Venue:

Palace Theatre, Westcliff on Sea

Date: 27/10/2017

A day short of thirty-nine years since I saw Rick Wakeman with Yes on a revolving stage at recently renamed Wembley Arena, I was in the considerably more compact early 20th century surroundings of the Palace Theatre, Westcliff awaiting the self-styled Grumpy one. His Piano Portraits album had been a rare CD bought by Mrs Phil and enjoyed over the last few months. Personally, apart from the odd track, I found it extremely bland listening, but with Rick’s reputation as an entertaining raconteur and the knowledge he was playing close-ish to home, a ticket was the ideal anniversary pressie for her.

Was it a comedy gig, a rambling monologue or a reverential reflection on a life and it’s influences? All three really. The stage was equipped with a grand piano, some basic lighting, a candelabra and four posters for his ‘plinky-plonk’ piano album. What we were treated to was some extraordinarily dextrous musicianship from a 68 year old bloke, plus a series of Hoary Old Rock Anecdotes beloved of the old Word podcasts, jokes, witticisms and reflections from a well lived life and all delivered with the comic timing many jokers » Continue Reading.

Venue:

The Capital Centre

Date: 26/09/2015

On stage at 8.25pm, support act London by Night have been around for years, some would say mediaeval or beyond, but still manage to move with the times with some cracking new material that rises above the noise – statuesque, imposing, structural and soulful.

The headliner, Cancer Research Shine Walk, are comparatively new on the scene but have made an impact drawing huge audiences around the country and making an impact on the science uni circuit. As funding cuts hit, there’s a agit-political element too – this bunch have depth and influence. Tonight there were 17,000 performers hitting the streets. Some were in it for the long haul marathon, others signed up for the shorter 13 mile set. What we were treated to was an expansive performance, full of achievement, virtuosity and graft. The light show was impressive. As a collective, the audience became one with both stage and performers illuminated by radio controlled LED wrist bands, garish clothing and face paint as the capital’s pavements were glazed by rubber soles.

At four and three-quarter hours this was a long show. The sound of Welsh folk singing marked a downbeat first 80 minutes, » Continue Reading.

Venue:

Kentish Town Forum

Date: 08/09/2015

I have no idea what drew me to this mash-up between one band I knew little about and another I was largely ambivalent. Such is the draw of F.F.S. – Franz Ferdinand Sparks. The project intrigued me, but I had no idea how their album of literate bonkers pop was going grab me over the summer.

Fast forward to early autumn, some horrible news, a couple of beers and a stonking hot pork bap in the Southampton Arms up the road and I was ready for some escapism.

The support act, Pure Beauty, veered between some good grooves and anonymous noise. I’ve seen worse, but there was nothing to make me raid the merch desk. And then at 9pm FFS hit the stage with. Starting with ‘Johnny Delusional’ and ending with ‘Collaborations Don’t Work’, the intervening hour and forty minutes flew past as they delivered tracks from the album interspersed with hits from each band, deftly delivered and razor sharp. What’s more, is they really appeared to gel with Russell Mael and Alex Kapranos’ vocals complementing each other well. Ron Mael’s deadpan demeanour was matched by FF’s drummer and bassist. As a » Continue Reading.