SAS Band - Saturday 14th September - Shepherd's Bush Empire

One Liner: Spike's All Star band celebrate their 25th Anniversary. I'm a big fan of the concept, but have to say the guests and the songs they sing are becoming a little familiar.  After a very slow start, things got more energised when Toyah appeared and "surprise" guest Roger Taylor sang some unexpected tunes, but somehow this wasn't as fun as it should have been.

Setlist
The Jam
Don't Stop Me Now (Patti Russo)
Unchain My Heat (Patti Russo with Laurie Wisefield)
Battle Without Honour or Humanity (Hotei)
Freedom in the Dark (Hotei)
Since You Been Gone (Kip Winger with Neil Murray)
I'm in Love With My Car (Kip Winger)
Suffragette City (Toyah)
Sweet Child O' Mine (Toyah / Justin Hawkins)
I Believe in a Thing Called Love (Justin Hawkins)
I Want It All (Justin Hawkins)
For Your Love (Graham Gouldman)
Dreadlock Holiday  (Graham Gouldman)
(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman (Madeline Bell)
Melting Pot (Madeline Bell)
Heroes (Roger Taylor)
Under Pressure (Roger Taylor / Justin Hawkins)
Rock and Roll (Roger Taylor)
29 Riff Overture
While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Ensemble)
+
With a Little Help From My Friends (Ensemble)

SAS Band - Saturday 3rd December - Guildford G Live

Spike Edney's SAS Band return for their annual Christmas knees up. With guests Tom Robinson, Midge Ure, Toyah Wilcox, Madeline Bell and Patti Russo, this fitted into the standard show - classic rock covers played by exceptional musicians. Only slight disappointment was - like  last time around - the "other special guests" didn't materialise. Still, those we had were good - the version of "2,4,6,8" was possibly the best I've heard. For me, Midge Ure stole the show with the trio of "Vienna", "Dancing With Tears In My Eyes" and "The Boys Are Back In Town". Toyah and Jamie Moses did a decent version of Fairytale of New York and there were nice musical tributes to David Bowie and Leonard Cohen.

It was good, and I enjoyed it, but the amount of spare room in the standing area was possibly a reflection of the high ticket cost and the familiarity of the guests.

Setlist anyone?