Thunder - Friday 21st December - Manchester Academy

Off up north for what is becoming an annual trip for Thunder's Xmas party. Thankfully the band have heeded their public and moved on from the dreadful Rock City in Nottingham and this was our first visit to the Manchester Academy. And what a difference! A venue which you could get into easily. A venue where the audience all have a clear line of site to the stage (height permitting!). A venue with ample bar staff to server everyone quickly (and at fair prices). Toilets that you could get into with out a massive queue. And a large friendly crowd without a crush. If Carlsberg did venues...

The show itself started a little slowly. I know the band want to mix things up (after all there's a CD or 2 to come from this), but a start including obscure tracks from the pretty average "The Thrill Of It All" album had some punters scratching their heads somewhat! Things livened up a bit with "Low Life In High Places" and from there on in a good time was had by all. Sad to say we didn't recognise a Deep Purple cover - "Might Just Take Your Life", but and excellent "Jet" and "Hammer To Fall" were spot on.

The band seemed to be enjoying themselves and I can't help wondering if the 2013 tour with Journey and Whitesnake may jolt them out of retirement once again. In any case, there are rumours of the Xmas shows continuing but changing venue each year. I hear Brighton is very nice in December and gives the opportunity for a few Quadrophenia covers! Bell Boy!

Setlist
Stand Up
The Moment Of Truth
Does It Feel Like Love?
Weather With You
This Forgotten Town
Don't Wait Up
I'll Be Waiting
It's Another Day
Low Life In High Places
Amy's On The Run
+
Backstreet Symphony
The Devil Made Me Do It
Until My Dying Day
Might Just Take Your Life
Jet
Numb
Isn't It Time
River Of Pain
On The Radio
Hammer To Fall
Love Walked In
Dirty Love
+
Born To Run
I Love You More Than Rock 'N' Roll
I Wish it Could Be Christmas Everyday

Thunder - Tuesday 20th December - Rock City, Nottingham

Thunder , for those that could see them!

So, Thunder are back. Or are they? Time will tell if this was a one-off return for the traditional Christmas shows in Nottingham, or the rebirth of a fantastic band. I for one, hope the latter.

The downside is that they continue to play at the dreadful Rock City. The venue holds 1900 people. It was full, very full. You can only see the whole stage if you are either a) directly in front of it or b) in the front row of the balcony. Everyone else can see either nothing or very little. This leads to pushing, arguing and general unpleasantness. It take ages to get in and an age to filter out. It's a real shame as the admin side of things (website, ticket sales, staff etc) are all excellent, but it makes for the worst gig experiences I have anywhere.

OK rant over - awful venue, great band. The usual mix of covers and Thunder Classics. The band played a bit safe with the selection of their own material and the covers were a bit hit and miss (blank stares all round at a couple of them), but it was still a good night. Indeed, the finale of "Merry Christmas Everybody" seemed slightly more authentic than Slade's a few nights earlier!!

With hotel booked and a lie in the next morning, we upped the average age by joining the students in the "Rescue Rooms" nightclub (after a fun go at the "Countdown" board game in the pub!). £1.90 a pint of San Miguel possibly contributed to the hangover the next day!

I have subsequently found out the the 1st World Darts Final was played at the venue now known as Rock City! As Richard asked, how did they see a thing?

Setlist
Everybody Wants Her
Living for Today
We Can Work It Out
Everybody's Laughing
Breakdown
Come & Get It
The Thrill of It All
You Wear It Well
You're My Best Friend
Once in a Lifetime
Just Another Suicide (You Wanna Know)
+
Loser
The Devil Made Me Do It
Higher Ground
Castles In The Sand
Living For The City
Gimme Some Lovin'
Like A Satellite
You Can't Keep A Good Man Down
Live and Let Die
Love Walked In
I Love You More Than Rock 'N' Roll
+
A Better Man
Dirty Love
Merry Xmas Everybody