Woodedz- The Orange (West Kensington) - Thursday 21st September

We took the opportunity for a bit of a crawl before getting to West Kensington, starting in the White Horse in Parson's Green. Then onto further establishments on the way via Fulham Broadway, including a dodgy game of darts (one throw, "100", - the next, "4") and a partial Pub Quiz where we didn't have time to stay for the end, but would have been near the top based on the first 3 rounds if we were playing for real...

Woodedz are John "Rhino" Edwards from Status Quo and his sons Max and Freddie. This low-key gig was not really supporting anything and was showcasing the "Rhino's Revenge" CD from a few years back and this it did pretty well. Rhino's singing was better than I'd remembered and the boys guitars and drums were spot on. Wasn't sure about the "rap" halfway through, but there were good versions of Quo's "Obstruction Day" and "Paper Plane". The set finished with a tribute to the Brentford Striker, Lloyd Owusu... "the one and only" according the catchy song! 

All good fun - shame only about 80 people turned up. Bit of a pain to get home from on a Thursday for us, but at least home not too much after midnight. Next up, next month is Dan Baird... looking forward to that.

Robbie Williams - Wembley Stadium - Tuesday 19th September

Wembley Stadium? - yeah right !! Moved to Milton Keynes Bowl... no siree bob, thank you very much! Refund promptly obtained.

"We Will Rock You" - Dominion Theatre - Tuesday 5th September

The 5th September would have been Freddie Mercury's 60th Birthday if he was still alive. This special performance of the Queen musical was its normal good fun (despite highly suspect plot!) and featured "special guests". Only a couple as it turned out, but I was able to increase my "chart acts seen" by McFly turning up for "Don't Stop Me Now". 

For the encore, the expected appearance of Brian May and Roger Taylor gave us Bohemian Rhapsody, Love of My Life, Say It Isn't So (I know it's for a good cause, but I really don't rate this song) and The Show Must Go On. 

I'm perhaps being greedy, but had hoped for a few more guests.. Still, what we saw was good and we spotted Spike Edney and Neil Murray in the house band... let's rock!

Bad Influence - "The Windsor Castle" (Carshalton) - Saturday 2nd September

Hadn't known anything about this until Richard told me a day or 2 beforehand. Bad Influence normally feature Harry and Chris from Thunder and play a selection of original material and covers. 

Carshalton is only a brief train ride from home, so I met Richard there just after 9 and only missed 2 songs. The pub itself (and clientele) is a real 70's throwback. Think "The Sweeney" and you are spot on. Lots of middle aged men in brown jackets with wide lapels and lots of smoke. No really... lots! We resisted all temptation to shout "You're Nicked!" and enjoyed the music. 

The vast majority of the music was originals (which we didn't know, but was enjoyable), but we were treated to a second encore with "I'd Rather Go Blind" and "Keep Your Hands To Yourself". No Chris on bass, but Harry was on good form. Good stuff overall.

The Mods - Sutton United FC - Friday 1st September

First gig for a while and a nice Friday night 10 minute stroll from home. The Mods are always worth seeing - a collection of fine musicians who who may well have seen in the bands of famous artists on bigger stages.

Tonight, we got the lineup of Johnny Warman, Steve Byrd, Johnny Marter, Steve Barnacle and Spike Edney. This was actually a birthday bash for the promoter so we got the best of the Mods and 4 Bills and a Ben (their alta-ego). As the Mods they play covers of the 60's Rock and Britpop scene (think the Who, Small Faces, Kinks etc) and as the 4 Bills more a soulful sound (Tina Turner, Athur Conley, Robert Johnson, James Brown etc).

The highlight for me (as usual with these guys) was the extraordinary guitar playing of Steve Byrd - the guy is brilliant and makes it look amazingly easy. He used to be in Tina Turner's band and supposedly wrote the music for Baywatch (which of course, was why we all watched it!)

Only criticism was that the 4 bar staff were nowhere near enough to cope with the demand and so service was slow. Still, at least thanks to the new relaxed laws we could enjoy a pint in the Plough afterwards.

All in all an excellent 2 hours of great music - if you get the chance to see these guys, do !

SPAM!

Please feel free to add comments, but NOT if you are a spammer. I've had to restrict comments to registered users, to get rid of all the rubbish that was being "automatically" added to the posts.

No gigs planned for ages. Next due is "Rhino's Revenge" in the middle of October - must try and get something else sorted!

Jimmy Barnes - Carling Academy - Monday 7th August

Many moons ago I went into the Sydney branch of HMV and bought a selection of Jimmy Barnes CDs. When I went to pay, I got a smile from the cashier who asked if I "was off home for a bit of shouting?". Mr Barnes has that reputation as a bit of a gravel voiced belter. He can't be all bad though. It is estimated that 40% of all Australians own a Jimmy Barnes record and he had 7 consecutive number one albums there. 

Anyway, this gig was at the Carling Academy, Islington (ex Marquee number 3) and - unsurprisingly - had been turned into a mini Oz convention. What I was more surprised at, was the level of drunkenness - for a Monday night! Many were struggling to stand at the start of the show and soon the Carling Academy had run out of - yes, you guessed it, Carling! Anyway, how can 95% of the Aussies be absolutely slaughtered, leap about all over the place with drinks in hand and never spill a drop? 

So, the gig. Well, basically it was excellent. Loud, in tune, great atmosphere and some really good rock songs (and a few covers). 2 Special Guests (Roachford & Mica Paris) added to the evening as did the spectacle of the 2 punch ups on the floor (both caused purely by drunks). Really impressed by the bouncers - they got the right guys and quickly. One was so drunk, he was still trying to attack the 6ft 8" man mountain that was "escorting" him away - very foolish. 

My favourites were "Working Class Man", "No Second Prize" and the cover of "Sweet Little Rock 'n' Roller". All in all, a £17.50 bargain - shame I can't go to the 2nd night tonight!

Setlist

Love & Hate

I'd Rather Be Blind

Shape of Things to Come

Rising Sun

I'm Still on Your Side

No Second Prize

Lay Down Your Guns

Love Is Enough

Sweet Little Rock & Roller

Attention 

I Put a Spell on You

I'd Die to Be With You Tonight

Resurrection Shuffle

Flame Trees

Merry-Go-Round

Khe Sanh

Working Class Man

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When the War Is Over

Good Times

Goodbye (Astrid Goodbye)

Billy Joel - Wembley Arena - Wednesday 12th July

Now if it's rare I pay £75 +b/f for a ticket, it must be even rarer that I repeat the trick 2 days later! However, we managed to get seats in the 8th Row (moved up to 3rd row a bit later in the show) and got to see everything close up. Sound was as good as you'll ever get for an arena show and there were a few setlist changes from Monday. All in all, just as well he only did 2 nights, otherwise I'd be broke! Brilliant.

Setlist

Prelude / Angry Young Man

My Life

Everybody Loves You Now

Vienna

The Entertainer

The Ballad of Billy the Kid

Just the Way You Are

Zanzibar

New York State of Mind

The Downeaster Alexa

She's Always a Woman

Don't Ask Me Why

Allentown

Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)

Keeping the Faith

An Innocent Man

Uptown Girl

The River of Dreams

We Didn't Start the Fire

It's Still Rock and Roll to Me

You May Be Right

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Only the Good Die Young

Scenes From an Italian Restaurant

Piano Man

Billy Joel - Wembley Arena - Monday 10th July

It's not often I pay £75 +b/f for a ticket and say it was good value, but this was brilliant. First shows in London for 14 years and worth every penny. 

Setlist

Prelude / Angry Young Man

My Life

Everybody Loves You Now

The Entertainer

Just the Way You Are

Zanzibar

Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)

New York State of Mind

The Downeaster Alexa

She's Always a Woman

Don't Ask Me Why

Allentown

Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)

Keeping the Faith

Spanish Harlem

Stand by Me

An Innocent Man

Uptown Girl

The River of Dreams

Highway to Hell

We Didn't Start the Fire

Big Shot

It's Still Rock and Roll to Me

You May Be Right

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Only the Good Die Young

Scenes From an Italian Restaurant

Piano Man

Status Quo - Epsom Racecourse - Thursday 6th July

For the 3rd year running, Quo play the "Epsom Live!" series of shows at the racecourse. They normally finish the sequence, but due to touring commitments, they are opening it this year. Maybe as a result, attendance is down. Rumour has it that there were around 20,000 last year - I'm guessing this was more 10-12,000. 

We got a good spot in the grandstand and after an unsuccessful evening betting wise, the band lifted our spirits. Pretty much the normal "festival set" of recent years, but with "Hold You Back" and no "4500 times/Rain". I don't know if it was my imagination, but got the feeling that Rick's voice was being protected. Still got the 3 "Heavy Traffic" songs (Why?), but unlike last year, a later curfew and a full encore, including "Burning Bridges". I normally dislike that with a passion, but Francis appeared to be playing lead for the main tune (it's normally keyboards) and this improved it immensely. All over by 10.30 and a happy crowd drifted into the night.

Setlist

Caroline

Something 'bout You Baby I Like

Don't Waste My Time

Forty-Five Hundred Times

Rain

All Stand Up (Never Say Never)

The Oriental

Creepin' Up on You

Mystery Song / Railroad / Most of the Time / Wild Side of Life / Rollin' Home / Again and Again / Slow Train

Gerdundula

Drum Solo

Roll Over Lay Down

Down Down

Whatever You Want

Rockin' All Over the World

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Burning Bridges

Junior's Wailing

Rock and Roll Music / Bye Bye Johnny