Jeff Beck, Paul Rodgers & Ann Wilson - Saturday 25th August - Coral Sky Amphitheatre, West Palm Beach, FL

Still in the states, a solo trip to see 3 musical icons. In fact I've previously paid to see all 4 of the acts on the bill, so I was confident it would be good and indeed it was. A strange amphitheatre, my expensive front block seats were under cover, with a cheap grass semi-circle at the rear providing good value.

Ann Wilson's powerful vocals were put to good use during a tribute to "many artists we've lost recently", although a couple of the songs were very much "interpretations" of the originals - not note for note covers. I particularly enjoyed the 2 Who songs, fairly predictably.

Paul Rodgers was excellent. His voice never ceases to impress and a good set of "greatest hits" was supported by a fabulous band ("borrowed" from Deborah Bonham). Deborah and Ann joined in for "Rock And Roll Fantasy". What was really interesting was that the American audience were very enthusiastic about the "Band Company" songs, but hardly seemed to know the "Free" stuff.

Jeff Beck was top of the bill. His playing was as fantastic as always, although I did not know much of the material at all. Compared to previous occasions when I have seen him, there was not much overlap!

Again, I avoided the beer - $17 a go!! But it was so hot, I had to buy a couple of £5 waters. I sneaked away during the encore to ensure I could escape the car-park madness. At least the parking was free!

Setlists

Jeff Beck
Pull It
Stratus
Nadia
You Know You Know 
Morning Dew (with Jimmy Hall)
I Have to Laugh (with Jimmy Hall)
Lonnie on the Move (with Jimmy Hall)
Mná na h-Éireann 
Just For Fun
Little Wing (with Jimmy Hall)
Big Block
Cause We've Ended As Lovers
Brush With the Blues
Superstition (with Jimmy Hall)
A Day in the Life
+
Corpus Christi Carol
Going Down (with Jimmy Hall)

Paul Rodgers
Little Bit of Love
Can't Get Enough
Wishing Well
Feel Like Makin' Love
The Stealer
Ready for Love
Movin' On
Mr. Big
Woman
Fire and Water
Shooting Star
Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy (with Ann Wilson and Deborah Bonham)
+
All Right Now

Ann Wilson
The Real Me
Barracuda
Ain't No Way
I Am the Highway
Back to Black
You Don't Own Me
Life in the Fast Lane
Won't Get Fooled Again

Deborah Bonham
Fly
Hold On
The Old Hyde
No Angel

ZZ Top / Thunder - Wednesday 24th June - Wembley Arena

Drummer Frank Beard and colleagues

A rare jaunt these days to Wembley - or the SSE Arena as it appears to be branding itself. Whatever they call it, they need to sort out their catering - 20 minute queues to get a beer is not on. Competent staff and a bit of pre-pouring isn't difficult surely!

We were here primarily for Thunder. Having grabbed a decent spot near the front, they entertained with a decent (but short) set of classic hits and new material. All seemed to be well received.

Having moved a bit further back for the headliners, the first 3 or 4 songs were good. Then I thought we hit a bit of a lull. I've seen ZZ Top 4 times previously over the last 25 years and it's always been hit and miss for me - sometimes great, but sometimes a little self indulgent and the songs merge together. Thankfully this time around, the lull was brief and from "My Head's in Mississippi" onwards the show was fantastic. Jeff Beck joined for the encore on his birthday - looking much more youthful than his 71 years and was rightly given an ovation (and some cake!).

Setlists

Thunder

Dirty Love
River of Pain
Black Water
Wonder Days
Backstreet Symphony
Love Walked In
The Thing I Want
I Love You More Than Rock 'N' Roll

ZZ Top
Got Me Under Pressure
Waitin' for the Bus
Jesus Just Left Chicago
Gimme All Your Lovin'
I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
Pincushion
I Gotsta Get Paid
Foxy Lady 
Catfish Blues 
Cheap Sunglasses
My Head's in Mississippi
Chartreuse
Sharp Dressed Man
Legs
+
Rough Boy (with Jeff Beck)
Sixteen Tons (with Jeff Beck)
La Grange / Sloppy Drunk Jam (with Jeff Beck)
Tush (with Jeff Beck)

Killing Cancer Concert - Thursday 13th January - Hammersmith Apollo

When tickets went on sale for this, my immediate thoughts were:

1. Got to go to that. 2 of my all-time favourite artists (The Who & Bryan Adams) plus 2 others I like (Debbie Harry and Jeff Beck).
2. It's at the best venue in London - yippie
3. It's on a Thursday night and I'm free
4. It's for a good cause
5. And .... it's how much !!!?

The last issue was likely to cause concern as Richard and I thought we couldn't justify £132 for a ticket. This was luckily resolved by Rich managing to acquire a pair of "bargain" £49.50 standing tickets (back of the stalls) the nano-second they went on sale.

So we got in quite early to nab a standing spot and were quite please with the view, standing about 4 feet from people who had paid considerably more for the luxury of a seat. The early entry to the venue managed to confuse me enough that I knocked a substantial amount of beer out of the hand of a fellow punter as I swung 'round to talk to someone. Cue a trip to the bar to buy him a replacement!

Anyway - the show. Due to start at 7:30, it kicks off at 7:45 with an intro from Harvey Goldsmith. After that and a few videos it's time for some music. I've never been a fan of Richard Ashcroft and the 4 acoustic numbers he performed here were never likely to change my mind. Competent, but forgettable.

Roger Daltrey and band then appeared for a couple of obscure Blues numbers. Now I would happily watch Roger perform any stuff he wanted, but a full set of this style would be a bit challenging. Still, 2 songs worth was fine and a bit different.

We'd speculated on the acoustic numbers Bryan Adams would play on the back of his recent "Bare Bones" tour and he opted for a few old favourites like Cuts Like A Knife and Straight From The Heart as opposed to maybe more obvious hits. Still, after a quiet start, the audience seemed to like him. He also invited a beneficiary of the charity (who's name he mixed up with the Teenage Cancer Trust (!)) to come and duet on "When You're Gone" which was a nice touch.

Then an interval followed by Jeff Beck. Mr Beck was on fine form. Backed by the rest of the Who's band (ie no Daltrey or Townshend), the highlight for me was an excellent "A Day In The Life". Then Debbie Harry pops up for Heart of Glass and Call Me which I bet Mr Beck has never played before. Still, this was excellent and Debbie was in good voice. After another Blondie number it was time for the main event - The Who.

This is who nearly everyone had come to see and a storming trio of numbers kicked things off - Townshend on great form and Daltrey's voice strong.

Sadly as Won't Get Fooled again ended, off went Townshend and we got some more blues from Daltrey and Beck.

The Ensemble all re-appeared (minus Ashcroft) for a lengthy "Join Together" with Daltrey and Adams swapping lead vocals. And then off they went. H'mm wait a minute - it's only 10:25 (ticket said 11pm curfew). As the crowd yelled for more, Harvey came back, said goodnight and the house lights came up. Now don't get me wrong, the show was really good, but if you are paying £130 as many did, is it not reasonable to expect more than 21 songs over 2.5 hrs? Or at least more than 4 from the Headliners?

If I'm being unfair there and Townshend's hearing problems were shortening things, then 1 or 2 more songs from each of Ashcroft, Adams, Harry & Beck would have spun things out to an acceptable degree. So, despite a feeling of being sold slightly short, the excellence of what we did see outweighed the negatives.

Let's hope for a full Who show sometime soon.

Setlist
Richard Ashcroft
Sonnet
Space And Time
Lucky Man
History

Roger Daltrey
Freedom Ride
Gimme A Stone

Bryan Adams
Run To You
Cuts Like A Knife
When You’re Gone (Duet)
Straight From The Heart

Jeff Beck
Beck's Bolero
Hammerhead
A Day In The Life

Jeff Beck & Debbie Harry
Heart of Glass
Call Me

Debbie Harry
One Way Or Another

Who
Baba O’Riley
Who Are You
Won’t Get Fooled Again

Roger Daltrey & Jeff Beck
I’m A Man (Mannish Boy)

Ensemble
Join Together

Jeff Beck - Monday 21st September - Indigo2

Ambiguously billed as "Jeff Beck with the Imelda May Band", it was unclear if Imelda May and her band were supporting (as they had done on the last tour) or Jeff was joining her band for the evening. A call to the O2 on the day of the show confirmed the latter - no support and Mr Beck in the band. Knowing that this would mean a night of Rockabilly as opposed to Jeff's normal material, in the bar beforehand Dave was making all sorts of threats to "sue Harvey Goldsmith for misrepresentation" etc. As it turned out, there was no need to worry. 

The band were solid, Imelda May's vocals quite stunning and the whole evening was full of enough classic tunes, whatever style they were played in and we all enjoyed it. Ronnie Wood and Jimmy Page were in attendance, but unfortunately had declined the offer to perform - taking a bit of stick from Jeff as a result.

Few performers seem so uncomfortable speaking to their audience, but who cares when the guitar playing is so good. Found out later that Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton are playing the O2 next year. Price £125. Errr... no thanks Harvey. It's good, but not that good. 

Setlist Feel Me Love Tattoo Baby Let's Play Outside Double Talking Baby Cruisin' Train Kept a-Rollin' Poor By My Baby Left Me Rockin' is Out Business Apache Sleepwalk Peter Gunn Remember (Walking in the Sand) Please Mr. Jailor Corpus Christi Carol Lilac Wine Green Onions Casting My Spell The Girl Can't Help It Brush with the Blues Rock Around the Clock Cry Me a River How High the Moon Shake Rattle and Roll Somewhere Over the Rainbow 

Setlist from http://www.songkick.com/concerts/2459851-jeff-beck-at-indigo2