Human League - Monday 9th December - Brighton Centre

Brief review:  "The Human League?" I hear you cry! Yes, if you see the other artists on the blog, you will realise they are unlikely to be my "cup of tea". But, ably supported by a brief set from T'Pau, the excellent Sophie Ellis-Bextor, the show was really good. In fact, I'd say the sound and vocals were superior to many of the studio tracks I'd forced myself to listen to (many I didn't enjoy) in the run up to the show. So the lessen of the day is that generally, these famous bands are famous for a reason - they are normally good!

As a bonus, I was able to pick up a live T'Pau CD from the merchandise stand that I had never seen before!

Venue and View:  Seated at the side

Setlist
[T'Pau]
Sex Talk
Secret Garden
Valentine
Whenever You Need Me
Heart and Soul
Bridge of Spies
China in Your Hand

[Sophie Ellis-Bextor]
Crying at the Discoteque 
Take Me Home 
Hypnotized
Ready for Your Love 
Get Over You
Lady (Hear Me Tonight) / Groovejet (If This Ain't Love) / Can't Fight This Feeling / Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)
Freedom of the Night
Heartbreak (Make Me a Dancer) 
Murder on the Dancefloor

[Human League]
Hard Times
Love Action (I Believe in Love)
Mirror Man
Heart Like a Wheel
Behind the Mask 
Life on Your Own
The Lebanon
One Man in My Heart
The Path of Least Resistance
Empire State Human
Louise
Soundtrack to a Generation
All I Ever Wanted
Open Your Heart
The Sound of the Crowd
Tell Me When
(Keep Feeling) Fascination
Don't You Want Me
+
Good-Bye Bad Times 
Together in Electric Dreams

Status Quo - Wednesday 30th November - Brighton Centre

Brief review: Status Quo in Brighton supported, bizarrely, by Shakin’ Stevens. I sat in the row behind ‘Shaky’, in the stand at Plough Lane (Wimbledon) circa 1981 for a charity football match. A dozen teenage girls were pointing in my direction and screaming excitedly - what was I to think? In the 2nd half, Mr Stevens moved down to the touchline from his seat and appeared as a substitute for ten minutes. It was only then that I realised the attention was not for me - damn! 

He seems to have a reduced effect today, for ladies of a certain age. We are actually feeling quite young tonight. I would have hoped "Mr Stevens" would have thrown a few more hits into his set - it was OK, but nothing more. Of more interest was the bizarre scuffle that broke out at the front when a front row seat holder took objection to a guy from the 4th row wanting to enjoy "Merry Christmas Everyone" near the barrier!

Quo were good as normal and we got some decent solos from Mr Rossi as you'd expect. Additionally, Richard and I both commented that Rhino's vocals are now more than acceptable on the handful he sings on. Practice makes perfect!

Venue and View:  Central seats on the floor, about 5 rows back.

Setlist (Status Quo)
Caroline
Rain
Little Lady
Softer Ride
Beginning of the End
Hold You Back
Rock 'n' Roll 'n' You
Twenty Wild Horses
Medley: What You're Proposing / Down the Dustpipe / Something 'bout You Baby I Like / Wild Side Of Life / Rollin' Home / Railroad / Again and Again / Mystery Song
The Oriental
In My Chair
Cut Me Some Slack
Liberty Lane
In the Army Now
Roll Over Lay Down
Down Down
Whatever You Want
Rockin' All Over the World
+
Burning Bridges (On and Off and on Again)

Setlist (Shakin' Stevens)

How Could It Be Like That

Turning Away

Radio

Down Into Muddy Water

The Fire in Her Blood

Green Door

Beyond The Illusion

Have You Ever Seen the Rain?

Don't You Lie to Me

Marie Marie

This Ole House

Last Man Alive

Fire Down Below

Merry Christmas Everyone

Bryan Adams - Friday 13th May - Brighton Centre

Brief review:  Night 4 of the week and it's onto the regular tour set.  I've never heard "Always Have, Always Will" live, so that's a nice novelty. Apart from a slightly dreary middle section (GDR, OTR, HYERLAW, HIA, IDIFY) it's a decent show, albeit slightly disconnected being up in the balcony. The London O2 show has been postponed until December. That's probably not a bad thing and gives Bryan a chance to freshen up the set a bit.

Venue and View:  Looked pretty much sold out. Seats in the South Balcony facing the stage.

Setlist

Kick Ass
Can't Stop This Thing We Started
Run to You
Shine a Light
Heaven
Go Down Rockin'
It's Only Love
On the Road
You Belong to Me
Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?
Here I Am
When You're Gone
(Everything I Do) I Do It for You
Back to You
One Night Love Affair
Rebel
18 'til I Die
Summer of '69
Cuts Like a Knife
+
So Happy It Hurts
These Are the Moments That Make Up My Life
Always Have, Always Will
Straight From the Heart
All for Love

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

Bryan Adams - Sunday 14th August - Brighton Centre

And here it is - yet more Bryan Adams (it has been a vintage year!). Down at the seaside again - another solid show (surprisingly not sold out) and the bonus of an acoustic "Hearts On Fire" plus a view "down the front". Bryan and the band (including the bassist from "The Feeling") have been on great form this tour - hopefully his next album will build on the success of "Get Up" and be a real rocker.

Setlist
Do What Ya Gotta Do
Can't Stop This Thing We Started
Don't Even Try
Run to You
Go Down Rockin'
Heaven
Kids Wanna Rock
It's Only Love
This Time
You Belong to Me
Summer of '69
When You're Gone [solo acoustic]
(Everything I Do) I Do It for You
If Ya Wanna Be Bad Ya Gotta Be Good
Back to You
We Did It All
Somebody
I'll Always Be Right There
Please Forgive Me
Cuts Like a Knife
18 'Til I Die
The Only Thing That Looks Good on Me Is You
+
Brand New Day
C'mon Everybody 
All Shook Up 
She Knows Me [solo acoustic]
Hearts On Fire [solo acoustic] *
All for Love [solo acoustic]
Remember [solo acoustic]
Straight From the Heart [solo acoustic]

* Hearts On Fire might not be in the precise setlist location

Status Quo - Friday 11th December - Brighton Centre

Rossi, Parfitt, Cave, Edwards, Bown: Status Quo, Brighton  2015

December. Brighton. It must be Quo. Indeed it was and a very pleasant afternoon of pubs and darts was followed by another solid show at the Brighton Centre. We've seen support Wilco Johnson enough over the last year or 2, so skipped his support slot in favour of the Chippie and a beer.

Quo were as you'd expect - no, actually better when you consider their age and comments that Rossi is feeling the strain these days. The static setlist remains the one real bugbear for so many of us - there can be no excuse for the 2 Heavy Traffic songs remaining in the set at the expense of others and does anyone pay money to want to see Quo play The Wanderer? Other than that what's not to like?

Setlist
Caroline
The Wanderer 
Something 'bout You Baby I Like 
Rain
Little Lady
Burning Bridges (On and Off and on Again)
Beginning of the End
Medley: What You're Proposing / Down the Dustpipe / Wild Side of Life / Railroad / Again and Again / Big Fat Mama
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 
+
Paper Plane
Junior's Wailing 
Rock and Roll Music / Bye Bye Johnny 

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

Status Quo - Friday 13th December - Brighton Centre

The regular winter jaunt to the south coast for a bit of "current Quo". Support came from 10cc who I was distinctly underwhelmed with. They have some decent songs (I'm Not in Love, Rubber Bullets, Things We Do For Love, Dreadlock Holiday) and are decent musicians to a man, but beyond those 4 songs, didn't do it for me. A shame, as I'd been hoping for much more from a band with a supposedly renowned back catalogue. 

Quo were on good form - Francis Rossi often seems to up his game at Brighton and tonight was not exception - some good solos and amusing banter with the crowd. All over in time for us to make the last train without missing anything too!

Setlists

10cc
The Wall Street Shuffle
The Things We Do for Love
Good Morning Judge
I'm Mandy Fly Me
Life Is a Minestrone
Art for Art's Sake
Silly Love
I'm Not in Love
Dreadlock Holiday
Donna (acapella)
Rubber Bullets

Status Quo

Caroline

Paper Plane

Hold You Back

Rain

Looking Out for Caroline

Go Go Go

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

In the Army Now

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

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 9th December - Brighton Centre

Back down to Brighton for the Quo. Or more precisely the "Quofestive" as it is billed. A mini "festival", which includes Kim Wilde and Roy Wood. Not an obvious bill I think you'd agree, but artists I certainly don't mind, although a different setting may work better.

Kim Wilde delivered her greatest hits, although the sound guy appeared reluctant to give her vocals any sort of amplification for much of the set. She appeared quite giggly - some of our party were suggesting a bit of over indulgence on Xmas cheer - but it might well have been nerves. All pleasant enough though and with her niece Scarlett helping out on backing vocals adding to the experience, it was an enjoyable set.

Roy Wood was OK - I really enjoyed seeing him a couple of years back (he was my musical hero aged 5 !!), but there was something a bit lacking this time around. Maybe a couple of favourites missing from the set? I couldn't quite figure out what wasn't quite so good.

Quo were on last as you'd expect - with an unfortunately shorter set than previous years (well they are getting on a bit - maybe hence the multi-act line-up). They were good up until the encore, albeit without much imagination for setlist changes.

Then we got the changes. Let's just say I was glad I'd been forewarned - Kim and Roy came out to join in a Medley of "Winter Wonderland" & "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town". No, No, No !!

Most seemed to have song sheets on stage and it was a little shambolic - save Francis's quite cool guitar solo on Winter Wonderland. I'm reluctant to be too critical as I'd much rather they changed the set and sometimes get it wrong rather than keep playing the same old stuff, but I trust this will be a one off medley for this tour....... please!

Setlist
Caroline
Something 'bout You Baby I Like
The Wanderer
Rock 'n' Roll 'n' You
Rain
Mean Girl
Beginning Of The End
Proposin' Medley
Big Fat Mama
Two Way Traffic
The Oriental
Let's Rock
Paper Plane
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
+
Burning Bridges
Walking In A Winter Wonderland / Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

Bryan Adams - Wednesday 7th December - Brighton Centre

I remember seeing Bryan at the Brighton Centre in 1987 on the "Into The Fire" tour. After opening with a blistering "Only The Strong Survive" he seemed in a particularly bad mood - he told the audience that he'd had some negative comments about the bare stage set (it was drums, keyboards and speakers - no backdrops, flashy lights etc) before telling us that "If we'd come to see a lightshow, we'd come to the wrong ****** show!" and that they were just a no-nonsense rock band.

24 years later and a few things have changed. The band are still a great rock band. Bryan is trading licks with long term guitar partner, Keith Scott. (having thankfully abandoned a few years ago what Richard accurately describes as "the bass debacle"!). But I wasn't anticipating the massive LCD screen at the back of the screen which dominated proceedings. The mainly black and white graphics were stunning from a technology point of view, but from our view near the front were quite a distraction. I would imagine it will work better in larger venues.

The set was solid - slightly less reliant on ballads than some of his shows of recent years and the performance good. There was just a part of me harking back to 1987 when an angry younger man had delivered a pulsating 2 hrs plus of rock and roll in one of the best performances of what must be close to the 100 odd times I've seen him. Times have changed and we all get older...

Setlist
House Arrest
Somebody
Here I Am
All I Want Is You
Can't Stop This Thing We Started
I'm Ready
Thought I'd Died And Gone To Heaven
Hearts On Fire
Do I Have to Say the Words
18 'til I Die
Back to You
Summer of '69
If You Wanna Leave Me (Can I Come Too?) / Touch The Hand
(Everything I Do) I Do It for You
Cuts Like a Knife
It's Only Love
Depend On Me
When You're Gone
Heaven
The Only Thing That Looks Good on Me Is You
Run to You
There Will Never Be Another Tonight
+
Cloud #9
+
The Way You Make Me Feel
Straight from the Heart
All for Love

Bad Company - Saturday 10th April - Brighton Centre

A Saturday by the sea for the reformed Bad Company and an epic journey due to "trains being replaced by buses between Three Bridges and Brighton". Joy!

Support came from Aerosmith's Joe Perry and his band and for once it was a support act well worth seeing as he ripped through material from his new album and some bluesey classics plus a version of "Walk This Way".

As for the main act, Paul Rodgers, Mick Ralphs (in danger of becoming my most seen musician of the year!) and Simon Kirke were augmented by a band including Heart's Howard Leese. The set was basically the greatest hits, although perhaps surprisingly, no Free material was played. Sound and lights were good and Mr Perry even returned to help out on "Rock And Roll Fantasy". All was done and dusted for us to enjoy a "Polish" pint on the way back to the station for the "replacement bus service" back to Three Bridges. Home by about 1:45am - lovely!

Status Quo - Brighton Centre - Friday 9th December (Cancelled)

Found out this was cancelled on the morning just before travelling. Rick Parfitt had been diagnosed with probable throat cancer - sad news indeed. That may have also explained him being "out of sorts" somewhat last week at Croydon. (Happily a few weeks later, after laser surgery, he has been given the all clear) - although unhappily it sounds as if Mike Peters of the Alarm may not have been so lucky. Best wishes to him too.