Cregan & Co - Friday 19th July - Boom Boom, Sutton

Brief review:  Another Sutton outing for Jim, Ben, Pat, Sam & Harry. A slightly mixed up set - still revolving around the Rod Stewart material Jim played on, but also with a few newer choices. See these guys whilst you can as they are brilliant. Hopefully the recent venue issues with promotion (or lack of it) won't prevent them from returning.

Venue and View:  Floor Standing. Half full, but then again hardly anyone would have known this was on!

Johnny Warman - Friday 3rd May - Boom Boom, Sutton

Brief review:  The evergreen Mr Warman. I've lost count of how many times I've seen him at the Boom Boom and elsewhere and he always delivers. This was the 60's and 70's Rock Show version of his "Magic Bus" lineup and featured rock classics from those eras. I just hope the promotion issues at the Boom Boom get sorted and the shows actually get advertised to increase the audience numbers.

Venue and View:  Standing on the floor, central near the front.

Friday 29th March - Bootleg Blondie - Boom Boom, Sutton

Brief review:  Excellent Blondie tribute. I'd not seen the band before but would happily go and see them again. I particularly liked the attention to detail, such as the song-appropriate outfits that the singer (another Debbie) wore.

Venue and View:  Standing

Guitar Legends - Friday 15th March - Boom Boom, Sutton

Brief review:  My previous review of the Guitar Legends would have mentioned that I didn't think the vocals were up to scratch. I therefore was slightly reticent about seeing them again, but as Richard hadn't seen them, he persuaded me to go. And I am glad I did as I had no such complaints this time around. An expected set of Rock classics with a couple of surprises thrown in for good measure.

Venue and View:  Pretty central standing of a reasonably spacious floor. Easy access to the bar.

Sutton Folk Festival (Del Amitri, Nick Lowe) - Sunday 19th August - Manor Park, Sutton

Brief review:  Manor Park in Sutton (popular hangout at school lunchtimes!) for a folk festival. Definition stretched - we are here for Nick Lowe and Del Amitri - who’s show T shirts have the tagline of “Drunk In Glasgow Since 1982”! All good, apart from the bar queue.

The show made me realise that I don't own any Del Amitri albums or CDs - that anomaly was put right very soon after this excellent perfomance.  

Venue and View:  Capacity crowd of 2,000. 2 easily accessible stages - we went "front right" for both.

Setlist
Nick Lowe
Man That I've Become
People Change
Long Limbed Girl
Lately I've Let Things Slide
I Live on a Battlefield 
Lay It On Me Baby
Rome Wasn't Built in a Day
Tokyo Bay
Heartbreaker 
Love Starvation
Far Celestial Shore 
Cruel to Be Kind
Trombone
Heart 
I Knew the Bride (When She Used to Rock 'n' Roll)

Del Amitri
Musicians and Beer
Always the Last to Know
Not Where It's At
Kiss This Thing Goodbye
Nothing Ever Happens
Mockingbird, Copy Me Now
Driving With the Brakes On
Missing Person
Move Away Jimmy Blue
Roll to Me
You Can't Go Back
Here and Now
Spit in the Rain
Stone Cold Sober
+
Be My Downfall

Johnny Warman (Total Who) - Friday 31st March - Boom Boom, Sutton

Brief review:  Who classics from Johnny and band including Marcus Flynn and Neil Fairclough. If you have not seen them before then go!

Venue and View:  Floor, middle. Front half

Slady - Saturday 11th March - Sound Lounge, Sutton

Brief review:  First gig at this excellent Sutton venue. Slady play Slade with a few new songs in the set promised that may challenge our “deeper cuts” knowledge. Support was from the very engaging Isabella Coulstock who included a cover of Jolene in her set.

There’s always one who thinks that standing at the front of a mainly seated event is acceptable. All other standees are at the back.

Venue and View:  Seated.. front left. Until we stood!

Fleetwood Bac - Friday 30th December - Boom Boom, Sutton

Brief review:  Fleetwood Bac appear to be considered the primary tribute band for Fleetwood Mac and this show probably showed why. Excellent musicianship, faithfully reproduced songs and vocals. Personally, I'm not sure about tribute bands with wigs (does anyone really need the musicians to try and look like the band they are emulating?), but that was only a minor distraction. 

Personally, I'd have liked one or two more of the blues period songs in addition to "Oh Well" and as I'm sure I've mentioned before, any Fleetwood Mac (or tribute) show could be enhanced by omitting "Tusk" IMHO :)  A few favourites were missing ("Seven Wonders", "Eyes of The World", "Oh Diane"), but it was nice to include "Say You Love Me" and "Hold Me" as lesser hits). We even got a Stevie Nicks solo track ("Edge of Seventeen") which I gather is now popular with a younger audience. The rendition of "Songbird" - dedicated to Christine McVie was especially moving.

If the middle of the set was a little "hardcore" (in that as an average "Mac" fan there were a few songs I didn't know), the overall show was well worth it and a good time seemed to be had by all.

Venue and View:  Reserved seats on the left, half way back. Sold out and pretty crowded.

Cregan and Co - Friday 21st October - Boom Boom, Sutton

Brief review:  The normal excellent show from Jim and the boys. The "new" material fits in well and I'd certainly not heard them do Joe Cocker's "N'oubliez Jamais" before. I gather Jim may be producing another Quireboys album soon, so we may even get a reference there. Still, it's the Rod Stewart songs that the audience comes to sing and the Boom Boom crowd was in fine voice. 

Venue and View:  Midway back on the floor

Setlist
The First Cut Is the Deepest
The Wild Side of Life
So Many Rumours
Forever Young
Hot Legs
Best of The Bad Boys
You're in My Heart (The Final Acclaim)
I Was Only Joking
Downtown Train
N'oubliez Jamais
I Saw Her Standing There
Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)
Blondes (Have More Fun)
Baby Jane
Young Turks
Maggie May
+
Passion
Stay With Me

Creedence Clearwater Review - Friday 16th September - Boom Boom, Sutton

Brief review:  Excellent tribute band playing a mix of CCR and John Fogerty classics very well indeed. Must remember to wear a checked shirt next time! And hopefully they will get the bigger crowd that they deserve.

Venue and View:  Slightly right of centre standing, 10 yards from the stage, but you could basically stand where you wanted.

State of Quo - Friday 17th June - Boom Boom, Sutton

Brief review:  One of the best Quo tribute bands rocking the house. Decent array of vintage Quo T shirts on display amongst the audience.

Venue and View:  Central, about 10 yards from the stage. Busy enough for an atmosphere, but plenty of room to move around and get to the bar

Guitar Legends - Friday 24th September - Boom Boom, Sutton

Brief review:  Local gig, showcasing Marcus Flynn's excellent guitar playing as they cover rock classics from everyone from Jimi Hendrix through Brian Setzer to Gary Moore. The band musically provided great support, but without being disrespectful to the bassist (who played very well), I think they need a proper vocalist with the range to carry off the songs.

Venue and View:  Seated on the far right wall.

Cregan and Co - Friday 3rd September - Boom Boom, Sutton

Brief review: Jim Cregan, Pat Davey, Harry James, Ben Mills and Sam Tanner were in excellent form as always for an evening of mainly Rod Stewart covers. There were (to our surprise), 2 new original songs, which were fine (guest Val Cowell adding some bluesy vocals on the first), but basically the rest of the show was a big sing-a-long. Just as you'd expect!

Venue and View:  Standing about half way back to the left. Pretty full!

Setlist

Downtown Train 
Forever Young
Hot Legs 
The First Cut Is the Deepest
The Wild Side of Life
You're in My Heart (The Final Acclaim)
I Was Only Joking 
Best of The Bad Boys [with Val Cowell of Bad Influence - Live Debut]
Anyone Who Knows Her [Live Debut]
Young Turks
Handbags and Gladrags 
Blondes (Have More Fun) 
Baby Jane 
Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)
Maggie May 
+
Have I Told You Lately

Jamie and the Jets - Friday 13th August - Boom Boom, Sutton

Brief review:  Local show with recommended Elton John tribute act. The recommendation was a good one and a fun evening was had by all. Excellent vocals and musicianship and even a few "hardcore" album tracks thrown in for good measure.

Venue and View:  Seated about half way back, so view partially obstructed by standing punters (photo is from the other side when standing). Reasonably busy in the seats, but plenty of standing room.

Alter Eagles - Friday 6th August - Boom Boom , Sutton

 
Brief review:  Excellent local tribute show with a full range of hits by the Eagles, Don Henley, Glenn Frey and Joe Walsh

Venue and View:  Standing in the middle. Plenty of space.

Johnny Warman's Magic Bus - Saturday 18th January - Boom Boom Club, Sutton

Brief review: A late decision to pop along for the 60's and 70's classic covers night. Very good indeed with Marcus Flynn excelling on lead guitar!

Setlist
You Really Got Me
Wild Thing
(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
Sha La La La Lee
Louie Louie
Mony Mony
Lazy Sunday Afternoon
Ichycoo Park
Hey Joe
Substitute
Fire (Hendrix)
Sunshine Of Your Love
I Can't Explain
Rocky Mountain Way
Summertime Blues
Shakin' All Over
Jumping Jack Flash
+
All Right Now
Roadhouse Blues
54-46 (That's My Number)
Baby Come Back
Baba O'Riley
Lola
I Saw Her Standing There
My Generation
+
Hi Ho Silver Lining
Whole Lotta Love
Get It On (Bang a Gong)

Slade UK - Saturday 30th November - Boom Boom Club, Sutton

One Line review: Better than I could have expected from a tribute band. Sound and vocals spot on and a great set. Hope they come back soon.

Setlist
Slam The Hammer Down
We'll Bring The House Down
Lock Up Your Daughters
Gudbuy T'Jane
My Friend Stan
How Does It Feel
Everyday
My Oh My
The Bangin' Man
Run Runaway
+
Rock And Roll Preacher
Thanks For The Memory (Wham Bam Thank You Mam)
Coz I Luv You
Radio Wall of Sound
Far Far Away
Gypsy Roadhog
Dizzy Mama
Get Down And Get With It
Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me
Take Me Bak 'Ome
Mama Weer All Crazee Now
Cum On Feel Noize
+
Born To Be Wild
Merry Xmas Everybody

Johnny Warman - Friday 18th January - Boom Boom Club, Sutton

One Liner: Not seen Johnny for a while but, as expected, he was in good voice and performed an entertaining selection of well chosen covers from the 60's and 70's. He was joined by the excellent Marcus Flynn on lead guitar.

Queens of Rock - Friday 30th November - Boom Boom Club, Sutton

A nice Friday evening in Sutton for some classic rock covers. Support band, the "Guitar Godz" work their way through some Hendrix, Clapton, Moore, Fleetwood Mac and a little too much Toto before become the instrumentalists for the ladies. The "Queens" add lots of Pat Benatar, Joan Jett, Cher, Bonnie Tyler etc for a good fun evening.

Warner E Hodges - Tuesday 23rd October - Boom Boom Club, Sutton

Warner E Hodges (centre) and his band

Normally when we see Warner it's as part of the excellent Homemade Sin band with Dan Baird, so it was a treat to see him solo at the local Boom Boom Club.

Warner's passion for music (and especially AC/DC) shone through and he was engaging throughout. The music was great too, wth some solo stuff, tunes from his "other band" - Jason and the Scorchers and a smattering of covers including AC/DC, Beatles, John Denver & CCR.

A really nice evening - come back soon please Warner. "Take Me Home... Country Roads..."