Here and Now Tour 2011 @ Metro Radio Arena

As a child born in 1970 my real youth was centered firmly on the 80's - not so much the fashions as I was, for at least half of the decade, still reliant on Mum & Dad to buy my clothes, but what I didn't need anyone else to do was choose my music and boy, the 80's was great!

Pop was exactly that, POP ! Upbeat, uptempo with the rise of the synth, the drum machine and the first vestiges of a more commercial approach to the music industry (thank you Stock, Aitken and Waterman) even the sad songs, the poor unrequited love songs still had a catchy melody and a hidden sense of hope.  So, with all my memories bubbling to the surface I hit the Telewest Arena for a trip into nostalgia. 

The last time I came to the Arena was for the Metro Radio Live event, at that time the roads were cordoned off, the crowds of flag & posters sellers were all vying for a share of the teeny pocket money and the scent of Chantelle or Brittany was heavy in the air.  This time the roads were clear, there wasn't a single seller and the air seemed, to me at least, to have a faint whiff of Charlie....

Obviously the crowds able to turn out for a gig like this are a lot smaller than the current teen variety show; the stage had been pulled half way into the arena, reducing the number of seats available but at the same time creating a more cosy feel, like a school reunion disco and that is the very best way to describe the night.

First up was A Flock of Seagulls, well, not so much a flock now, more like one lonely seagull on the look out for his mates.  Mike Score on keyboards (minus his trademark back-combed 'do') at least gave us the first taste of what was to come with their synth-heavy "I Ran", "Wishing" and then "Space Age Love Song".   ★1/2

Next (after a very quick change over) was Pepsi & Shirlie, initially known as the backing singers for Wham but then breaking away to have their own hits. These girls still looked great and were obviously very much up for having fun on stage too - belting out renditions of "Heartache", "Goodbye Stranger" and "Alright Now" - needless to say, the girls in the audience all seemed to know these ones.  ★★

After P & S the stage went dark, a few changes and then entered a small man in a suit, guitar round his neck and to a flash we were introduced to Midge Ure.  I always knew of Midge as the lead singer of Ultravox and had bought his solo albums too, but boy this guy can still play AND belt out a song.  Genuinely looking like he was having fun, Midge gave us "If I was", "Fade to Grey" (which a lot of people were baffled to know Midge wrote and gave it to Stevie Strange of Visage), and absolutely awesome rendition of "Vienna" and finished off with "Dancing, with Tears in my Eyes" (which I admit I was a little bit).  IF this guy EVER comes near to where you live, be it to play a couple of songs or a whole concert, you MUST go and see him.  ★★★★

The last act of the first half was, if I'm to be honest (and I'd never lie to you), the act I really had looked forward to the most.  In 1987 I was 16 and already finding my way through the teenage angst - then along came Belinda Carlisle and unfortunately most girls my age suffered because of her - she was, and still is, Gorgeous !!  She bounced on stage and I have to admit I stood stock still, eyes agog and mouth open like a pet shop poodle.  Her hits were made for a night like last night; "I Get Weak", "Circles in the Sand", "Leave a Light On", "Heaven is a Place on Earth" - all of them played with complete abandon, a sense of the 80's freedom was brought to us in 2011 by the epitome of the era.  ★★★★★ (how can it not be)

The break gave me chance to calm down a little, or maybe come back to reality - I always believe that the essence of a good show, whether it is music, theatre or film is to give the audience the chance to escape, to forget the today and the problems, challenges and disappointments and to just spend time being free- well the first half transported me right back to the 80's and left me wanting more (or maybe a Delorean & Flux capacitor).

The second half kicked off with Jimmy Somerville, lead singer of Bronski Beat and The Communards and in my eyes another key component in the soundtrack of the mid 80's.  Jimmy started off with the super up-tempo "You Make me Feel" and then took us even higher with "Never can Say Goodbye", "To Love Somebody", the blistering "Small Town Boy" and "You Are my World".  Jimmy is still as cheeky, as impish and as cute as a button as he has ever been and was having so much fun with the audience that I reckon he would happily have stayed on stage for the rest of the night.★★★1/2

Next came the act I think every girl (and they are still girls, just as I am still one of the boys) in the arena was waiting for, he's been Scott, he's been Joseph, he's been in drag in the Australian desert "But tonight, Mathew, I'm going to be ...." Jason Donovan.  He had the same hair style, plain black jeans and a white t-shirt and he was back as if he'd never been away - "Nothing can Divide us", "When you Come Back to me", "Oh Everyday", an acoustic version of "Sealed with a Kiss" (Bryan Hyland eat your heart out) and then a duet with his backing singer "Especially for You" (a bit too much to ask for Kylie to join in on this one) the Joseph anthem "Any Dream will Do" and to finish off "Too Many Broken Hearts". A complete showman from start to finish with cheeky showing his stomach, playing the queen, joining in with the crowd as we sang along - 80's fun personified (and thanks to SAW for some great tunes) ★★★★

And so, dear reader, we come to the final act of the night.  Now having followed such awesome fayre and with a crowd who were so obviously high on the pop-tastic treats of the previous 2 hours, on came (eventually) Mr Boy George.   Hmmmmmm.  I liked Culture Club, I quite liked some of 'Boys' solo songs, but I had my doubts that he wouldn't be able to keep up the tempo, the fun, the inclusion of the other acts AND BOY WAS I RIGHT !  Georgy Boy spent all of "Church of the Poison Mind" and " Miracle" just complaining to the sound deck that he couldn't hear himself - and from then the feeling in the place just died a little.  It was true that "Everything I Own" had enough scope for audience participation to keep us interested but when he launched into "Always on my Mind" in the style of 'Vic Reeves in the style of a pub singer' it was obvious that he wasn't worthy of heading the bill.  "Do you Really Wanna Hurt me" and "Hare Krishna" followed, all still punctuated by George walking over to the stage side sound desk and asking them to make changes.  Once he had given us "Victims" - the song, tho we kinda felt a bit like victims too, all that was left was for "Karma Chameleon" and then a prompt turn and he disappeared off stage, ner to be seen again. ★ for coming

All in all, this was a fantastic night, full of great pop songs - in fear of being branded an old fuddy, they don't make songs like this anymore (nor did they in the 90's and I was only 20 ) and it's good in a way that they don't because today's artists wouldn't be happy to sing such upbeat, happy, fun-based tunes.

I have to admit tho, as much as I enjoyed this more that any show in the past few years, I did leave feeling somewhat sad, down and a little depressed - a trip back in time to the soundtrack of my youth was great, but where has all that happiness, optimism & carefree fun gone ? - boy do I feel old this morning !

A Night at the Opera @ Darlington Civic

Had anyone previously asked me whether I fancied 'a Night at the Opera', I would have thought they were meaning the seminal Queen album containing such hits as "Love of my Life", "You're my Best Friend" and of course "Bohemian Rhapsody", but although this evening was not a Freddie Mercury & Queen night, I did feel somewhat regal as I took my seat ready to break my operatic duck.

I have always been a fan of music, having trained to play the keyboards for 6 years as a teenager, during which time progressing to play a lot of classical music but sticking to the very popular or those which had been used in adverts or TV.  I was therefore quite excited about seeing & hearing first hand how the tunes I'd mercilessly butchered should sound as well as discovering new ones.  The feeling of pomp & circumstance surrounding the thought of "going to the opera, don't you know" almost made me drift into bad impressions of Noel Coward (minus the smoking jacket).

What a fabulous evening this was.  For anyone who can't tell their Tosca from their La Boheme and who are certain Rigoletto is a starter at the local Italian, I guarantee that you would certainly know all the tunes and I daresay a lot of the words too. (although some may be the bastardised football versions).  Likewise, I defy anyone not to marvel at the sheer spectacle of the costumes, the power of the voices and the spender of the occasion. The programme contained music by Verdi, Puccini, Mozart, Rossini, Bizet, Offenbach and many more; names which, had they been footballers, would be classed as 'Galicticos' - or simply put, mega-stars. 

It's funny how music, quite often the background soundtrack to life can suddenly become the focual point and creator of memories.  For over 2 hours I sat in awe of this glittering concert, only punctuated by my possibly annoying commentary of "oh I know this one" - needless to say, my guest for the evening was equally enamoured with the sudden familiarity of the hitherto unknown works.  Complete with orchestral interludes adding to the grandeur of occasion, I felt that I had been whisked away to the opera houses of Venice, Rome, Vienna, Prague and Paris back in the 17th & 19th centuries.   Of course, no opera evening would be complete without a rendition of Nessun Dorma from Turandot and I have to admit, I felt a Gascoigne-like tear well up as memories of Sir Bobby Robson, Rome and that oh-so-near (again) feeling flooded around me.

Darlington Civic Theatre played perfect host to this sumptuous evening as tho it were designed purely with nights like this in mind and I am sure, given the rapturous applause at the end, that opera will be a very welcome addition to the annual schedules for the South Durham public.  The Civic scored very highly with my guest too, for she had chosen to forsake her usual viewing pleasures in York to sample the delights of Darlington; final score Darlington 1 - York 0 !

Personally I would like to thank the cast, musicians and production for awakening in me a real enjoyment of opera - it's like discovering a whole new world to explore, one which has been around for centuries but just never before seeming too appealing. 

Additional note: Since attending the show at Darlington Civic I have found myself drawn to checking out the Sky Arts channel listings for the full operatic works; so much so that my Sky + box is almost full, so I guess it will soon be time to put on my Sunday best, take up my opera glasses and settle down to enjoy another Night at the Opera.

The Lady in the Van @ Darlington Civic

Any opportunity to go to Darlington's wonderful Civic Theatre and I'm there - call it local pride or just blinkered appreciation but I think that there are few venues that can compete with its intimacy, history and genuine warmth.

Wednesday night I took Mrs B out for a spot of culture; Alan Bennett's play The Lady in the Van.  One of my 'bucket list' activities, I can now say that I have seen an AB play on the stage and I was not disappointed.

A little about the story;

In The Lady in the Van Alan Bennett describes his very odd long-term relationship with "Miss Shepherd". Miss S. first came to the attention of Bennett in the late 1960s. She and her perpetually stalled van (or rather: a succession of such vans) could be found in his Camden Town neighbourhood, parked ever-closer to Bennett's home. Eventually he allowed her to keep it in his own driveway, giving her sanctuary in his garden, as he describes it. It remained there -- with Miss S. living first there and then in a lean-to at the side of his house -- until her death in 1989.

Bennett and Miss S. made for an odd couple. They were, in a sense, landlord and tenant, but other than some peace of mind (knowing Miss S. was "at least out of harm's way") Bennett didn't appear to benefit much from the arrangement. Miss S. wasn't the easiest person to deal with: "One was seldom able to do her a good turn without some thoughts of strangulation."

Miss S. wasn't quite right in the head, but she got on well enough. Amazingly, between the social state and the beneficence of some of the locals, she fared well and happily enough, puttering about in her own little world, selling self-written tracts and pencils, doing pretty much as she pleased.

In this stage production 2 actors brilliantly play Alan Bennett, on stage at the same time; one as his 'in-story character', interacting with Ms Shepherd and the neighbours and the other as his 'conscience - internal monologue often debating with his in-story character making for some hilarious wordplay.  Both actors have Bennett's soft Yorkshire twang, his self-depreciating delivery and his unique play on juxtapositioning the absurd with the day-to-day familiar so well.  The way in which Bennett's prose just rolls around the scene makes it completely unassuming, drawing in the audience into total belief whilst at the same time splitting your empathy; first to Bennett, then to Ms Shepherd and then back to Bennett again.

I won't go into the intricacies of the story too much, it's too good a play for me to ever do it justice in my humble review, but I would recommend anyone and everyone to go and see The Lady in the Van,

One Night of Queen @ Newcastle City Hall

Friday 10^th June, and to balance up the girls’ trips to an event this week I took Jess to see Gary Mullen & The Works’ “One Night With Queen” at Newcastle City Hall.  Benjamin Franklin famously stated, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes’ – well, Mr Franklin, I must interject and add a 3^rd idiom – “...nothing is certain except death, taxes and a fabulous night out if Gary Mullen is on the bill !”

One of my biggest regrets in life is not to have seen Queen live; I missed the opportunity to see them at the hallowed St James Park for being too young (honest!), and by the time Live Aid had thrust them back into the public’s consciousness I was busy playing football, chasing girls and couldn’t really afford the trip down to Wembley.  Nevertheless, Queen and Freddie Mercury played a huge part in the soundtrack to my adolescence; my brother and I played their Greatest Hits cassette until it literally wore out and we had to buy another.  Likewise I will always remember where I was when I heard that Freddie had passed away.

So, when I had the chance to go and see Gary Mullen and The Works 2 years ago at Darlington Civic, I was a little nervous that the show would be a parody, pastiche or just plain wrong – I needn’t have worried, they were awesome then and they are still awesome now.

Friday night was my 3^rd time of seeing the show and the first at City Hall.  The turnout was what the entertainment press would call ‘intimate’ – probably no more than 120, all (initially) seated in the first half of the stalls, but what we lacked in numbers we made up for in energy, noise and good old fashioned fun.  From the 1^st song it was plain that we were not going to be allowed to sit on our behinds and clap to the rhythm, Gary saw to that by ‘politely’ pointing out any ‘boring farts’,  so we spent pretty much the next 2 ½ hours on our feet.

For anyone who has yet to go and see Gary & the band they are totally amazing; He is Freddie incarnate, complete with the mannerisms, cheeky winks, sexy pout and a truly astonishing voice.  The band are note perfect to all the classic queen songs, but they can also hit the ‘jam’ button and drop some funk, soul and disco into the live performance.

Having seen the show twice before I was expecting to know the playlist but there were a number of notable changes; Who Wants to Live Forever brought an almost eerie, spiritual feeling; The Show Must Go On became a majestic anthem and then the coup de grace; a duet with stunningly beautiful and highly talented soprano Ruth Kerr to recreate the 1992 Olympic theme Barcelona.  Never has a song stopped an audience in full flow so absolutely as every single one of us stood, jaws agape, eyes wide open in amazement.  I bet I was not the only one whose arm hairs stood up.

The 2^nd half continued with trademark Queen hits, along with Gary encouraging the audience to join him in some vocal acrobatics – I jest you not, if you closed your eyes then just for a moment you could really believe Freddie was back.  Constantly looking for ways to interact with the audience, whether he was flirting with the front row, challenging the wings to shake their booties or strutting his stuff across the stage, Gary Mullen is in my opinion the world’s best FM. God save this Queen !

Metro Radio Live 2011 @ Metro Arena

As part of my attempt to keep up with my teenage daughters and their tastes in music,  I took Becca off to the Metro Radio Arena last night to see the "Metro Radio Live" - a very impressive line up mix of established and new acts and I'm quite proud to say I had actually heard of most of them.

The arena excels in this type of event, thousands of screaming teenagers, a plethora of flashing headbands all mixed into the heady smell of 'Brittany' or 'Christina' or some other pop princess's latest perfume.

The build up DJ, a regular from Metro / TFM, had obviously misread the brief and proceeded to deliver a 7 yr olds disco party, punctuating every 20 seconds with "make some noise" or "are you having a good time" - maybe it was to counter the royalties process, but in 35 minutes he didn't play one song fully, cutting most off after the initial 45 seconds of recognition.  His coup de grace, however, was to bring on stage two dancing Star Wars Stormtroopers who proceeded to wander around for a bit before doing an impromptu version of the birdy song.  Hmm, Becca & I exchanged rather concerned, puzzled and somewhat pitiful looks but nevermind - he was only the warm up.

The main line up went like this:

The Overtones: - nah, me neither, but as every semi decent looking person knows, it always pays to have at least one ugly friend to make you look even better - they were the concert's cr4p act, brought along so that everyone else sounds good  Rating: 1/2 ★

Tinchy Stryder: - so from the ridiculous to the sublime, a class act, he gave the crowd exactly what they wanted and a preview of Starship, his new single which will merely serve to confirm that TS is going interstellar  Rating: ★★★1/2

Parade: - A one hit wonder ? More like its a wonder they actually had a hit - choreographed by one of the girls nans and practised in a spare bedroom somewhere in suburbia   Rating:  ★

The Feeling: - There was a pattern developing to the first half of the concert; cr4p, great, cr4p, great and The Feeling fitted in perfectly - fabulous 'real' band (playing instruments and everything) great catchy songs and definitely a group I would happily pay to watch a full gig  Rating: ★★

Sophie Ellis-Bextor: - Now I have a confession to make, it was Ms EB's name on the line up which prompted me to get the tickets and boy was I a happy bunny - she is truly a stunningly beautiful lady, completely at ease on stage and delivered some cracking tunes.  She let it slip that it had taken them 8 hours to travel up, all for a 5 min slot, dedication or what - having said that her husband is the lead singer with The Feeling so it was possibly more like a family outing for her Rating: ★★★★1/2

Chipmunk: - 3 great acts in a row and another huge crowd favourite - Mr Munk (or Chippy to his mates) really looked like he was having fun, a fabulous mini-set and some great interaction with the fans  Rating: ★★★

Nicola Roberts: - Oh dear ! Lil girl lost without her mates on stage to help her out - "The Beat of my Drum" sounds like a Missy Elliot tune, but Nicola is no R&B stomper and to be honest it was more like a school talent show attempt.  Her 2nd song, Lucky Day was surprisingly catchy and would probably do well as a solo spot in a Girls Aloud gig but she really needs her mates with her Rating: ★1/2

So, we reached half time and all in all a very slick production, great use of the jumbo screens to preview the next artist and some buzzing performances.........

2nd Half

Her Majesty and The Wolves: - Wow ! Quirky, catchy, completely mad but a fab start to the 2nd half - Her Majesty is the spitting image for a young Farrah Fawcett (showing my age there) especially in THAT pose which every teenage boy had as a poster Rating: ★★

Mike Posner: - Awesome dude, he took the gig to a new high, ramping up the crowd into a screaming frenzy and then delivering some banging tunes - Boom Chick a Wow Wow and Cooler than Me were perfect tracks to choose and he ended his slot buried deep in the crowd - Rating: ★★★★

Dionne Bromfield: - I had never heard of this young girl before tonight, she sounded a little but like a Tamla Mowtown version of Amy Whinehouse - nice to see that she had brought her younger cousins along as backing dancers Rating: ★★

Katy B: - Oh Katy, Katy, Katy - she looked like a young mum who had dropped the little one off at toddlers, popped out for a pint of milk and found herself on stage - completely missed her cue for the opening song which threw the crowd and thus her 'backing MC' spent the rest of her slot shouting at us to 'make some noise' and 'sing with Katy' - She's got some great songs in her repertoire, just not great at delivering them live Rating: ★★

Example: - If Sophie Ellis Bextor was the perfect act to watch, then Example was the perfect

act to bounce to - Kickstarts and Change the Way you Kiss Me were awesome, high tempo, high energy and highly addictive - excellent production and another who I would gladly go to see on their own Rating: ★★★★1/2

The Wanted: - So this was the pinnacle for all the girls in the crowd and the 5 lads didn't disappoint anyone - I bet every girl felt that they had sang, waved, blown a kiss directly to her, they were genuinely having fun and worked the crowd like touring veterans - Not half bad songs either, who knows what they can achieve once they've grown up and reached puberty  Rating: ★★★1/2

The Saturdays: - Headline act, polished in choreography but lacking in real charisma.  They seemed to spend most of the time wandering around the stage, almost following each other like a disjointed, 10 legged snake. After Example & The Wanted they really struggled to get the arena bouncing again Rating: ★★1/2

So, all in all a fab night, live music is always great, regardless of the quality, but I would definitely recommend keeping an eye out for the next Metro Radio