Tyla - Thursday 3rd April - Cavern, Raynes Park

Brief review:  Tyla from the Dogs D'Amour with a relatively rare band show. Less chat than normal and a set which concentrated on the first 2 albums. Very enjoyable with a predictable guest spot from the Quireboys' Spike for "How Come It Never Rains".

Venue and View:  Standing towards the back

Setlist

* I'm fairly certain that Errol Flynn was missed out.

Paul Manzi - Wednesday 15th January - Cavern, Raynes Park

Brief review:  I've seen Paul perform with Cats in Space and more recently he has been lead vocalist for Sweet. He did a guest spot at the Cavern a good few years ago and there is no doubting he is a fine rock vocalist (and from chatting to him in the past, seems a really nice chap). Today he is with "Krunch" on guitar supported by drums and bass seemingly from an iPhone! The evening is all about rock covers, some familiar and some not. But all impeccably sung.

There was also an audience member who looked remarkably like Jeff Rich (ex Status Quo drummer), but we couldn't be 100% sure to go and ask!

Venue and View:  Standing, half way back

Mud - Thursday 17th October - Cavern, Raynes Park

Brief review:  Another Raynes Park date for Mud and it was remarkably similar to last time. And that means it was very good! There were also a couple of covers in the middle of the set sung by Anne Stiles.

Venue and View:  Front left, Standing

Setlist
L'L'Lucy
Crazy
Hypnosis
Dyna-Mite
One Night 
Secrets That You Keep
Shake It Down
Angel Face 
Oh Boy 
Moonshine Sally
Good Rocking Tonight
Johnny B. Goode 
Love Is a Battlefield (with Anne Stiles)
Play That Funky Music (with Anne Stiles)
Cut Across Shorty
Rocket
The Cat Crept In
Lonely This Christmas
Tiger Feet

Spike & Friends - Sunday 30th June - Cavern, Raynes Park

Brief review:  Spike and Chris with their acoustic show of songs and stories. To mix things up a bit, this time they had support from Del Bromham (Stray) and Dave "Bucket" Colwell as pictured above. We keep going back for more, so it must be good!

Venue and View:  Standing - half way back

Guitar Heads - Monday 22nd April - Cavern, Raynes Park

Brief review:  Jim Kirkpatrick, Paul Rose, Chris Childs and Harry James. Four of the finest musicians you could wish to see get together for their debut gig in Raynes Park. Apparently that afternoon was the first time that all 4 had been in the same room together and the setlist was made up on the spot.

Suffice to say, nobody would have know as the covers played were absolutely spot on in terms of sound, feel and quality. I had never seen Paul before, but will be checking out his playing elsewhere!

Venue and View:  Standing, half way back.

Setlist

Vital Idol - Friday 1st December - Cavern, Raynes Park

Brief review:  It's a nice day... to staaaaaarrrrttt agaaain... 

To be fair, we haven't got to that one yet, but the singer does sound very much like Billy Idol. Which is just as well as we are here for a Billy Idol tribute called Vital Idol. Will they dare to cover his Christmas album?

Verdict - Very good. All the hits and a good tribute.

Venue and View:  This picture, front left, but mainly stood in the back left corner near the bar.

Mud - Saturday 27th May - Cavern, Raynes Park

Brief review:  Well, That’s neat, that’s neat, that’s neat, that’s neat. We are enjoying a classic 70’s night with the legends that are Mud. This, of course, means the mate I've gone with recounting many a tale around the band and demonstrating obscure knowledge. I feel Mastermind is beckoning. Oh boy!

The show itself was excellent. All the hits and more.

Venue and View:  Front left - a bit to the side.

Setlist
to follow...

Jim Kirkpatrick - Thursday 4th May - Cavern, Raynes Park

Brief review:  Back to Raynes Park for a bit of bluesy rock. Jim Kirkpatrick (FM) is the headline. Most recent Quo drummer - Leon Cave - is on the sticks.

It's the normal classy performance from Jim and it was nice to grab a few words with him during the interval.

Venue and View:  Front right - next to stage.

Setlist

First Set
Ballad of a Prodigal Son
No Such Thing as a Sure Thing
Razors Edge
61 & 49
Ain't Goin' Down Alone
Changed Priorities
Heavy Weather
Full Time Occupation

Second Set
Dead Man Walking
How Blue Can You Get
Brave New World
Got to Know
Union Train
Road Of Bones
Always on the Road
+
I Fall Apart 

Spike and Chris - Sunday 19th March - Cavern, Raynes Park

Brief review:  Looking forward to some acoustic rock ‘n’ roll with Spike and Chris in Raynes Park. Already had a fun soundcheck with Spike teasing Chris’s wife about an old relationship with Roger Taylor with an obscure Queen track. Expecting the Cadbury’s flake jingle later along similar lines. Show timings will be haphazard and some of the stories may be true!

Venue and View:  Front left.

Setlist

[Soundcheck]
Tenement Funster
Raining Whiskey

[Set 1]
The Wombling Song (Partial)
The Cadbury's Flake Advert Jingle (Partial)
We Hope its Chips Its Chips (Partial)
Roses & Rings
Run for Home
I'll Never Fall in Love Again 
Darlin' 
Pearl's a Singer 
Fortune 
Raining Whiskey 
Have a Drink With Me

[Set 2]
Wild Horses
You Can't Always Get What You Want
Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)
The First Cut Is the Deepest
The House of the Rising Sun
Here I Go Again (Partial)
So Far So Good
7 O'Clock
How Come It Never Rains
I Don't Love You Anymore
There She Goes Again
Streets of London

Gary Moore Blues Tribute - Thursday 17th November - Cavern, Raynes Park

Brief review:  As it said on the tin - Gary Moore tribute, blues experience. This didn't wash with the bloke standing next to me who thought it outrageous that they didn't play any of Gary's non blues material. Still, I enjoyed it.

Venue and View:  High table near the entrance. Central and 10 yards from the stage.

John Verity - Thursday 25th August - Cavern, Raynes Park

Brief review:  I knew pretty much nothing of John Verity before this show other than that he was in Argent. Some excellent covers (Cocaine, I Put A Spell On You, Purple Haze) were mixed with an enjoyable set and the 2 Argent big hitters of "Hold Your Head Up" and "God Gave Rock and Roll To You". More than decent, I shall be back if he plays here again.

Venue and View:  Front left on stools. 

Spike - Thursday 23rd December - Cavern, Raynes Park

Brief review:  Third Spike show of the year for me - officially billed as "Spike and Chris's Xmas Miracle" with Chris Heilmann again providing additional guitar sound and generally keeping order. Similar set to normal, but a fair bit of rambling meant that it was shorter musically than previous ones. Spike shared some sad news about the death of his friend Robin Le Mesurier (Rod Stewart band member, Womble and more recently occasionally playing with Cregan & Co) and clearly felt emotional about his loss. As ever, some interesting tales were shared - how many are true is anyone's guess!

We shared our table with Dawn Osborne working for Total Rock - you can read her full review of the show here.

Venue and View:  Front right seats, directly by the stage. Not noticeably busier than the socially distanced shows earlier in the year.

Setlist

White Christmas (snippet)
Run For Home
Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)
You Can't Always Get What You Want
Darlin' 
Pearl's a Singer
The Cadbury's Flake Advert Jingle (snippet)
Fortune 
Raining Whiskey 
+
The Wombling Song (snippet)
House of The Rising Sun
The First Cut Is the Deepest 
How Come It Never Rains 
I Don't Love You Anymore 
There She Goes Again 
So Far So Good
The Power of Love
"New Christmas Song"

Robert Hart / Dave "Bucket" Colwell - Thursday 14th October - Cavern, Raynes Park

Brief review:  What's not to like? Brilliant vocals, excellent guitars and some of rock's best songs. Robert also told a few stories between songs which were entertaining too, although hearing the nonsense that Angel was at Number 1 in the American charts for weeks (it wasn't - certainly not in a chart anyone has heard of!) once again almost provoked some heckling. But that would have been disingenuous as it was otherwise an excellent evening.

Venue and View:  Side view on the right, allowing an interval chat with Noel the landlord. Nowhere near as busy as two performers of this quality deserve.

Setlist

Little Bit of Love 
Movin' On 
Feel Like Making Love 
Davy's on the Road Again 
Natural Born Bugie 
Somebody to Love
Shooting Star 
All or Nothing 
+
Can't Get Enough 
Ready for Love 
Little Martha
Mr Brown 
Angel 
Ooh La La 
Sweet Little Rock & Roller 

Spike - Thursday 15th July - Cavern, Raynes Park

Brief review:  Spike enjoyed his May dates here so much that he's back for more. Pretty similar set, but good fun as always. Shared a table area with Dave "Bucket" Colwell, his Bad Company manager and their wives/girlfriends. I was asked to take a photo of them, so I am now claiming I am the official Bad Company photographer :) - move over Ross Halfin! Dave got picked on from the stage for a couple of the stories, but unfortunately didn't guest on any music.

One Geordie guy had been enjoying the hospitality a little too much and was getting very annoyed with the sound of a game of pool in the back room. He was gently removed during the interval.

Venue and View:  Side view, seated with rock royalty. Socially distanced venue limited to 50 people.

Setlist
Similar, but not identical to previous show. Also included "The House of The Rising Sun"

Spike - Sunday 30th May (Afternoon Show) - Cavern, Raynes Park

Brief review:  Back to the Cavern which is one of the few venues showcasing live music current. Spike from the Quireboys performing an acoustic set of favourites, across many genres. I must admit that I didn't even know Spike played guitar. A fair few amusing stories were thrown in for good measure, and I understand that this afternoon show was a fair bit longer that the evening one that followed.

Venue and View:  Decent view near the front, seated. Socially distanced show limited to 50 people and made to feel welcome as always by Noel and the team.

Setlist

The Cadbury's Flake Advert Jingle [Soundcheck]
+
Run For Home
Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)
You Can't Always Get What You Want
Darlin' 
Pearl's a Singer
Fortune 
Raining Whiskey 
Seven Spanish Angels 
Little Ole Wine Drinker Me 
The First Cut Is the Deepest 
+
Ode to You (Baby Just Walk) 
How Come It Never Rains 
I Don't Love You Anymore 
There She Goes Again 
Roses & Rings 
Let Me Down Easy 
First Song 
Streets of London 
Wild Horses 

Jim Kirkpatrick - Thursday 20th May - Cavern, Raynes Park

Brief review:  I've normally seen Jim as part of Rhino's Revenge and his "day job" is playing guitar for rockers "FM". But he is at the Cavern tonight in a postponed show to promote his new solo album and play some of the songs acoustically. He is a fine player and decent singe, so despite not knowing the material, this was a good evening. I especially enjoyed the cover of Fleetwood Mac's Oh Well.

Venue and View:  Decent seat near the front. Socially distanced show

Setlist

Ballad of a Prodigal Son
Heavy Weather
61 & 49
Malted Milk 
Ain't Goin' Down Alone
Always on the Road
+
No Such Thing as a Sure Thing
Guitar Noodle
Oh Well
Oh Well [Part 2]
Won't Daydream No More
Heart of Blues
Got to Know
Out on the Western Plains
What Did I Drink Last Night
Guitar Noodling
She's Not There 
+
Walkin' Blues 
Hey Hey

Mud - Wednesday 20th November - Cavern, Raynes Park

Quick review: A short hop to Raynes Park with my brother and good friend who is a very keen Mud fan. They don't play that often it seems, so it was good to see this incarnation (very different from the "Mud 2" and "Les Gray's Mud" versions I have seen previously) in a sold out small venue. And it was good fun indeed - I even knew much of the set.

Setlist
L'L'Lucy
Crazy
Dyna-Mite
Hypnosis
One Night
Secrets That You Keep
Shake It Down
Oh, Boy!
Moonshine Sally
There's Good Rockin Tonight
Rocket
Cut Across Shorty
The Cat Crept In
Lonely This Christmas
Happy Birthday to You [Ray Stiles Birthday]
Tiger Feet
Rock and Roll Part 2 (snippet)

Bucket & Co - Thursday 14th December -The Tavern, Raynes Park

One Line Review: Local show featuring the ex Bad Company guitarist and fronted by Paul Manzi from Cats In Space. An excellent evening of classic rock.

Setlist anyone?

Fire & Water - Saturday 29th April - Cavern, Raynes Park

A local show for the excellent Free / Bad Company / Led Zeppelin tribute and a venue I had not visited before.

Personally I could have done with the set having more Bad Co and less Zeppelin, but it was an enjoyable evening. The lead guitarist was particular impressive. It just proves once again that there are some really talented musicians out there and good quality local shows to go to without spending a fortune.

I liked the venue and will look to return soon. Check the the band out too if this is your kind of music, although their online presence is lacking somewhat.