Rhino's Revenge - Sunday 30th October - Half Moon, Putney

Brief review:  The one show that survived from Rhino's mini tour. Jim Kirkpatrick was away with FM and so son Freddie subbed on guitar. A decent show as ever including the requisite number of Quo covers.

Venue and View:  Left hand side, towards the back.

Setlist
Once Bitten Twice Shy
Busy Doing Nothin'
One Note Blues
Secretary
The Strange One
Spend Spend Spend
Belavista Man
Gravy Train
Jungle Love
Obstruction Day
Two Way Traffic
Jam Side Down
My Name Is Stan
Bad News
Never Too Old (To Rock'n'Roll)
Let's Work Together

Kingdom of Madness - Friday 28th October - 100 Club, London

Brief review:  I'll be upfront and say that I had low expectations for this one and if Rhino's Revenge in Carshalton had not been cancelled then I wouldn't have been here. I've not seen Mark Stanway's new outfit before, but the constant lineup changes and postponements didn't bode well.

I'm pleased to report that it was excellent from start to finish with a decent selection in the 100% "Classic Magnum" set. Vocals, guitar and everything else were excellent. What a pleasant surprise - I shall return.

Venue and View:  Front and central (by centre pillar). 2 yards from the stage.

Setlist
Changes
Back to Earth
Just Like an Arrow
Wild Swan
The Prize
Need a Lot of Love
Les Morts Dansant
Love's a Stranger
Start Talking Love
Rockin' Chair
Soldier Of The Line
The Tall Ships
Only in America
[Micky Barker] Drum Solo
Midnight (You Won't Be Sleeping)
On a Storyteller's Night
Kingdom of Madness
+
The Lights Burned Out
Sacred Hour

Elio Pace - Monday 24th October - Wimbledon New Theatre

Brief review:  "Hits" show (The Billy Joel Songbook). I've seen the previous incarnation of the show which was good and this was equally as enjoyable.

Venue and View:  Stalls, a third of the way back on the left.

Setlist
Prelude / Angry Young Man
Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)
My Life
This Night
The Longest Time
Classical Intros 
Pressure
Say Goodbye to Hollywood
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
An Innocent Man
She's Got a Way
Just the Way You Are
Don't Ask Me Why
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

Cregan and Co - Friday 21st October - Boom Boom, Sutton

Brief review:  The normal excellent show from Jim and the boys. The "new" material fits in well and I'd certainly not heard them do Joe Cocker's "N'oubliez Jamais" before. I gather Jim may be producing another Quireboys album soon, so we may even get a reference there. Still, it's the Rod Stewart songs that the audience comes to sing and the Boom Boom crowd was in fine voice. 

Venue and View:  Midway back on the floor

Setlist
The First Cut Is the Deepest
The Wild Side of Life
So Many Rumours
Forever Young
Hot Legs
Best of The Bad Boys
You're in My Heart (The Final Acclaim)
I Was Only Joking
Downtown Train
N'oubliez Jamais
I Saw Her Standing There
Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)
Blondes (Have More Fun)
Baby Jane
Young Turks
Maggie May
+
Passion
Stay With Me

Billy Idol - Wednesday 19th October - Wembley Arena

Brief review:  Mr Broad has moved from his regular London Venue (Brixton Academy) to the hanger that is Wembley Empire Pool (sorry, I mean the OVO Wembley Arena). Ably supported by Toyah and less ably by Killing Joke. I'm still not sure if the latter are a novelty band or if their image is just "be weird". Not my cup of tea at all!

Billy was good, but our view was not as good as you would expect from the 2nd row. Sound and set were decent though (and Billy's little sister was in the audience - namechecked in White Wedding), but I couldn't help but think that original support The Go-Go's would have upped the overall entertainment level quite significantly. 

Venue and View:  2nd row on the right. view obstructed by articles left on the stage and a huge black covering, so no view of drummer throughout as well as the big screen!

Setlist
Dancing With Myself
Cradle of Love
Flesh for Fantasy
Cage
Speed
Bitter Taste
Eyes Without a Face
Mony Mony
Running From the Ghost
One Hundred Punks
Blue Highway
Rebel Yell
+
Rebel Like You
Born to Lose
White Wedding

Warner E Hodges - Thursday 13th October - Water Rats, Kings Cross

Brief review:
Warner has toured a few times since Homemade Sin (specifically Dan Baird) called it a day. He delivered another high energy show of classic country rock with some well chosen covers. He always makes time for fans and it was nice to have a brief chat afterwards whilst he signed a CD for me.

Venue and View: Centre standing, about 10 yards from stage - very busy!

Elio Pace - Wednesday 12th October - Epsom Playhouse

Brief review:  The fact that this was an "albums" and not "hits" show was well advertised. Despite that, many had not got the memo! Whilst they may have left frustrated, I enjoyed hearing Elio and his talented band tackle 2 of Billy Joel's lesser albums. Sadly even Elio couldn't turn "Big Man on Mulberry Street" into a classic, but that one song aside, I really enjoyed the performance. I believe 2 more album shows are due for next year.

Venue and View:  Rear left, decent view

Setlist
[THE BRIDGE]
RUNNING ON ICE
THIS IS THE TIME
A MATTER OF TRUST
MODERN WOMAN
BABY GRAND
BIG MAN ON MULBERRY STREET
TEMPTATION
CODE OF SILENCE
GETTING CLOSER
+
[TURNSTILES]
SAY GOODBYE TO HOLLYWOOD
SUMMER, HIGHLAND FALLS
ALL YOU WANNA DO IS DANCE
NEW YORK STATE OF MIND
JAMES
PRELUDE / ANGRY YOUNG MAN
I'VE LOVED THESE DAYS
MIAMI 2017 (SEEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT ON BROADWAY)
+
[ENCORE]
SCENES FROM AN ITALIAN RESTAURANT