The Who - Sunday 30th March - Royal Albert Hall

Brief review:  We thought it would be impossible to get better seats than last year, but it turns out we were wrong. A fantastic view and support from Level 42 got the audience warmed up. And what an excellent bassist Mark King is (I think I last saw him at this venue in 1988!).

We hadn't gone to the first Who show this week (mainly on cost grounds, but also because experience shows that the 2nd show is usually better as they are more rehearsed!). The start of this one was underwhelming, mainly because it was so quiet (the Who are meant to be loud!). From our seats we couldn't hear Pete Townshend's guitar at all. Now it is notoriously difficult to get a good mix at the front of the stage, but Level 42's sound had been great. After about 5 songs, something changed, the volume went up and we could hear the guitar. Ironically, this must have triggered something in Roger Daltrey's earpieces as he started complaining about what he could and couldn't hear.

But from Pinball Wizard onwards, all was good and I enjoyed it as expected. We even got a live debut in "The Song Is Over" (from 1971!) There are rumours that this show could be a launchpad for another tour. Roger is 81, but his voice is still amazing, so count me in if that happens!

Venue and View:  3rd row, dead centre.

Setlists
Level 42

Heaven in My Hands
To Be With You Again
Running in the Family
The Sun Goes Down (Living It Up)
Starchild
Something About You
Lessons in Love
The Chinese Way
Hot Water

The Who
I Can't Explain

Substitute
Who Are You
The Kids Are Alright
Bargain
Pinball Wizard
Love Ain't for Keepin'
The Seeker (Acoustic)
Behind Blue Eyes (Acoustic)
The Real Me
5:15
I'm One
Love, Reign O'er Me
My Generation / Cry If You Want / See Me, Feel Me
Eminence Front
You Better You Bet
Baba O'Riley
Won't Get Fooled Again
The Song Is Over

Bryan Adams - Wednesday 15th May - Royal Albert Hall

Brief review:  The third and final night of Bryan at the RAH. One of the reasons these shows have been so good is in addition to the variety of songs played across the 3 nights is the fact the full 5 piece band get involved (long term readers may recall my dislike of the 3 piece line-up sound a while ago with only one guitar). 

Tonight's album is the one that has been toured over the last couple of years - "So Happy It Hurts". It's a decent album generally, but has a couple of real duds on it - most notably the dreadful "On The Road". Still, that is done and dusted early, and the rest of the show bought a very enjoyable 3 nights to a decent conclusion. The 3 shows are due to make a boxed set in the future, so a purchase will no doubt be on the cards.

Venue and View:  Floor standing, 2nd row on right

Setlist
Set 1: So Happy It Hurts
Kick Ass
On the Road
I've Been Looking for You
Always Have, Always Will
Just Like Me, Just Like You
Never Gonna Rain 
You Lift Me Up 
Let’s Do This
I Ain’t Worth Shit Without You
Just About Gone
These Are the Moments That Make Up My Life
So Happy It Hurts

Set 2:
Can't Stop This Thing We Started
Somebody
18 til I Die
Please Forgive Me
Shine a Light
Kids Wanna Rock
Heaven
Go Down Rockin' (with Midnight Rambler snippet)
It's Only Love / The Best / What's Love Got to Do With It
You Belong to Me (with These Boots Are Made for Walkin' snippet)
The Only Thing That Looks Good on Me Is You
I Will Always Return 
Here I Am 
When You're Gone 
(Everything I Do) I Do It for You
Run to You
Summer of '69
Cuts Like a Knife
+
Straight From the Heart
All for Love

Bryan Adams - Tuesday 14th May - Royal Albert Hall

Brief review:  Night two of three and tonight's album is the classic "Reckless". Surely one of the best rock albums of all time, this was always likely to be the most in demand of the 3 shows. And it didn't disappoint - another great performance from Bryan and the boys.

Venue and View:  Stalls - Side on to the stage on left.

Setlist
Set 1: Reckless
One Night Love Affair
Somebody
Reckless
Run to You
Heaven 
Kids Wanna Rock
Let Me Down Easy 
She's Only Happy When She's Dancin'
It's Only Love
Long Gone 
Ain't Gonna Cry 
Summer of '69

Set 2:
Kick Ass
Can't Stop This Thing We Started
On the Road
Please Forgive Me
Shine a Light
Go Down Rockin'
You Belong to Me
I've Been Looking for You
Never Gonna Rain 
You Lift Me Up
When You're Gone 
(Everything I Do) I Do It for You
Always Have, Always Will
The Only Thing That Looks Good on Me Is You
So Happy It Hurts
Cuts Like a Knife
+
Straight From the Heart 
These Are the Moments That Make Up My Life 

Bryan Adams - Monday 13th May - Royal Albert Hall

Brief review:  The first of 3 consecutive nights of Bryan at the Royal Albert Hall. Each features a different album played in full, followed by a hits set. Tonight it's the 18 Til I Die album, which is a mixed bag of the brilliant and dull to be fair. Still, the live renditions are solid - although some people online are complaining about shorter versions than the record. Black Pearl was excluded - maybe for lyrical reasons - although this wasn't clear.

A highlight for me was actually sitting on the stage. This gave a great perspective as a one off and because the show was being filmed for TV and DVD, I was given a plain black "front rows" branded event T-Shirt to wear which was nice. And Keith Scott decided to join us during the show for a guitar solo which was extra special.

Venue and View:  On stage! 2nd row behind the band

Setlist

Set 1: 18 Til I Die
18 til I Die
Do to You
Let's Make a Night to Remember
(I Wanna Be) Your Underwear
Star 
It Ain't a Party... If You Can't Come 'Round 
You're Still Beautiful to Me 
I'll Always Be Right There
We're Gonna Win 
I Think About You 
The Only Thing That Looks Good on Me Is You
Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?

Set 2
Can't Stop This Thing We Started
Somebody
Just Like Me, Just Like You 
Please Forgive Me
Shine a Light
Heaven
Kids Wanna Rock
Let’s Do This 
It's Only Love / The Best / What's Love Got to Do With It
You Belong to Me
I've Been Looking for You
When You're Gone
(Everything I Do) I Do It for You
Just About Gone 
So Happy It Hurts
Run to You
Summer of '69
I Ain’t Worth Shit Without You 
Cuts Like a Knife
+
Straight From the Heart
All for Love

The Who - Wednesday 20th March - Royal Albert Hall

Brief review:  Night 2 of the TCT Who shows. Slightly cheaper seats to the side, but the front row gave an excellent vantage point. As ever, the second show sees the band with more rehearsal time under their belts and arguably a better performance than on Monday. A highlight and change in the set was The Acid Queen. Regular readers may recall that I don't think Eddie Vedder is a great singer, but - to be fair - he did a decent guest spot here.

Venue and View:  Front Row in the left hand side-stalls.

Setlist
[With Orchestra]
Overture
1921
Amazing Journey
Sparks
The Acid Queen
Pinball Wizard
We're Not Gonna Take It
Who Are You
+
[Band Only]
The Kids Are Alright
Substitute
My Generation
Cry If You Want
You Better You Bet
Won't Get Fooled Again
Behind Blue Eyes
+
[With Orchestra]
The Punk And The Godfather (with Eddie Vedder)
I'm One
5:15
The Rock
Love, Reign O'er Me
Baba O'Riley

The Who - Monday 18th March - Royal Albert Hall

Brief review:  Night 1 of 2 Who shows this week in aid of Teenage Cancer trust at the Royal Albert Hall. Expensive, but great seats purchased. the band were on decent form, albeit predictably under-rehearsed. Pete Townshend seemed to catch them out in the first song by launching into I Can't Explain which he later claimed was on his setlist and not the others. But it was good to see the band in full electric mode for much of the set and the orchestra tracks worked well. Looking forward to the 2nd show in a couple of days.

Venue and View:  3rd row seats, right of centre.

Setlist
I Can't Explain
+
[With Orchestra]
Overture
Amazing Journey
Sparks
Pinball Wizard
We're Not Gonna Take It
Who Are You
Eminence Front
+
[Band Only]
The Kids Are Alright
You Better You Bet
Substitute
My Generation
Cry If You Want
Won't Get Fooled Again
Behind Blue Eyes
+
[With Orchestra]
The Real Me
I'm One
5:15
The Rock
Love, Reign O'er Me
Baba O'Riley

Bryan Adams - Wednesday 11th May - Royal Albert Hall

Brief review:  Last of the 3 album shows, and it's Waking Up The Neighbours. All 3 shows have been good, although it's a missed opportunity not to mix up the 2nd half "hits" section a bit more. Touch The Hand seemed to be forgotten in the first half and was played later. The truly awful "On The Road" somehow remains in the set, but pretty much everything else is enjoyable. This one was filmed too - I wonder why the others were not?

Venue and View:  Floor Standing, a third of the way back on right.

Setlist
[Waking Up the Neighbours Set]
Is Your Mama Gonna Miss Ya?
Hey Honey - I'm Packin' You In!
Can't Stop This Thing We Started
Thought I'd Died and Gone to Heaven
Not Guilty
Vanishing
House Arrest
Do I Have to Say the Words?
There Will Never Be Another Tonight
All I Want Is You
Depend on Me
If You Wanna Leave Me (Can I Come Too?)
Don't Drop That Bomb on Me
(Everything I Do) I Do It for You

[Set 2]
Kick Ass
Run to You
Shine a Light
Heaven
Touch the Hand *
It's Only Love
On the Road
You Belong to Me
Here I Am
When You're Gone
Back to You
Rebel
Summer of '69
+
So Happy It Hurts
These Are the Moments That Make Up My Life

* Touch The Hand also comes from "Waking Up The Neighbours" but was missed out during the first set. It appeared later in the second part of the show

Bryan Adams - Tuesday 10th May - Royal Albert Hall

Brief review:  Oh joy, the drunk group from last night are in again, so we'll stand well clear. Into The Fire gets the treatment tonight. I heard most of this on the 1987 tour, but it's good to hear again.

Venue and View:  Floor Standing, halfway back on right, moving forward later for better photos

Setlist
[Into the Fire Set]
Into the Fire
Heat of the Night
Victim of Love
Another Day
Native Son
Only the Strong Survive
Rebel
Remembrance Day
Hearts on Fire
Home Again

[Set 2]
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
Here I Am
When You're Gone 
(Everything I Do) I Do It for You
Back to You
Summer of '69
+
Cuts Like a Knife
So Happy It Hurts
These Are the Moments That Make Up My Life

Bryan Adams - Monday 9th May - Royal Albert Hall

Brief review:  It's Bryan Adams week and this is show 1 of 4 for me with 3 at the Royal Albert Hall. Cuts Like A Knife gets the live treatment tonight and it's great to hear some of these songs live for the first time. 

Some people seem to have got a bit overexcited and are over indulging on the beer, jumping around and generally being annoying. I heard one say that they got so drunk at the last Bryan Adams show they went to that they couldn't remember any of it. These are £75 tickets - what is the point of not remembering it!

Venue and View:  Floor Standing, halfway back on right.

Setlist
[Cuts Like a Knife Set]
The Only One
Take Me Back
This Time
I'm Ready
What's It Gonna Be
Don't Leave Me Lonely
Let Him Know
The Best Was Yet to Come
Cuts Like a Knife
Straight From the Heart

[Set 2]
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
Here I Am 
When You're Gone 
(Everything I Do) I Do It for You
Back to You
Rebel
Summer of '69
+
So Happy It Hurts
These Are the Moments That Make Up My Life
All for Love

Suzi Quatro - Wednesday 20th April - Royal Albert Hall

Andy Scott, Suzi Quatro, Don Powell

Brief review:  Bizarrely, after all my years of gig going, I've never seen Suzi - apart from introducing the bands at a Slade / Mud show years ago. This wasn't the cheapest of tickets, but the venue and occasion promised a special set and so it proved. A lengthy show - split into 2 halves contained the hits, rarities, some decent covers and guests in the form of her son, Andy Scott (Sweet) and Don Powell (Slade).

The music was interspersed with some stories, all of which were interesting - even for the casual fan. And the music itself was spot on, suitably loud and well performed. An excellent evening.

Venue and View:  Seated on the floor, about half way back, central.

Setlist

[Set 1]

The Wild One

I May Be Too Young

Daytona Demon

Tear Me Apart

Mama's Boy

Stumblin' In

48 Crash

No Soul / No Control (with Richard Tuckey)

The Devil In Me (with Richard Tuckey)

Slow Down (with Andy Scott and Don Powell)

Rockin' in the Free World (with Andy Scott and Don Powell)

Can I Be Your Girl? 

[Set 2]

Motor City Riders

I Sold My Soul Today

Rock Hard

She's in Love With You

Bass Solo & Drum Duet (Another One Bites the Dust - Superstition - Smoke On The Water Jam)

Your Mamma Won't Like Me

Too Big

Glycerine Queen / Bass Solo

Can The Can

Devil Gate Drive

If You Can't Give Me Love

Sweet Little Rock & Roller

Desperado

The Who - Friday 25th March - Royal Albert Hall

Brief review:  Another Who show supporting the excellent Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall. Given the choice, I don't know any Who fans who would choose an acoustic set (or an orchestral one) over a full band electric show, but we should be grateful for the opportunity to see them nowadays - whatever form the show takes.

That said, they did look particularly under-rehearsed for this. Several songs were restarted due to something going wrong (forgotten words, wrong key, different intro etc) and Roger was so distressed with Break The News that he insisted they play it again to do it justice. It had the feel that you were gate crashing their rehearsal, which did give a certain charm. Well down the list of my favourite Who shows, but even on an off night, they are a cut above many others.

Venue and View:  Stalls seats to the left, level with the first few rows on the floor.

Setlist

[Acoustic]
Substitute
Squeeze Box
The Kids Are Alright
Tattoo
Behind Blue Eyes
Real Good Looking Boy
Break the News
Break the News (Repeated)
She Rocked My World
Beads on One String 
Eminence Front
Pinball Wizard
Who Are You
Let My Love Open the Door 
Baba O'Riley
Won't Get Fooled Again

Def Leppard - Sunday 25th March - Royal Albert Hall

Brief Review: More TCT at the Royal Albert Hall and this time we are in the affordable seats for Def Leppard. It's their debut at this venue and they are on good form. Lot's of chat from Joe Elliott and Phil Collen even managed to keep his shirt on! (RAH rules?). Seeing them at the O2 later in the year and looking forward to that.

Setlist
Won't Get Fooled Again (end only)
[after joining the Who studio audio intro tape]
Let's Go
Animal
Let It Go
Dangerous
Foolin'
Love Bites
Armageddon It
Rock On
Man Enough
When Love and Hate Collide
Rocket
Bringin' on the Heartbreak
Switch 625
Hysteria (with "Heroes" snippet in the end)
Let's Get Rocked
Pour Some Sugar on Me
+
Rock of Ages
Photograph

Teenage Cancer Trust Website

Roger Daltrey - Thursday 22nd March - Royal Albert Hall

Brief Review: The first of 2 shows this week for me in aid of the excellent Teenage Cancer Trust charity. Tonight we had front row tickets for the patron - Roger Daltrey. Support was from Beatles tribute "Dr. Pepper's Jaded Hearts Club Band" who include Matt Bellamy from Muse, Graham Coxton from Blur and members of Jets, Nine Inch Nails and the Zutons. They were good fun and played a selection of Beatles tracks primarily from their very early days. Sadly, Mr McCartney didn't guest as he had on one of their rare previous appearances.

Headliner Roger Daltrey treated us to an eclectic set of Who classics and rarities mixed in with some solo material. Overall, it was great - his voice holding up really well and backed by much of the Who touring band including Simon Townshend and Frank Simes. "The Real Me" was a personal highlight and he dedicated "Another Tricky Day" and "How Many Friends" to Mark Zucherberg of Facebook

Setlists

Roger Daltrey 
Overture
Pinball Wizard
Who Are You
Another Tricky Day
Behind Blue Eyes
Giving It All Away
Athena
I Can See for Miles
Days of Light
After the Fire
Going Mobile (Simon Townshend vocals)
How Many Friends
The Real Me
Without Your Love
Baba O'Riley
Young Man Blues
As Long As I Have You
Always Heading Home

Dr. Pepper's Jaded Hearts Club Band 
I Saw Her Standing There
Please Please Me
Bad Boy
Back in the U.S.S.R.
Money
Taxman
Can't Buy Me Love
Helter Skelter

Live Audio (Roger Daltrey full set)

"Dr Pepper" Live

The Who - Thursday 30th March - Royal Albert Hall

What a treat - Thunder and the Who in the same week. And as a bonus, TCT stalwart Noel Gallagher was added as a late support.

His acoustic set was a mixed bag. A few non-descript solo (HFB) songs and four Oasis classics including the dodgiest version of Wonderwall I've heard. If you are going to write one of pop's all time classic sing-a-long songs, why change it so that it has different emphasis and is much worse than it was? Leave that to Bob Dylan! The set was saved by a back-on-track version of "Don't Look Back In Anger" to finish.

Anyway, the premise for the headliners would be that this would be the World premier of "Tommy" - played acoustically. It turns out that the band felt that they couldn't make this work, so we got "Tommy" - electric!

Now I don't like to be critical of one of my favourite bands and one of the greatest of all time, but his was one of the weakest shows I've seen them do. Pete Townshend seemed pretty grumpy (I suspect he was finding it harder than normal playing a challenging set that hadn't been done for years [1989]), the sound volume was wildly inadequate (the mere thought of being able to be 20 yards from the stage for the Who and be able to talk at normal volume to your neighbour seems unthinkable) and the audience pretty static.

Still, at least we got the often dropped "Sally Simpson" and a few greatest hits afterwards, but this seemed cut short. Apparently the intro to "Welcome" was played for the first time since 1969 by those in the know! But there was definitely something lacking. I'm at Birmingham in a few weeks with a different set promised - let's see how that goes!

[ Edit - I gather the Saturday TCT Who show at the RAH was a huge improvement ]

Setlist - Noel Gallagher
Everybody's on the Run
Supersonic
If I Had a Gun... 
Half the World Away 
Wonderwall 
AKA... What a Life! 
Don't Look Back in Anger 

Setlist - The Who
I Can't Explain
Substitute
+
[Tommy]
Overture 
It's a Boy 
1921 
Amazing Journey
Sparks
Eyesight to the Blind 
Christmas 
Cousin Kevin 
The Acid Queen
Do You Think It's Alright? 
Fiddle About 
Pinball Wizard
Go to the Mirror! 
There's a Doctor 
Tommy Can You Hear Me? 
Smash the Mirror 
I'm Free 
Miracle Cure 
Sensation 
Sally Simpson 
Welcome 
Tommy's Holiday Camp 
We're Not Gonna Take It 
+
Won't Get Fooled Again
Join Together
Baba O'Riley
Who Are You

Pete Townshend's Classic Quadrophenia - Sunday 5th July - Royal Albert Hall

So, a bit more Who-related music, this time in the fine setting of the Royal Albert Hall and a box no less, courtesy of a kind colleague of Richard.

The classic Who rock piece has been given an orchestral makeover and score by Rachel Fuller, partner of composer Pete Townshend and was presented here in it's entirety with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Main vocals were supplied by Alfie Boe, ably assisted by Billy Idol, Phil Daniels and Mr Townshend himself, albeit only occasionally.

Now, I wasn't quite sure how this was going to be. On the album, Alfie Boe's vocals are quite a culture shock compared with the Roger Daltrey sound we know so well singing these songs and the mix seems to lack some of the music. Presented here though, it all sounded a better blend of sound and there is no doubting Mr Boe's vocal talents.

An enthusiastic audience lapped it up - Billy Idol was in good voice and Pete Townshend looked very suave in his tux. We knew he would only appear for a handful of songs, but the crowd reaction when he did paid homage to the event and the material.

So a thumbs up from me - having played the album again at home, it's unlikely to get much of an airing compared to either the original or soundtrack versions, but a good night none the less.

Setlist
I Am the Sea 
The Real Me
Quadrophenia 
Cut My Hair 
The Punk and the Godfather 
I'm One 
The Dirty Jobs 
Helpless Dancer
+
Is It in My Head? 
I've Had Enough 
5:15 
Sea and Sand 
Drowned 
Bell Boy 
Doctor Jimmy 
The Rock 
Love, Reign O'er Me 
+
The Real Me (with full cast)

Status Quo - Thursday 30th April - Royal Albert Hall

Back for more Quo? Why? Well one, I know it'll be good and two, there were some amazingly good tickets came online well after the front blocks had sold out.

We'd always wondered what it would be like to be in the 2 seats at the front row of the stalls, next to the stage. Well the answer is that you are effectively on the stage and almost feel part of the band. And for an acoustic show like this there are no sound issues either.

You won't be surprised to know that the setlist was the same as on Sunday, but the band seemed quite relaxed - I think they are getting used to playing the material in this way.

My personal highlights in this format are Rock 'n' Roll, All The Reasons, Reason For Livin' and the brilliant Nanana.

Setlist
And It's Better Now
Break the Rules
Again and Again
Paper Plane
Mystery Song / Little Lady
Rock 'n' Roll
Caroline
What You're Proposing
Softer Ride
Down Down
Pictures of Matchstick Men
Down the Dustpipe
All the Reasons
Reason for Living
Rollin' Home
Don't Drive My Car
Claudie
Rain
Marguerita Time
Nanana
Whatever You Want
Rockin' All Over the World
+
Rock 'til You Drop
Burning Bridges (On and Off and on Again)

The Who - Monday 26th March - Royal Albert Hall

It's been an expensive week of Who shows, averaging a little under £100 a ticket. This one was well into 3 figures, but at least a top charity - The Teenage Cancer Trust - get to benefit from the proceeds. This is the 15th year that Roger Daltrey has been arranging shows in support of them and probably marks my 25th or so patronage.

We had decent seats to the side of the stage. Maybe because of that, I personally thought this was the best of the 3 shows this week. Others thought PT took quite a while to get going. You Better You Bet was a highlight for me with its first appearance this week.

I've now got a few Who-free months before Hyde Park in the Summer. Shame, as (costs aside), I'd be happy to see them every week!

Setlist
I Can't Explain
Substitute
The Seeker
Who Are You
The Kids Are Alright
I Can See for Miles
Pictures of Lily
My Generation
Magic Bus
Behind Blue Eyes
Join Together
You Better You Bet
I'm One
Love, Reign O'er Me
Eminence Front
A Quick One (While He's Away)
Amazing Journey
Sparks
Pinball Wizard
See Me, Feel Me
Listening to You
Baba O'Riley
Won't Get Fooled Again

Paul Rodgers - Monday 3rd November - Royal Albert Hall

The sole UK appearance for Paul Rodgers this year is not in an industrial estate in Chichester, but the more impressive arena of the Royal Albert Hall. In aid of the same charity as last year, Paul has assembled the Memphis based backing band who played on this years "Royal Sessions" album - a collection of soul and blues songs from Paul's formative years.

Now, I would normally be very much in the "rock" camp when it comes to Paul's material, but to be fair, the guy can sing anything. Great vocals, excellent backing from the band and even "Can't Get Enough" & "The Hunter" thrown in for good measure.

A rule of thumb says never to leave a show until the house lights come up and the backing tapes start. Even if you followed that rule this time, you could well have missed the final song (a 2nd encore where at least 1/3 of the crowd had left!). this enabled us to get right down to the front amongst the others who had swapped the T shirt attire for a thick coat! If a DVD comes out, look for the crowd changes at the end!

I was touch and go whether to buy a ticket for this show due to the high cost and expected material, but I'm glad I did.

Setlist
Down Don't Bother Me 
Shake 
That's How Strong My Love Is 
Any Ole Way 
I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now) 
I Can't Stand the Rain
It's Growing 
Champagne and Wine 
Walk In My Shadow 
I Thank You 
Born Under a Bad Sign 
The Hunter 
Can't Get Enough 
+
Walk On By 
Wonderful World 
I've Got Dreams to Remember 
+
Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just as Bad)

Bryan Adams - Monday 29th October - Royal Albert Hall

Bryan Adams and his 'Bare Bones' tour finally reaches London. In the imposing surroundings at the Royal Albert Hall this show was being filmed for DVD and I'd managed to secure a half-decent seat on the floor without paying too exorbitantly.

Musically it wasn't that different from previous shows on this extended tour (being entirely acoustic), but some of the anecdotes were very funny. This reminded me of previous occasions when I'd seen Bryan at this venue - most notably at the World Sport Awards (bizarrely introduced by Roger Moore & playing the same song twice) and in fine voice with the Who playing Quadrophenia.

It appeared I was the only person speaking English in the surrounding seats at this show, which goes to show what universal appeal Bryan has. I just hope the lady behind me singing does not come out on the DVD!!

 

Setlist
Run To You
It's Only Love
Back To You
Here I Am
I'm Ready
This Time
Do I Have To Say The Words?
Can't Stop This Thing We Started
If Ya Wanna Be Bad Ya Gotta Be Good
Heat Of The Night
When the Night Comes
Not Romeo Not Juliet
(Everything I Do) I Do It For You
Cuts Like A Knife
18 Til I Die
Please Forgive Me
Summer Of '69
Walk On By
Heaven
When You're Gone
The Right Place
I Can't Stop Loving You
The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me Is You
+
Somebody
You've Been A Friend To Me
Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman?
I Still Miss You... A Little Bit
Straight From The Heart
All For Love

[Footnote - turns out Bryan released the DVD "Live From The Sydney Opera House" instead!]

Roger Daltrey - Wednesday 28th March - Royal Albert Hall



"Who Are You"? Royal Albert Hall - view from the Gods


Our annual pilgrimage to the Royal Albert Hall in support of the Teenage Cancer Trust Charity. Their excellent work is supported by a series of gigs each year arranged by Roger Daltrey. Much as we'd liked to have gone to see Paul McCartney a few days later, the prices were a bit out of reach, so instead we went for the opening night to see Roger himself, albeit from slightly long range in the circle! there had been much press debate leading up to the show around debenture holders flogging their seats for huge profits and although there were some restricted view seats left empty, it was a pretty good turnout for the Who frontman and "friends".


Thumbnail of Kelly Jones and Ron Wood from
http://life.royalalberthall.com/2012/03/roger-daltrey-and-friends-kick-of-the-2012-teenage-cancer-trust-concerts/

 A 2 song acoustic set from Mr Daltrey started proceedings (pretty average in my opinion), including "Freedom" before the first of the "special" guests appeared - Paul Freeman who did 1 song. A brief (early!) interlude was followed by Kelly Jones from the Stereophonics, who I really enjoyed. One highlight was Ron Wood joining him for an excellent Faces "Ooh La La" - outrageously predicted by me at the start of the evening!

Another break and then it was time for Paul Weller. By many accounts, his live performances can be a bit hit or miss, depending on what songs he chooses to play. Here, I thought the mix of well known and new was about right and his brief acoustic set was enjoyable.

Another break and it was time for the main attraction - Roger Daltrey's electric set. Without Simon Townshend on guitar for a change and with no sign of Pete either, he ripped through a range of Who classics interrupted only by more guests. First up was Scottish songstress Amy MacDonald who did the 2 of the 3 songs of hers I have (!) and a popular cover of Springsteen's "Born To Run". I was impressed. She was quickly followed by Steve Winwood, who's "Higher Ground" has never struck me as a classic song. I was clearly in the minority on that one as most of the crowd got to their feet for an extended version. I much preferred the next song, the Spencer Davis classic "Gimme Some Lovin'" and by then the party was in full swing. Ron Wood and Kelly Jones returned later for a slight chaotic "Baba O'Riley" after a slightly self indulgent "Young Man Blues", but there was little to complain about. Roger's traditional solo show closers bought the evening to an end. A good evening for an excellent cause.

Setlist (Daltrey Electric)
Who Are You
The Kids Are Alright
Behind Blue Eyes
Mr Rock and Roll - Amy MacDonald
This Is The Life - Amy MacDonald
Born To Run - Amy MacDonald
Higher Love - Steve Winwood
Gimme Some Lovin' - Steve Winwood
Pinball Wizard
I Can See For Miles
Won't Get Fooled Again
Young Man Blues
Baba O Riley
+
Without Your Love
Blue, Red and Grey