the canals.

The day hadn't got off to the best start with it taking four and a quarter hours to navigate the 140 miles to the venue. However, after a brisk pizza in Coast 2 Coast, we grabbed our seats. As the show had been moved from last year (when it was due to be at the NEC), we knew we were in the front row on the side tier, but were slightly further back that anticipated. This didn't really matter as the view was excellent, but the legroom very limited! I chose not to go to the bar as the queues for a beer (and the gents!) were massive!

Still, what a difference from the Royal Albert Hall. This was brilliant; much better sound, band clearly enjoying themselves (last night of the tour) and Townshend on exceptional form. Loads of guitar crunching and soloing - even a "knee slide" in Won't Get Fooled Again - who would know he was in his seventies. Likewise Daltrey, back to form vocally with a great performance. I really can't describe how uplifting this was after the disappointment of the other week. The lighting, sound and videos where top notch too.

The only dip was the turgid "Join Together". We got a rare "Relay" at the end - strange choice to finish (very hardcore!), but I was particularly pleased to hear "Bargain" and "You Better You Bet"

Fantastic stuff! Now who wants to give me a few thousand dollars for their Vegas residency?!

Setlist
I Can't Explain
The Seeker
Who Are You
I Can See for Miles
My Generation
Bargain
Join Together
It's a Boy
1921
Christmas
The Acid Queen
I'm Free
Amazing Journey
Sparks
Pinball Wizard
See Me, Feel Me
You Better You Bet
I'm One
The Rock
Love, Reign O'er Me
Baba O'Riley
Won't Get Fooled Again
Relay

Friday, March 31, 2017

The Who - Thursday 30th March - Royal Albert Hall

What a treat - Thunder and the Who in the same week. And as a bonus, TCT stalwart Noel Gallagher was added as a late support.

His acoustic set was a mixed bag. A few non-descript solo (HFB) songs and four Oasis classics including the dodgiest version of Wonderwall I've heard. If you are going to write one of pop's all time classic sing-a-long songs, why change it so that it has different emphasis and is much worse than it was? Leave that to Bob Dylan! The set was saved by a back-on-track version of "Don't Look Back In Anger" to finish.

Anyway, the premise for the headliners would be that this would be the World premier of "Tommy" - played acoustically. It turns out that the band felt that they couldn't make this work, so we got "Tommy" - electric!

Now I don't like to be critical of one of my favourite bands and one of the greatest of all time, but his was one of the weakest shows I've seen them do. Pete Townshend seemed pretty grumpy (I suspect he was finding it harder than normal playing a challenging set that hadn't been done for years [1989]), the sound volume was wildly inadequate (the mere thought of being able to be 20 yards from the stage for the Who and be able to talk at normal volume to your neighbour seems unthinkable) and the audience pretty static.

Still, at least we got the often dropped "Sally Simpson" and a few greatest hits afterwards, but this seemed cut short. Apparently the intro to "Welcome" was played for the first time since 1969 by those in the know! But there was definitely something lacking. I'm at Birmingham in a few weeks with a different set promised - let's see how that goes!

[ Edit - I gather the Saturday TCT Who show at the RAH was a huge improvement ]

Setlist - Noel Gallagher
Everybody's on the Run
Supersonic
If I Had a Gun... 
Half the World Away 
Wonderwall 
AKA... What a Life! 
Don't Look Back in Anger 

Setlist - The Who
I Can't Explain
Substitute
+
[Tommy]
Overture 
It's a Boy 
1921 
Amazing Journey
Sparks
Eyesight to the Blind 
Christmas 
Cousin Kevin 
The Acid Queen
Do You Think It's Alright? 
Fiddle About 
Pinball Wizard
Go to the Mirror! 
There's a Doctor 
Tommy Can You Hear Me? 
Smash the Mirror 
I'm Free 
Miracle Cure 
Sensation 
Sally Simpson 
Welcome 
Tommy's Holiday Camp 
We're Not Gonna Take It 
+
Won't Get Fooled Again
Join Together
Baba O'Riley
Who Are You


Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Thunder - Tuesday 28th March - Hammersmith Apollo

Luke Morley and Ben Matthews
One of Britain's top rock bands in one of the World's great venues - what's not to like? Well, the venue name of course - I'm not going to call it the Eventim Apollo.

Regular readers of the blog would have known exactly where to find us in the venue (to within a couple of metres) and Danny and the boys were on excellent form. Their new album, "Rip It Up" has been a bit of a slow burner for me - especially after the fantastic "Wonder Days" predecessor. It is growing on me a bit and the new songs worked well in a live setting.

The normally excellent Lynne Jackaman appeared for some background wailing in the encore on "She Likes the Cocaine" and unfortunately it was wailing - her fantastic vocals not really shown to their best ability in my opinion.

So like pretty much every Thunder show I've been to, this was really good. It just didn't quite feel as much fun as normal for some reason. Can't quite put my finger on why.

[ Edit - Subsequent Christmas show(s) added in Wolverhampton - yay! ]

Setlist
No One Gets Out Alive
The Enemy Inside
River of Pain
Resurrection Day
Right From the Start
Backstreet Symphony
Higher Ground
In Another Life
The Thing I Want
Don't Wait For Me
Rip It Up
Love Walked In
I Love You More Than Rock 'n' Roll
+
Wonder Days
She Likes the Cocaine 
Dirty Love


Saturday, March 18, 2017

Black Star Riders - Friday 17th March - Kentish Town Forum

I primarily went along to this on the basis that Rich was going, the tickets were quite good value and Gun were supporting - who I'd not seen before (certainly in this incarnation). In the event a secondary support was added, pushing Gun down to 3rd on the bill, which was a bit of a pain (shorter set, earlier start etc).

Still, they were OK. Having gone through several vocalists it turns out that the founder member and bass player is now on singing duties. He was fine and the set was pretty decent - even my pet hate "Word Up" sounded bearable.

The other support band were not bad either, but I can't remember their name. The Black Star Riders seem to be shifting away from their Thin Lizzy history and only "The Boys Are Back In Time" was covered here. You would have thought St. Patrick's Day would have yielded "Whiskey In The Jar"! Still, they are a decent rock band and vocalist Ricky Warwick has a fantastic voice. I enjoyed their set despite not knowing the songs, which is a bit of a theme for my recent visits to the Forum (or the "Town & Country" as I prefer to call it!)

Setlist - Gun
Let It Shine
Word Up! 
Don't Say It's Over
Better Days
She Knows
Steal Your Fire
Shame On You

Setlist - Black Star Riders
Heavy Fire
Bloodshot
The Killer Instinct
Dancing With the Wrong Girl
Soldierstown
Hey Judas
When the Night Comes In
Cold War Love
All Hell Breaks Loose
The Boys Are Back in Town
Hoodoo Voodoo
Who Rides the Tiger
Blindsided
Thinking About You Could Get Me Killed
Testify or Say Goodbye
Kingdom of the Lost
Bound for Glory
Finest Hour