Sweet - Thursday 25th November - Chalk, Brighton

Brief review:  A new venue for me, just around the corner from the "Quadrophenia Alley". Unfortunately, the early start meant we only heard the last 3 songs from support Limehouse Lizzy, but they sounded good. As did the Sweet - now with Paul Manzi full time on vocals. The only lull was a couple of lesser known songs in the middle of the set, but otherwise it was hits all the way. 

Venue and View:  Front left about 10 yards from Andy Scott. Busier than expected, but not uncomfortable. Lighting was probably the worst I've seen this year with the band in near darkness for much of the set.

Setlist

Action
New York Groove 
Burn on the Flame
Hell Raiser
The Six Teens
Defender
Windy City
Set Me Free
Everything
Teenage Rampage
Wig Wam Bam / Little Willy
Love Is Like Oxygen / Fanfare for the Common Man
Fox on the Run
+
Blockbuster
The Ballroom Blitz

Danny & Luke (Thunder) - Tuesday 23rd November - Crawley Hawth

Brief review:  Another round (following on from previous years) of chat and music from Thunder's Danny Bowes and Luke Morley - this time without Mick Wall hosting. Entertaining, but clearly much more scripted than the "unscripted" book they were promoting. I did actually get my 2nd half question selected by Danny and was able to engage in some friendly banter from the stage.

Venue and View:  4th Row, left of stage. Sparce crowd (less than half full)

The Dead Daisies / Quireboys - Wednesday 10th November - Shepherd's Bush Empire

Brief review:  Managed to bag some promotional free tickets for this one and enjoyed the Quireboys romp though their re-released debut album "A Little Bit Of What You Fancy". In fact, it was basically a setlist from 1990!

I don't know much about the Dead Daisies, but with Glenn Hughes on vocals and Doug Aldrich also in the band, it was a fair guess that there would be some decent rock music performed. And despite not knowing much of the material, in was perfectly enjoyable - maybe not quite enough to make me rush out and buy their albums, but I wouldn't be adverse to seeing them again. 

Venue and View:  Front left for Quireboys and first half of DD. By the merch desk at the rear after Fortunate Son.

Setlists

[Quireboys]
Misled
Man on the Loose
Long Time Comin'
Whippin' Boy
Hey You
There She Goes Again
I Don't Love You Anymore
Sweet Mary Ann
7 O'Clock

[Dead Daisies]
Unspoken
Rise Up
Dead and Gone
Chosen and Justified
Mexico
Bustle and Flow
Lock 'n' Load
Fortunate Son 
Midnight Moses 
Drum Solo
Mistreated 
My Fate
Leave Me Alone
Saving Grace
Like No Other (Bassline)
Holy Ground (Shake the Memory)
+
Long Way to Go
Burn

Scouting For Girls - Wednesday 3rd November - G-Live, Guildford

Brief review:  More SFG today with a family trip to Guildford. There were a few references to Croydon the night before around the noise levels and the reaction to questions about "Posh Girls" (make up your own jokes!). From what I picked up, we were one song shorter tonight, with the "Stick The Kettle On" collaboration with Lucy Spraggan dropped. Excellent as normal.

Venue and View:  2nd Row of balcony seats. Unobstructed view and the standing area looked packed. Venue suggested this was just about sold out.

Setlist

I Wish It Was 1989
Heartbeat
I Wish I Was James Bond
1+1
Posh Girls
Butterflies
Famous
Millionaire
Bad Superman / Stacy's Mom
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) 
This Ain't a Love Song
Secret Tattoo
Elvis Ain't Dead / Can't Help Falling in Love
+
Michaela Strachan
She's So Lovely

Scouting For Girls - Tuesday 2nd November - Fairfield Halls, Croydon

Brief review:  Roy and the boys (minus ill bassist Greg) run through a selection of greatest hits and other material in their usual engaging manner. Whilst it would be nice if their show was slightly longer (it's pretty much always 70 minutes), they do pack a fair bit of fun into their energetic set. Looking forward to a (seated) repeat tomorrow. Signed cassette (!) purchased afterwards.

Venue and View:  A new part of the Fairfield Halls - "The Recreational" is an impressive custom build standing venue with excellent sight lines. We stood on the left, not too far back. Busy, but not packed.

Setlist

I Wish It Was 1989
Heartbeat
I Wish I Was James Bond
1+1
Posh Girls
Butterflies
Famous
Millionaire
Stick The Kettle On
Bad Superman / Stacy's Mom
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) 
This Ain't a Love Song
Secret Tattoo
Elvis Ain't Dead / Can't Help Falling in Love
+
Michaela Strachan
She's So Lovely

Tom Robinson - Friday 22nd October - Nell's, Kensington

Brief review:  Music and stories from the BBC Radio 6 presenter and eponymous founder of "The Tom Robinson Band" (TRB). Tom is the second performer I've seen this week (after Roger Taylor) who is in his seventies, but he is still able to delivery his music with power and passion. Many of the protest songs are still relevant today, as well as a reminder of what has changed since the 70's. An excellent evening.

Venue and View:  Still one of my favourite venues. Central floor view, a couple of yards from the stage.

Setlist

Up Against the Wall
Never Get Old
Risky Business
Martin
Spain
Too Good to Be True
The Mighty Sword of Justice
Atmospherics: Listen to the Radio
(Sing If You're) Glad to Be Gay
Grey Cortina
War Baby
2-4-6-8 Motorway
+
Only the Now
Power in the Darkness

Roger Taylor - Tuesday 19th October - G-Live, Guildford

Brief review:  A tour arranged at relatively short notice to support his new album ("Outsider"), the Queen drummer was in fine voice and delivered a setlist covering most periods of his long career. The band included Spike Edney on keyboards and was effectively 3/5 of the current live version of "Queen" (minus Bryan May and Adam Lambert). Roger takes a bit of stick for some of his solo material, but it ranges from the brilliant (Strange Frontier) to the slightly niche (A Nation of Haircuts). But none are too offensive and it's always likely that there will be a classic within a song or two.

Venue and View:  Excellent view and sound as usual at G-Live. 7th row stalls, absolutely central! Sold out.

Setlist

Strange Frontier
Tenement Funster
We're All Just Trying to Get By
A Nation of Haircuts
These Are the Days of Our Lives 
Up
Gangsters Are Running This World
A Kind of Magic 
Absolutely Anything
Surrender
Man on Fire
Rock It (Prime Jive) (Tyler Warren on vocals)
Under Pressure 
Say It's Not True 
I'm in Love With My Car 
Outsider
More Kicks (Long Day's Journey into Night... Life)
Drum Battle
Foreign Sand
Tutti Frutti 
Radio Ga Ga 
+
Rock and Roll 
Heroes

All we hear is... Radio Ga Ga... Radio Goo Goo

T'Pau - Saturday 16th October - REC Rooms, Horsham

Brief review:  A "double header" for me with football in Crawley in the afternoon and T'Pau down the road in Horsham later. A new venue for me and it was nicely laid out with a decent view and sound quality. A decent and varied set from Carol, Ron and the band - but predictably it was only around the 70 minute mark. But transport wise, that suited us pretty well for the journey home via the delights of East Croydon. 

Venue and View:  A couple of rows back on the left for most of the show. At the back for the encore to make a quick escape for the train! Reasonably busy once everyone moved from the bars to the event space.

I didn't note the setlist for this one - if you have the full list then please share.

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 

Wendy James - Friday 1st October - Islington Academy 2

Brief review:  Whilst it's great to see Wendy still performing well, I have to say I find her solo material a bit "hit and miss". Some songs are good, but others drag a bit - for me at least. But then I am of the age where the reason I am here is for the Transvision Vamp songs, and those were performed well, even if it was difficult not to be mildly irritated by the posturing of the guitarist trying so hard to look cool. Maybe the Osmonds outfit didn't help!

Venue and View:  Pretty busy - and not a great venue compared to the larger downstairs room. We went for the right hand side, but towards the back and away from the hideously expensive bar!

Setlist

You’re So Great
Speedball
You're a Good Man, Sister
Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window? 
You're a Dirtbomb, Lester
If Looks Could Kill 
I Want Your Love 
Perilous Beauty
Little Melvin
The Impression of Normalcy
Tell That Girl to Shut Up 
Down on You 
Bad Valentine 
Baby I Don't Care