Sweet - Wednesday 18th December - Islington Assembly Hall

Brief review: My last show of the year is a decent one as Sweet step up a notch in venue size at the Islington Assembly Hall. With ex Cats In Space vocalist Paul Manzi now the permanent frontman this was an enjoyable romp through all the hits you'd expect to hear. I really do enjoy Andy Scott's guitar playing too.

Setlist
Action
New York Groove (with 'New York' by Alicia Keys snippet)
Hell Raiser
Burn on the Flame
The Six Teens
Peppermint Twist
AC/DC
Turn It Down
Set Me Free
Teenage Rampage
Wig-Wam Bam
Little Willy
Love Is Like Oxygen / Fanfare for the Common Man
Fox on the Run
+
Blockbuster
The Ballroom Blitz

Rod Stewart - Tuesday 17th December - O2 Arena

Brief review: A decent set from Rod. The voice is still there, even if a touch of energy has gone as he moves into his mid-seventies. Very enjoyable, although wish we could have afforded floor seats.

Setlist
Some Guys Have All the Luck
Having a Party 
It Takes Two 
Rhythm of My Heart 
Forever Young
The Killing of Georgie (Part I and II)
Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)
+
Maggie May
Downtown Train 
Dirty Old Town 
The First Cut Is the Deepest 
I Don't Want to Talk About It 
Gasoline Alley
Every Beat of My Heart
Stay With Me 
Handbags and Gladrags 
You're in My Heart (The Final Acclaim)
Grace 
Have I Told You Lately 
Go Your Own Way (band only)
Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?
+
Sailing 

Dan Baird & Homemade Sin - Thursday 5th December - Face Bar, Reading

Brief review: A rearranged show in Reading. No London date on this batch of shows, so the joys of GWR were bought into play. Good fun as always with the band - and although nothing was mentioned at the show - rumours abound that this was a "farewell" as Dan is retiring. That would be really sad as his music has been part of my life for over 30 years. There is a certain rounding of the circle if it is true though, having first seen Dan in The Georgia Satellites at the Reading Festival in 1987.

All the best for your retirement Dan!

Setlist
?

Bernice Ehrlich - Tuesday 3rd December - Cologne Weihnachtsmarkt

One Line review: Caught the end of Bernice's Christmas set in Cologne which was very pleasant. "Klaus" was on guitar. We had a nice chat with Bernice after the show with some photos - which may or may not have been induced by the Gluhwein consumed amongst our group. Luckily, her English was flawless.

The full show is available here

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

Bernie Marsden - Tuesday 26th November - Waterstones, Piccadilly

Quick review: An interview format show followed by book signing to promote the new version of Bernie's book. Some entertaining stories interspersed with 3 acoustic songs. Looking forward to his full show in January.

Setlist
Trouble
Till the Day I Die
Here I Go Again

Primal Scream - Thursday 21st November - Brighton Dome

Quick review: Third show on the trot for me and it's a trip down to Brighton for the Scottish alternative rockers. I've seen them a few times - but don't really know their material that well outside a couple of their big hits ("Rocks" and "Country Girl"). But as I said to Richard on the way down, "I know it will be good, because there's always a Rolling Stones-esq tune about to come up". And indeed it was good.

Setlist
Don't Fight It, Feel It
Swastika Eyes
Miss Lucifer
Can't Go Back
Accelerator
Kill All Hippies
(I'm Gonna) Cry Myself Blind
I'm Losing More Than I'll Ever Have
Velocity Girl
Dolls (Sweet Rock and Roll)
Burning Wheel
100% or Nothing
Loaded
Movin' On Up
Country Girl
+
Come Together
Jailbird
Rocks

Mud - Wednesday 20th November - Cavern, Raynes Park

Quick review: A short hop to Raynes Park with my brother and good friend who is a very keen Mud fan. They don't play that often it seems, so it was good to see this incarnation (very different from the "Mud 2" and "Les Gray's Mud" versions I have seen previously) in a sold out small venue. And it was good fun indeed - I even knew much of the set.

Setlist
L'L'Lucy
Crazy
Dyna-Mite
Hypnosis
One Night
Secrets That You Keep
Shake It Down
Oh, Boy!
Moonshine Sally
There's Good Rockin Tonight
Rocket
Cut Across Shorty
The Cat Crept In
Lonely This Christmas
Happy Birthday to You [Ray Stiles Birthday]
Tiger Feet
Rock and Roll Part 2 (snippet)

Scouting For Girls - Tuesday 19th November - G-Live, Guildford

Quick review: First night of 3 show for me. Decent seats and a decent show from SFG. Whilst their sets are never the longest, they manage to cram most of the essential hits in each time and mixed it up for this show with a couple of new tracks which were pleasant enough. Unfortunately, our prior request (for "Little Miss Naughty") from the meet and greet in Kingston did not come to fruition - probably trumped by the on-stage proposal.

Setlist
Grown Up
Heartbeat
Love How It Hurts
I Wish I Was James Bond
The Trouble With Boys
Posh Girls
Millionaire
Sweet Love
Famous
Count on Me
Elvis Ain't Dead / Hound Dog / I Can't Help Falling In Love
Michaela Strachan
This Ain't A Love Song
+
Christmas in the Air (Tonight)
She's So Lovely

Pete Townshend - Wednesday 6th November - Westminster Central Hall

Two Liner: Unfortunately no music this evening, but a chat about Mr Townshend's new novel as well as life in the Who, hosted by Mariella Frostrup. An interesting, but expensive hour!