Scouting For Girls - Monday 5th May - Brighton Foodies Festival, Preston Park

Brief review:  Our first of 2 "Food Festival" trips to see SFG this summer as the boys return to Preston Park for the Brighton "Foodies Festival". Prior the band, Mrs B and I had very much enjoyed some gin and rum tasting in the "drinks experience" tent and a variety of ABK beer (hic!), but thankfully the toilet queues were short. A fairly standard festival set from the band who were on their normal excellent form, with the added bonus of a raucous "Come On Eileen".

Venue and View:  Standing, left of stage, 1 row behind the barrier

Setlist
I Wish I Was James Bond
Heartbeat
Famous
Michaela Strachan
This Ain't a Love Song
Gotta Keep Smiling
Come On Eileen
Posh Girls
Millionaire
Elvis Ain't Dead / Can't Help Falling in Love
She's So Lovely

* Setlist done from memory and so may not be 100% correct

Scouting For Girls - Saturday 4th May - Preston Park, Brighton

Brief review:  Part of the Foodie Festival series, the late afternoon was spent wandering the food stalls, drinking beer and even sitting in on the dreaded "Chilli eating competition" - largely as they had seats available!

But the main reason we were here was to see SFG who delivered a brief but punchy set including an excellent version of Carly Simon's "Nobody Does It Better" which Ray revealed was his favourite Bond theme song.

Venue and View:  Front right standing.

Setlist
Heartbeat
This Ain't a Love Song
Famous
Posh Girls
I Wish I Was James Bond
Nobody Does It Better
Glow
Elvis Ain't Dead / Can't Help Falling in Love
She's So Lovely

Quireboys - Friday 21st April - Pattern's, Brighton

Brief review:  An evening of Rock ‘n’ Roll with the Quireboys in Brighton. They may be ”Spike”-less, but the rest of the band still play most of the classic QB stuff well.  Audience numbers are thin though, but do include Luke Morley from Thunder.

Venue and View:  Nice cosy venue - stand anywhere you wanted for this one!

Setlist

I Love This Dirty Town
Misled
Gracie B
Roses & Rings
Turn Away
27 Years
Louder
Mona Lisa Smiled
Original Black Eyed Son
Too Much of a Good Thing
Lie to me
This Is Rock 'n' Roll
7 O'Clock
+
I Don't Love You Anymore

* This setlist may not be 100% accurate - it is based on shows around he same time as this one.

Quireboys - Friday 21st January - Concorde 2, Brighton

Brief review:  First gig of 2022 and a decent show from the Quireboys - largely celebrating the re-recording of their debut album, A Bit Of What You Fancy. As often the way, Spike's between song rambling was often cut off by the band starting the next song.

We had a bit for a scramble back to the station using our "plusbus" tickets on the number 7 due to the Brighton and Hove bus app providing false "live information" and a swathe of train cancellations.

Venue and View:  Left hand side, about a quarter back. Venue cooler that in normally is!

Setlist

I Love This Dirty Town
Misled
Man on the Loose
Hey You
There She Goes Again
Whippin' Boy
Long Time Comin'
Roses & Rings
I Don't Love You Anymore
Sweet Mary Ann
Take Me Home
7 O'Clock
+
Mona Lisa Smiled
Original Black Eyed Son
This Is Rock 'n' Roll
Sex Party

Sweet - Thursday 25th November - Chalk, Brighton

Brief review:  A new venue for me, just around the corner from the "Quadrophenia Alley". Unfortunately, the early start meant we only heard the last 3 songs from support Limehouse Lizzy, but they sounded good. As did the Sweet - now with Paul Manzi full time on vocals. The only lull was a couple of lesser known songs in the middle of the set, but otherwise it was hits all the way. 

Venue and View:  Front left about 10 yards from Andy Scott. Busier than expected, but not uncomfortable. Lighting was probably the worst I've seen this year with the band in near darkness for much of the set.

Setlist

Action
New York Groove 
Burn on the Flame
Hell Raiser
The Six Teens
Defender
Windy City
Set Me Free
Everything
Teenage Rampage
Wig Wam Bam / Little Willy
Love Is Like Oxygen / Fanfare for the Common Man
Fox on the Run
+
Blockbuster
The Ballroom Blitz

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

Status Quo - Tuesday 14th December - Brighton Centre

More Quo - and more driving to Brighton due to another train strike. My last show of 2016 and support once again comes from REO Speedwagon (as on Sunday). They were OK again - they played their 3 hits - but boy, does the lead singer fancy himself! Everyone was made more than aware that he wrote the big hits! Still, as a support act, I'm glad I've seen them (twice!), but probably wouldn't choose to invest to see them as headliners.

A standing show meant a decent spot in the crowd for Quo, but a reasonable number of annoying people around (either barging to the front or in the case of one nearby - singing the entire setlist into the face of his mate whilst acting out the words in a sort of "I know the song, you don't" type of way. Watch the ****ing show and let your mate enjoy it!).

Show very similar to the O2 and very enjoyable again.

Setlist (REO Speedwagon)
Don't Let Him Go
Take It on the Run
Keep Pushin'
Can't Fight This Feeling
Son of a Poor Man
Time for Me to Fly
Back on the Road Again
Ridin' the Storm Out
Keep On Loving You
Roll With the Changes

Setlist (Status Quo)
Caroline
The Wanderer
Something 'bout You Baby I Like
Rain
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
Gerdundula
In the Army Now
Drum Solo (The Caveman)
Roll Over Lay Down
Down Down
Whatever You Want
Rockin' All Over The World
+
Burning Bridges (On and Off and on Again)
Rock and Roll Music / Bye Bye Johnny

Magnum - Tuesday 6th December - Brighton Concorde 2

Thanks to the incompetence of Southern Rail and their inability to engage with their staff, we couldn't risk the train to Brighton on the basis we may not get home on a strike day (nice of Thameslink - same parent company - to cancel so many of their trains with no explanation too). That meant a drive to the south coast and a battle with the "pay online only" parking challenges around the Concorde 2 venue.

Magnum were on a second mini-leg to their recent tour (5 nights) and I enjoyed this more than the London show. Decent view and sound - with a small number of set changes to accommodate "Lonely Night" from the forthcoming ballads compilation. Despite slightly too much new material still, the band were on good form - Bob's vocals standing up well and Tony's guitar impressive as always. Harry, Mark and Al were provided the expected level of expertise behind them.

News in the car on the way home that our train had indeed been cancelled vindicated our decision to drive!

Setlist
Soldier of the Line
On a Storyteller's Night
Sacred Blood “Divine” Lies
Freedom Day
Dance of the Black Tattoo
Crazy Old Mothers
Blood Red Laughter
Your Dreams Won't Die
How Far Jerusalem
Unwritten Sacrifice
Twelve Men Wise and Just
Les Morts Dansant
All England's Eyes
Vigilante
Kingdom of Madness
+
Lonely Night
When the World Comes Down

[PS - 2 days later brings the shock news that keyboard maestro Mark Stanway has quit the band. Reasons not clear, although it appears that there must have been a massive falling out to leave after 36 years with 3 dates only to go. In which case that is a real shame]

Belinda Carlisle - Saturday 3rd October - Brighton, St George's Church

A new venue for me. It's good to see some working churches being put to addition use within their community and this looked a very pleasant venue whilst the support was on. However, the problem with a non-purpose built venue became apparent as soon as Belinda hit the stage and the audience stood up. She is not exactly a tall lady (particular in the flat shoes she wears for shows) and the "stage" was less than a foot tall. The result meant that no-one beyond the front 5 rows could see a thing. I was half way back and at 6ft 3" could only get a flash of reddish hair occasionally. Everyone was in the same position and so we all did what a typical middle-aged British crowd would do - moved ourselves to somewhere we could see - ie down the front.

The security didn't quite know what to do. On one hand people refused to go back to their seats and one the other, there was absolutely no risk to Belinda or the band. A happy truce was reached where security just tried to keep the aisles clear - with mixed results.

Once we were able to see, the show was great. Belinda looked and sound fabulous and the setlist was full of hits. One other slight disappointment was that whilst she did play one encore, she didn't reappear for the scheduled second one printed on the setlist. I am seeing her again next week in London and really looking forward to it.

Setlist
Runaway Horses
(We Want) The Same Thing
I Get Weak
Circle in the Sand
In Too Deep
Bonnie and Clyde
California
Vision of You
La Luna
Summer Rain
Valentine
Leave a Light On
Heaven Is a Place on Earth
Big Scary Animal
We Got the Beat 
Live Your Life Be Free

Status Quo - Saturday 20th December - Brighton Centre

The next blog entry should have been "The Who" last Wednesday, but that is postponed until March next year due to Roger Daltrey's throat condition.

So, instead it a "traditional" trip to Brighton for a bit of Quo. The afternoon was spend on a darts session (luckily of high enough standard to impress a group of lads on the "shared-space" pool table).

The evening was at the sold-out Brighton Centre for the last night of the 2014 tour. The evening started with a mixed set from Chas 'n' Dave. They bravely did some new material as well as many of their old favourites. All good fun, but for me they are at their best in a smaller venue with a lively crowd joining in. The arena setting just didn't feel right.

Quo came on around 8:45 and very good they were too, despite the fairly predictable setlist (I'm not going to bother moaning about the lack of change or "Blue Eyed Lady" being dropped from the start of the tour) and more surprisingly a new guitar for Francis Rossi. Turns out his classic green Telecaster has nearly given up the ghost and can barely be played due to it's condition. I'm not quite sure why he hasn't purchased / been given one that looks the same as he is so identified with it - surely Fender would make one for him!

Still, the new guitar sounded fine and the band were all on good form. Rick sounded better vocally than recently and after his latest health scares is hopefully off the fags and booze and fighting fit. Even the normally dodgy "Burning Bridges" sounded OK here with Rossi playing the lick alongside the keyboards.

Despite what the detractors may say, "current Quo" still pack a punch and give the audience what they want (missed the obvious "Whatever You Want" reference there!).

Setlist (Chas 'n' Dave)
Gertcha
I Wonder in Whose Arms
London Girls
Margate
That Old Piano
(Unknown)
The Shape I'm In
My Blue Heaven
(Unknown)
When Two Worlds Collide
Diddle Um Song (Diddle Umma Day)
Rabbit
+
Ain't No Pleasing You
The Sideboard Song (Got My Beer In The Sideboard Here)

Setlist (Status Quo)

Caroline

Something 'bout You Baby I Like

Rain

Paper Plane

Little Lady

Hold You Back

Beginning of the End

What You're Proposing / Down the Dustpipe / Wild Side of Life / Railroad

Big Fat Mama

The Oriental

Creepin' Up on You

Oh Baby

In the Army Now

Drum Solo

Roll Over Lay Down

Down Down

Whatever You Want

Rockin' All Over the World

+

Burning Bridges (On and Off and on Again)

Rock 'n' Roll Music / Bye Bye Johnny

Ian Hunter - Friday 3rd October - Brighton Concorde 2

Every now and then something really special happens at a gig and you just can't put your finger on what. I've seen Ian Hunter a few times over the last decade and it's always been good. For a reason I can't pinpoint, this was extra special.

Was it the venue? (a first for me) and its intimacy? Was it the disregard for the other setlists from this tour? Was it the appreciative audience or the fine set of musicians on stage? Who knows, but this was a great show.
We had a decent spot towards the front on the left. Sound quality was excellent and this was really evident on fine versions of "Flowers", "Irene Wilde" and "23a Swan Hill". Ian told a brief story about Lynsey De Paul (who sadly died this week) and how she came up with the "Ariel Bender" name - originally applied to Mick Ralphs!

And for the first time in seemingly ages, I got to hear "All The Young Dudes" without Joe Elliot singing on it! All in all, a truly inspiring evening.

Setlist anyone please?

Bryan Adams - Wednesday 10th September - Brighton Centre

No shows in August means it's been a while since the last updates. This was the first of 3 anticipated trips to see Mr Adams this year - this one an acoustic outing as part of his long-standing "Bare Bones" tour. I'd found out earlier in the week that some friends of ours were going too, so we met in a pub in the Laines. Unbelievably, it turned out that they had 2 row G tickets right next to our 2. Bizarre coincidence!

The show was good. the only downside was the number of ballads played - but I guess that's always likely with an acoustic show. The up-tempo numbers were better received - Run To You, Summer of '69, When You're Gone etc together with the new song "She Knows Me". There were some amusing anecdotes between tunes too. It was a good evening, but I predict the full band shows coming up will be better!

Setlist *

Run to You

It's Only Love

I Thought I'd Seen Everything

Here I Am

When You Love Someone

This Time

I Finally Found Someone

Can't Stop This Thing We Started

If Ya Wanna Be Bad Ya Gotta Be Good

(Everything I Do) I Do It for You

Cuts Like a Knife

Flying

Summer of '69

She Knows Me

Heaven

All for Love

When You're Gone

18 til I Die

Cloud Number Nine

One Night Love Affair

The Only Thing That Looks Good on Me Is You

You've Been a Friend to Me

+

Somebody

Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?

I Still Miss You... A Little Bit

Straight From the Heart

* I'm not 100% sure this is exactly the set, but it's pretty close. If anything is missing or wrong then please comment.

Scouting For Girls - Friday 8th August - Brighton Racecourse

So, another chance to see Scouting For Girls - this time in the environment of Brighton racecourse after an afternoon of horse racing. The concert area itself was on a smaller scale to similar events at Epsom and Sandown and as a result a reasonable view could be had by all.

Bizarrely, the setlist was completely different to the Borderline show. A couple of covers were thrown in - Carly Simon's Bond theme, 'Nobody Does It Better' was a highlight and there was a recent Daft Punk song which has apparently been at number one for ages. I was possibly one of about 3 people in the crowd who didn't know it! Otherwise the greatest hits went down well. 

If anyone has the setlist, please pass comment. This was a nice evening in the sun without the hassle often associated with outdoor shows. 

Status Quo - Monday 10th December - Brighton Centre

Status Quo - Quofestive Tour 2012 - Brighton Centre

A Monday night and a solo trip down to the Brighton Centre for Quo. I would've gone for next week at the O2 in London had it not been for the fact that tickets are already booked for the PDC Darts World Championship at the Ally Pally.

None of more Quo-fan mates would join us on the basis that: a) it's a Monday Night. b) it's down in Brighton. c) they'll play that Christmas nonsense again, won't they? d) Why haven't they got a top-bill support act? and e) I'll save my cash for the reunion next year.

So, despite the fact it was the worst night of the week for a gig, I decided to go rather than miss out. I too was rather unsure about the choice of "Eddie and the Hot Rods" as support, but they played a competent set, albeit to a very reserved, seated audience. The 2 covers at the end, Gloria and Born To Be Wild fitted in well with the rest of the set. I'll look out for them if they play the Half Moon again, but suspect they were punching above their weight in an arena setting like this.

Speaking of the arena, there were a fair few empty seats - especially at the sides. I guess that means that many shared the view of my mates and gave this a miss.

So, the show itself. Well I enjoyed it - indeed the first 9 songs or so were amongst the best selection I've seen the guys play for a while. I could live without the middle bit of the set (except Living on an Island which I like), but I don't agree with the abuse that the band get on their own site message board from people who say it's a "disgrace" that they play "Marguerita Time" etc and they'll never go again. Get a life! If you don't like a song, go to the bar when it's on! How can one or two songs ruin a gig where you like the other 20? What nonsense! I also quite enjoyed longer versions of some of the songs than previously and a bit of a mix and match of some of the medley material.

What I would say though, is that the close to the main set is becoming very predictable and really does need a shakeup. Recent years have seen the band whizz through an encore as if they can't wait to escape, but I anticipated a couple of changes this time around.

That said, with hindsight, I should have skipped the encore to get the early train home (the danger of keeping the setlist secret from myself!). Still I did get to hear part of "It's Christmas Time" live for the first time. Shame there was no "Don't Waste My Time" (there was in Europe), but I'm now really looking forward to the reunion shows in March.

Setlist
Caroline
Paper Plane
Hold You Back
Rain
Mystery Song
Rock 'n' Roll 'n' You
Beginning Of The End
What You're Proposing / Down The Dustpipe / Wild Side Of Life / Railroad / Again And Again
Big Fat Mama
The Oriental
Creepin' Up On You
Marguerita Time
Living On An Island
In The Army Now
Drum Solo / The Killer
Roll Over Lay Down
Down Down
Whatever You Want
Rockin' All Over The World
+
Walking In A Winter Wonderland / Rocking Around The Christmas Tree / It's Christmas Time
Burning Bridges

Status Quo - Friday 11th December - Brighton Centre

Much better than Croydon! And the bonus of the legendary Roy Wood as support. Marvellous! 9/10.

Status Quo - Friday 12th December - Brighton Centre

The 2nd of 2 Quo shows at the end of the year and Brighton presented an opportunity to take a day off work and have a leisurely wander around some bars and record shops.

It was just as well we weren't thirsty while we were in the Brighton Centre as they were enforcing a bizarre rule whereby drinks could be taken into the auditorium before the lights went down, but not during the show (despite the fact the bars were open and serving!).

Anyway, we had a good view from Row E, but personally I felt the band weren't quite on top form tonight. Last years Brighton Show was one of the best I've seen, but this one appeared a little rusty. Still, good to hear the "new" old songs in the set and Richard and I have decided to go for the rescheduled Portsmouth show in February.

Setlist:
Caroline
The Wanderer
Rain
Don''t Drive My Car
Mean Girl
Softer Ride
Beginning Of The End
Is There A Better Way
Proposin' Medley
Pictures Of Matchstich Men
Ice In The Sun
The Oriental
Creeping Up On You
In My Chair
Living On An Island
In The Army Now
Drum Solo
Roll Over Lay Down
Down Down
Whatever You Want
Rockin' All Over The World
+
Juniors Wailing
Rock 'N' Roll Music / Bye Bye Johnny

Status Quo - Brighton Centre - Thursday 13th December

My prediction was that they'll have dropped "Gravy Train". Failing that, the set will be the same as at Southend & Croydon. We shall see...

Wrong on both counts!! Gravy Train in and "Burning Bridges" added.

This was my 3rd (and last) show of the tour and by far the best. Francis seemed really up for this one and some of the improvised solos were excellent. I'm not normally a fan of Burning Bridges, but when you get the "guitar version" like last night (as opposed to what I term the "keyboard version" which often gets played), it really rocks!

All in all a great night! (also funny to see security asking Rhino what he wanted them to do with the bloke who tried to climb on stage. "Throw him out" was the obvious reply!)

We also did a nice mini-crawl of the Kemp Town area of Brighton beforehand - especially liked the Hoffbrau in the Hand In Hand and the huge female > male ratio in the St James!

Status Quo - Brighton Centre - Friday 15th December

An afternoon off work for a crawl of Brighton - very pleasant. Got to the venue early (didn't want to miss the start like at Croydon - and then hung around for ages!! Typical. Indeed they were so late, we had to leave during "Bye Bye Johnny" to get the last train!

Setlist

Caroline

Something 'bout You Baby I Like

Don't Waste My Time

Forty-Five Hundred Times

Rain

Paper Plane

All Stand Up (Never Say Never)

The Oriental

Creepin' Up on You

What You're Proposing / Down the Dustpipe / Little Lady / Red Sky / Dear John

Big Fat Mama

Gerdundula

Drum Solo

Roll Over Lay Down

Down Down

Whatever You Want

Rockin' All Over the World

+

In the Army Now 

Mystery Song / Railroad / Most of the Time / Wild Side of Life / Rollin' Home / Again and Again / Slow Train

Junior's Wailing

Rock and Roll Music / Bye Bye Johnny