News and Reviews: 19th July 2015
Saturday 18 July 2015.Bette Midler live at The 02 Arena,London.
First of two shows at this venue by Bette on her 'Divine Intervention' UK arena tour.
As part of her first UK shows for 35 years.
Her American tour includes two nights at Madison Square Garden.
As expected a mainly older crowd with lots of gay folks.
One of those gigs with silly high prices of £110,£90,£75,£55 plus booking fees.
We have a nice slick stage production with big screens along with scenery changes and costume changes.
Bette and her 12 piece band and three female dancers/bvs are on stage for 1 hour 55 mins.
The setlist included lots of girlie covers from her 'It's The Girls!' album that was released last year.
Bette turns 70 later this year, but she still came onstage in a bright pink mini dress.
There was lots of very funny well scripted stage banter between songs mainly related to old age and sex.
Sometimes it felt more like a Joan Rivers type comedy show rather than a musical event.
The comic interludes were seamless. An extended routine on celebrity culture and social media (“remember the days when people feared being followed?”) featured merciless mocked up photos of Midler in compromising positions with Vladimir Putin, Jeremy Clarkson, Jamie Oliver, Margaret Thatcher and Nigel Farage – “he really knows how to ruin a bar mitzvah,” she jibed.
Her finger was on the London pulse as she joked about riding Boris bikes and the new runway planned for Heathrow.
Miss M has tried her hand at big-band swing, pop and rock over the years, and this gig reiterated her versatility. Jazz standard 'Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most' was beautifully sung, while
The Rolling Stones 'Beast Of Burden' alluded to her brief stint as a rock ’n’ roller in the Eighties.
Midler appeared in full Hocus Pocus costume for 'I Put A Spell On You' counting the ways in which she would torment us – although pledging to eliminate football from England actually won some approval from the audience – and donned a fabulous feathered creation for an uproarious tribute to singer/comedian Sophie Tucker which gleefully combined Vegas glitz and pure filth.
Other highlights included great versions of 'The Rose','Stay With Me' and 'Wind Beneath My Wings'
A great show that was very entertaining from start to finish but I did feel it would have been more suited
to a smaller venue like Hammersmith Apollo rather than this big venue.
Full setlist played tonight...
Divine Intervention
I Look Good
I've Still Got My Health
Do You Wanna Dance? (Bobby Freeman cover)
Throw it Away
Tell Him (The Exciters cover)
Bei Mir Bist Du Schön (The Andrews Sisters cover)
Waterfalls (TLC cover)
Everybody Knows (Leonard Cohen cover)
I Think It's Going to Rain Today (Randy Newman cover)
I Put a Spell on You (Screamin’ Jay Hawkins cover)
Yakety Sax
Bird In the Hand
A Visit from Soph
RIP Delores
Beast of Burden (The Rolling Stones cover)
Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most (Ella Fitzgerald cover)
The Rose
From a Distance (Julie Gold cover)
Stay With Me (Lorraine Ellison cover)
Encore:
Wind Beneath My Wings (Roger Whittaker cover)
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy (The Andrews Sisters cover)
Encore 2:
Friends
watch the video here
Bette Midler 'Beast of Burden' official video from 1984 featuring Mick Jagger...▶ 4:57
Saturday 18 July 2015...another sad death to report...
French Formula 1 driver Jules Bianchi has died, nine months after suffering severe head injuries in a crash at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix.
The 25-year-old had been in a coma since crashing his Marussia car into a recovery vehicle in wet conditions in Suzuka last October.
His family said: "Jules fought right to the very end, as he always did, but today his battle came to an end."
Marussia, now known as Manor, said the team was "devastated".
Bianchi is the first F1 driver to die from injuries sustained in a Grand Prix since Brazilian triple world champion Ayrton Senna was killed at Italy's Imola circuit in 1994.
Thursday 16 July 2015...I went to two events tonight.
6.45pm to 9.15pm.
PizzaBuzz launch party at 2 Worship Street,London EC2.
This venue is located five mins north of Moorgate and Liverpool Street tube stations.
We arrive at the venue and luckily get a table as it gets very busy later on.
The decor is very bright.
Lots of complimentary food and drink for all guests.
You queue up to pick your own ingredients to both your salad and pizza.
I had a large DIY salad followed by a full size Veal Meatballs pizza.
Then it was the ice-cream desserts where we were asked
"Do you want it from cows milk,goat milk or almond milk?" which was a first.
There was presecco,wines,beers,fruit juices and a soft drinks machine flowing.
An enjoyable time here with some good food.
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What their website says...
PizzaBuzz is here to offer the city a quality, quick and delicious pizza fix, this new restaurant boasts a technologically advanced self-service experience that enables you to build your very own tailor made pizza.
Guests will be able to create their own wood-fired pizza from start to finish choosing from a variety of fresh, locally sourced ingredients. You can choose to takeaway or enjoy in the comfort of the restaurant.
At PizzaBuzz, we use our own unique flour blend and will also be introducing Glera-Frizzante on-tap to the UK market alongside a range of freshly squeezed fruit juices, bottled beer, white and red wine to name a few.
PizzaBuzz is a place to Slice it and Savour it!
This really is a slice of pizza perfection.
www.pizzabuzz.co.uk
Check out the PizzaBuzz website here.
then
The Buzzcocks live at The Garage,London.
I have seen these Mancunian punk rock legends around 30 times since 1977.
They still have two original members with Pete Shelley and Steve Diggle.
I get to the venue and rasta punk dj Don Letts is playing some good punk tunes.
It is very hot,sweaty and humid in the venue as it is totally sold out.
The evening has been sponsored by Fred Perry and Marshall Amps so the tickets are only a bargain
£8.25 each(£7 plus booking fee) instead of the £20 plus it would normally cost to see The Buzzcocks.
The band arrive on stage around 10.30pm and play for around 60 mins.
They start off with four classic oldies then it's a few more recent tracks then a load more classics.
They whizz through the set and there is plenty of dancing front of stage all night.
Steve Diggle takes his bomber jacket off halfway through to reveal his Fred Perry shirt.
The Buzzcocks are always great live.
Full setlist played tonight...
Boredom
Fast Cars
I Don't Mind
Autonomy
People Are Strange Machines
Whatever Happened to...?
Why She's the Girl From the Chainstore
Sick City Sometimes
Why Can't I Touch It
Noise Annoys
It's Not You
You Say You Don't Love Me
Promises
Love You More
What Do I Get?
Encore:
Harmony in My Head
Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've)
Orgasm Addict
Thursday 16 July 2015.
Congratulations go out to Iron Maiden with the success of their Trooper beer.
Last autumn saw them take home the Gold Award for their 4.8% premium ale Trooper, a beer that has astounded many in the British brewing industry - and beyond - by its rapid (and unexpected) success. Since it was launched two years ago it’s sold over ten million pints and been exported to 42 countries. When it went on sale at the Download festival in 2013 it sold out completely, and the band have just announced a new, stronger version called Trooper 666.
They will feature at the forthcoming Ramblin' Man Festival in Kent.
Wednesday 15 July 2015...I went to two events tonight...
6.45pm to 8pm
On Blackheath Festival launch party at John Lewis,6th floor roof garden,Oxford Street,London W1.
The festival in S.E.London is held over the weekend of Sept 12 and Sept 13.
The launch party is held at John Lewis as they are one of the main sponsors.
Around 200 folks up here in their roof garden with fake grass everywhere.
Guests here included Jack Savoretti who is playing on the main stage at the festival.
We have a dj playing tunes and a drum and organ duo playing some neat covers.
Also some hola hoop girls doing a display.
We have complimentary Meantime beers and some very nice Neapolitan street food and desserts
from Rossopomodoro.
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The On Blackheath Festival is held Sat 12 Sept and Sun 13 Sept featuring headliners
Elbow,Manic Street Preachers and Madness.
www.onblackheath.com
Visit their website for full list of bands playing and to buy tickets
then
8.10pm to 9pm
Piaget summer party at 169 New Bond Street,London W1.
Very upmarket jewellery store's 'Mediterranean' themed bash at the best end of New Bond Street.
Around 100 well dressed folks here over the two floors.
There must have been at least a dozen security guards here because of the value of the jewellery
on display which have no price tags on and look totally stunning.
Faces here included Donna Air,Sophie Anderton and Oliver Cheshire.
We had a dj playing some tunes in the background.
Complimentary Ruinart champers and Gin Cocktails for all guests.
Wednesday 15 July 2015.
James Corden drives Rod Stewart around LA for a singalong to Rods tunes.
There are better versions on the web as this one is a bit shaky.
watch the video here
Great stuff...▶ 8:55
Tuesday 14 July 2015...7pm to 9.15pm...
Hotel Chantelle launch party,23 Orchard Street,London W1.
Hotly anticipated opening of the London arm of this cool New York venue.
Amazingly it is on the first floor of a venue i used to visit in the late 1970s when there was a pub downstairs.
A cool crowd here with a dj playing some tunes in the background and New York based street artist
Bradley Theodore is painting a mural that will stay here full time.
The venue itself is a much smaller space than expected.
Most of the tables have been taken out for tonight.
It feels more like a late night drinking place rather than a restaurant.
1980s club legend Philip Salon is here.
We enjoyed complimentary presecco,different cocktails,wines,beers and some very nice burgers,
lamb cutlets and canapés.
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Some info for Hotel Chantelle from their press release...
Manhattan’s Hotel Chantelle is lots of things. It’s a French-inspired Mediterranean restaurant with US classics too. It’s a late-evening dining space in a classy light and shade-style environment. It’s also a cocktail bar with music in an informal lounge setting until late. Then it’s an event place for live jazz bands and it’s for big, classic Sunday Brunches and midweek lunches.
But expect no bedrooms at Hotel Chantelle – the restaurant’s actually named after a World War II French safe house. Our news is that a second version of this all-night exquisite-casual affair is to launch in London.
The central outpost will be dining until midnight (perhaps even later – finally, somewhere late to eat!) with lounging until 3. There are two al fresco dining areas and the décor is an impressionistic take on modern glamour: expect sea-blue banquettes, brass mirroring; offset Twenties tiling and wooden finishes with original artwork by renowned New York creatives Bradley Theodore and Rachid Kallamni.
www.hotelchantelle.com
Check the Hotel Chantelle website here for more info.
Monday 13 July 2015.
30th anniversary of Live Aid at Wembley Stadium 13 July 1985.
I often get asked what was the best concert I have been to...this was it.
Queen,U2,Who,Paul McCartney,David Bowie,Status Quo,Boomtown Rats,Style Council,Adam Ant,Bryan Ferry,Spandau Ballet,Howard Jones,Phil Collins,Sting,Elton John,Kiki Dee,Wham,Dire Straits,Paul Young,Alison Moyet,Ultravox,Elvis Costello,Nik Kershaw,Sade.
Monday 13 July 2015...I went to two events tonight...
6.45pm to 9pm.
Cool Rider - Original Studio Recording album launch party at Guanabara,Parker Street,Covent Garden,London WC2.
Guanabara is a spacious Brazilian style venue that offers a compact menu of authentic dishes. They host a range of entertainment including dance lessons, DJs and live music.
A large crowd of around 300 folks here with a mix of press folks and fans of the show who have donated £40
towards the Kickstarter campaign to fund the album.
We have four singers who sing a track each from the album.
Complimentary Malibu cocktails for all guests.
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What the press release said about Cool Rider.
Perhaps the greatest sequel ever told, COOL RIDER, the cult musical sequel for Grease 2.
The film told the heady and daring love story of two unlikely lovers and their road to romance from bowling alley to burger joint, sing-a-long-a-sex education class to talent show, and long (and beautifully lit) romantic motorcycle rides to a slightly incongruous luau ending. Much like its musical prequel, the story follows the ancient High School motto: if you want the guy/girl, change your personality beyond recognition and wear overly tight leather in the finale.
The album features the hit songs ‘Who’s That Guy?’, ‘Score Tonight’, ‘Cool Rider’ ,‘Girl For All Seasons’ and the haunting melody of ‘Rock-a-Hula Luau (Summer Is Coming)’, and will pay homage to the films sheer brilliance (and shortcomings).
So grab your leather jackets, book your tickets, rat that hair, hide those hickeys as the
smash hit musical has been reimagined as a brand new cast recording with a 10 piece band.
www.coolriderlive.com
Visit the website for more info and to buy the album.
then
9.15pm to 11pm.
The Mentalists afterparty at Kettners,29 Romilly Street,Soho,London W1.
The afterparty was held five minutes up the road from the venue where the play was held.
Another big crowd as around 300 folks are here.
The main three involved in the play are here who were Stephen Merchant(Ricky Gervais co-writer),
Steffan Rhodri and playwright Richard Bean.
A few other faces here including Jimmy Carr,David Mitchell,Dara O'Briain,Richard Wilson,
Michelle Collins,Gemma Cairney(BBC music presenter) and David Arnold(film composer).
Complimentary wines,beers and canapés for all guests.
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Some of the three star review from The Guardian.
The presence of Stephen Merchant, standup comic and co-creator of The Office, is the big draw in this revival of Richard Bean’s 2002 play. But while Merchant is a perfectly capable actor and Bean’s play, first seen in a National Theatre experimental season, has a peculiar charm, I can’t help feeling that a modest piece has been inflated to make a pricey West End star vehicle.
Bean presents us with a distinctly odd couple who have taken a north London hotel room for the night. Ted, a middle manager for an industrial cleaning company, is an angry prophet who has a message for the world. Influenced by the theories of the American psychologist BF Skinner, he wants to create a community of a thousand people based, as he says, “on cleanliness, good behaviour and sleeping with your own wife”. His chosen accomplice is Morrie, a fantasising hairdresser and part-time cameraman, specialising in soft porn, whose job is to tape Ted’s utopian vision in order to attract potential acolytes.
The play is on until 26 Sept 2015 at Wyndhams Theatre,Charring Cross Road,London WC2.
Sunday 12 July 2015.
Foo Fighters have announced rescheduled dates for their UK shows cancelled after Dave Grohl broke his leg.
Two shows at Wembley, one in Edinburgh and a headline slot at Glastonbury were pulled in the wake of the frontman's onstage accident in Gothenburg last month.
Now the band have confirmed that they will play two shows at Milton Keynes Bowl – on September 5 and 6 – and one at Edinburgh's Murrayfield Stadium on September 8.
Tickets for the rearranged dates go on general sale at 10am on July 17, but fans who bought tickets for the cancelled gigs will be given access to a pre-sale. An email will be sent to those fans, giving them information on how to access the pre-sale, which will be active for 48 hours from 9am on July 15.
The Milton Keynes gigs will feature support from Iggy Pop, while Royal Blood and Honeyblood will be the support in Edinburgh.
Saturday 11 July 2015...2.30pm to 10pm...
Dukes Polo at The Willows,Forest Road,Ilford,Essex.
My first time at this event that is celebrating its 10th anniversary.
A new location again as we are 20 mins walk from Hainault Station which Zone 4 on the Central Line.
It's a lot more countryside than I had expected and it's a lovely sunny day.
The venue is an elegant and contemporary banqueting room with outdoor areas.
A lot smaller than other polo events as maybe 1000 folks here during the day and another 1000
turned up at 8pm for the afterparty.
The female turnout today was incredible as it's 75% females here.
We are in Essex so plenty of fake tan and very glam and revealing outfits.
If you watch TOWIE on tv you will know what I mean.
We are in the vip/press garden so complimentary food and drink all day.
This included Jacquart champers,presecco,Pimms,cocktails,wines and beers.
Also a BBQ lunch from Palm Bay BBQ and afternoon tea at 5pm.
There were two enjoyable polo matches at 4pm and 6pm.
Some random celebs here including...
Vicki Michelle---actress from Allo Allo tv series.
Steve Collins---Irish boxer(he hosted the memorabilia auction here and runs St Albans Polo Club).
Rudolph Walker---actor from Eastenders tv series and many more.
Terry Alderton---comedian.
Half a dozen Chelsea Pensioners were here in their finery.
Half a dozen pearly kings and queens were here in their finery.
At 8pm the dj got the younger folks on the dance floor with some club anthems.
We departed at 10pm even though it was on until midnight.
A very enjoyable day out and well worth putting it in in your diary for July 2016.
www.dukespolo.com
Check their website for info on 2015 and 2016 events.
Basic admission is £20 and the hospitality packages cost more.
Friday 10 July 2015.
BBC4 tv is showing a Chuck Berry classic gig from 1972.
The legendary rock 'n' roll singer performs at the BBC Television Theatre in 1972, featuring hits Johnny B Goode, Nadine and Roll Over Beethoven, as well as an innuendo-laden rendition of My Ding-a-Ling.
The venue is now The Shepherds Bush Empire after the BBC sold it off in the mid 1990s.
I first saw Chuck Berry in 1975 at The Hammersmith Odeon.
Other gigs included that amazing gig at The 100 Club in 2008.
Thursday 09 July 2015.
Lionel Richie live at The Henley Festival,Henley-On-Thames,Oxfordshire.
Lionel Richie returns to the UK after his six week European Tour in Feb/March for more European shows.
This leg included a show at Glastonbury Festival which drew the biggest crowd of the weekend.
Lionel has sold over 100 million records and has got loads of great solo tunes and Commodores hits.
I saw him in 1978 with The Commodores and he then left them in 1982 to become a massive solo star.
I have seen him a few times as a solo act.
The Sunday before this show Lionel Richie reached Number One in the Official UK Albums Chart
following his successful Glastonbury performance.
Greatest hits album 'The Definitive Collection' by Lionel Richie & The Commodores was released in 2003 and previously reached Number 10 on the Official Chart upon its release. This week marks its first Top 40 re-entry in six years.
The black tie event Henley Festival is billed as 'The UK's Most Magical Summer Party' returns to Henley On Thames bringing music, visual arts, fashion, street theatre, comedy and fine dining for 5,000.
The 33rd festival by the Thames takes place from Wednesday 8th until Sunday 12th July 2015, culminating in a firework spectacular.
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This is one of those locations that really has the wow factor.
We are in the stunning British countryside where George Harrison had his main house just up the road.
It is outdoors but the black tie dress code is adhered to by most of the crowd as 90% wearing dickie bows
and the other 10% wearing jacket and tie and the women are wearing their best summer frocks.
It is mainly a middle aged middle class crowd.
Some folks are having posh picnics by their posh cars in the car park before they go in.
We are down by the riverbank where the Henley Regatta is held.
There are hundreds of boats and yachts of all sizes everywhere.
There are street theatre acts performing all over the site.
Lionel Richie actually plays on a floating stage.
Lionel was due on at 8.45pm but eventually came on at 9.10pm.
It was an 80 mins greatest hits set rather than his usual show that would be a bit longer.
Tonight was actually an identical setlist to the one he played at The Glastonbury Festival.
Everyone loves a bit of Lionel and he knows exactly what to say to the crowd.
"Hello.Is it me you're looking for?".
"Tonight we are gonna dance like its 1982" gets big cheers and the crowd are
singing and dancing all the way through his set.
There is a great mix of his classic ballads and uptempo dance tunes.
There were no big screens here as perhaps they felt it was a small enough crowd and not needed.
The seating is more width ways than long ways so really big screens would have been good here.
Even more so when some folks have paid £150 for the best seats.
After the show we had a five minute firework display with a dancing water display and classical music.
A great show in a stunning location.
Full setlist played tonight...
Running With the Night
Penny Lover
Easy (Commodores song)
You Are
Three Times a Lady (Commodores song)
Brick House (Commodores song)
Stuck on You
Lady (You Bring Me Up) (Commodores song)
My Destiny
Angel
Dancing on the Ceiling
Say You, Say Me
Hello
All Night Long (All Night)
Encore:
We Are the World (U.S.A. for Africa cover)
Wednesday 08 July 2015...7pm to 11.15pm...
The Fire Station Bar & Restaurant launch,150 Waterloo Road,London SE1.
This popular venue is very near one of the exits at Waterloo and has re-opened after a full refurbishment.
The decor is great and they have full air-con which is handy for these hot summer days.
We had half a dozen different cocktails here which were great.
My fave would have to be the Smoked Cherry Manhattan.
For starters we had a couple of slices of their tasty wood-fired pizzas.
For mains it was a big juicy burger.We each had The Glazed Short Rib---6oz beef patty with a slice of cheese,
along with some mixed fries and spicy coleslaw.
For dessert was a plate of brownies.
After the food there was more cocktails and the venue was totally buzzing.
The venue was very busy but the staff all did a great job.
There was great tunes being played in the background including Thin Lizzy,Toto,The Clash and others.
Really enjoyable time here and I will be going back there.
All guests got a London Fire Brigade die-cast model from Richmond Toys which was a nice touch.
THE FIRE STATION, WATERLOO IS NOW OPEN FOR BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER SERVING A BRIGHT NEW MENU OF WOOD-FIRED PIZZAS AND ADVENTUROUS BURGERS TO FEAST ON.
www.thefirestationwaterloo.com
Check out The Fire Station website here.
Tuesday 07 July 2015...6.30pm to 9.15pm...
The Cambridge Satchel Company and Vivienne Westwood launch party for an exclusive
collection of limited edition collectors bags at One Horse Guards,off Whitehall,London SW1.
Around 200 cool looking fashion folks at this historic building.
For whatever reason Vivienne Westwood does not turn up tonight but guests included singers
Charli XCX and Sophie Ellis-Bextor along with 1980s club legend Philip Sallon.
India Rose James was here who is the granddaughter of Soho legend Paul Raymond.
He died a few years ago and left her a 300 million pound fortune.Her age now I think is just 23.
The terrace is open that looks out to The River Thames a mere 100 yards away.
We enjoyed complimentary summer cocktails,sparkling wines,finger sandwiches and canapés.
We have some decent sounds via an iPhone and some speakers.
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Vivienne Westwood has designed a limited-edition handbag line with The Cambridge Satchel Company.
Launching on July 8, style-seekers can chose between three different designs including: The Music Bag, priced at £245, the Classic 14' Satchel at £215 and The Tiny, which comes in at an attainable £115.
Each of the statement bags comes in four colourways such as: classic navy with a yellow squiggle, tea-rose with a grey squiggle, jet green with a black squiggle and oxblood leather, which is sold exclusively at Vivienne Westwood stores and online.
Jet Green is a new colour for The Cambridge Satchel Company, made exclusively for this collection, and inspired by Vivienne's Gold Label AW15 collection.
Vivienne Westwood began designing in 1971 along with her partner Malcolm McLaren in London.
They were at the forefront of punk rock when it kicked off in the mid 1970s.
Check the Vivienne Westwood website link on the right of this page.
www.cambridgesatchel.com
Visit The Cambridge Sachel Company website here.
Monday 06 July 2015...7.30pm to 10pm...
Memphis The Musical---cast change--- live at The Shaftesbury Theatre,London WC2.
Memphis is a musical by Bon Jovi drummer David Bryan (music and lyrics) and Joe DiPietro (lyrics and book). It is loosely based on Memphis disc jockey Dewey Phillips,one of the first white DJs to play black music in the 1950s. It played on Broadway from October 19, 2009 to August 5, 2012. This production won four 2010 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The London version opened Oct 2014 in this 1400 capacity theatre but this was the first time I had seen it.
It got loads of four star reviews and a couple of five stars reviews from its opening night.
The show is on for 2 hours 5 mins with two sets of 70 mins and 55 mins.
MEMPHIS is a big brassy tune-full dance-full showstopper-full Broadway musical and a thorough delight.
It delivers the proverbial 'Good Night Out' with loads of great tunes including 'Underground',
'The Music Of My Soul', 'Someday','Memphis Lives In Me ' and 'Steal Your Rock n Roll'.
It's pretty much a 1950s rock n roll movie brought to life – nerdy white guy discovers the joys of black rhythm-and-blues, wangles himself a job as a radio DJ and plays the stuff to the delight of white teenagers, and rock'n'roll is born. Of course, this being Tennessee in the 1950s, those white kids' parents aren't pleased, and the DJ's romance with a black singer doesn't have much of a future.
The dj is intent on shaking up the airwaves of Fifties Memphis with the best so-called “race music”. That term, much bandied about, helps set the story in the fraught context of Segregation-era America, and the show deftly evokes the turbulent cross-over period when the white mainstream caught up with black subculture – and popular music, society too, was never the same again.
A fictionalised composite of various radio pioneers of the day, Huey is a carefree, authority-baiting clown who also runs the high-risk gauntlet between black suspicion and white prejudice (including his mother’s).
There’s the further complication that when the white kids answer the call to pelvic-thrusting disobedience and flock to buy the new sounds, boosting Huey’s career, the cynical money-men move in.
Tonight is the first show from X Factor 2010 winner MATT CARDLE who takes over the main male role of Huey.
He does a really great job.
He joins the main female role which is played by UK soul singer BEVERLEY KNIGHT.
Beverley has made some great records and i have have seen her headline The Royal Albert Hall.
Tonight her vocals are incredible from start to finish.
There are around a dozen dancers who put on dazzling displays.
Overall it was a fantastic show that I will end up going to see again.
www.memphisthemusical.com
Visit their website here for more info and to buy tickets.
Sunday 05 July 2015.
Pete Townshends Classic Quadrophenia live at The Royal Albert Hall,London.
The new "symphonised" version of Quadrophenia, an album originally released by The Who in 1973, was orchestrated by Rachel Fuller, a professional composer, orchestrator and singer-songwriter. It was released by the Deutsche Grammophon.
It will be performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and London Oriana Choir, conducted by Robert Ziegler, and starring Pete Townshend and Alfie Boe, who sings the parts originally sung by Roger Daltrey.
Alfie Boe has a tenor voice and is best known for his stint in Les Miserables.
He has veered into singing rock covers with some of his more recent solo albums.
Other guest vocalists on the album include Billy Idol and Phil Daniels.
Of the many times I have seen The Who they included when they played Quadrophenia in 1996
where Billy Idol was guest vocalist and just a couple of years ago in 2013 when they played it again.
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Tonight is totally sold out including the choir and gallery standing.
There is around 200 people on stage---100 in the orchestra and 100 in the choir.
The show is on for 95 mins with two sets of 45 mins and 50 mins.
One of those early start early finish gigs so all over before 10pm.
No big screens but it was being filmed for tv or DVD.
The orchestra and choir sounded great when at full tilt.
Alfie Boe has a very powerful voice and takes most of the vocal duties.
For two or three songs each he is joined on different tracks by Pete Townshend,Billy Idol and Phil Daniels.
Highlights for me included 'The Real Me','5.15','Bell Boy' and 'Love Reign O'er Me'.
Alfie Boe and Billy Idol co-vocals on 'Bell Boy' was an odd combo to see on stage but really great.
For the encore we had a reprise of 'The Real Me' with all the cast on stage sharing vocals.
The conductor came on stage for the encore wearing a mod parka coat.
A full standing ovation at the end from the crowd.
An enjoyable show.
Classic Quadrophenia track listing...
1. I Am The Sea
2. The Real Me
3. Quadrophenia
4. Cut My Hair
5. The Punk And The Godfather
6. I'm One
7. The Dirty Jobs
8. Helpless Dancer
9. Is It In My Head?
10. I've Had Enough
11. 5:15
12. Sea And Sand
13. Drowned
14. Bell Boy
15. Doctor Jimmy
16. The Rock
17. Love Reign O'er Me
Saturday 04 July 2015.
AC/DC live at Wembley Stadium,London.
AC/DC play a massive sold out show at Wembley Stadium with support from Vintage Trouble.
Vintage Trouble are managed by Doc McGhee who looks after KISS,Ted Nugent and others.
They have landed a great gig supporting AC/DC around Europe and North America.
This is the only AC/DC English show as part of their 'Rock or Bust' World Tour.
There is no golden circle pit area for this show...72,500 tickets all sold out pronto...
I attended the AC/DC video shot in West London on 04 Oct 2014 for their 'Rock or Bust' video.
AC/DC have sold over 200 million albums worldwide and this summer sees the 35th anniversary of their classic album 'Back In Black' that was released on 25 July 1980.
I have seen AC/DC over 40 times since 1976 including 18 shows with original vocalist Bon Scott.
I saw them 10 times in 1976 alone which was their first time outside of Australia and included
their second ever UK gig at The Nashville Pub,West Kensington on 26 April 1976.
Classic Rock mag in the stores from 18 June has a 12 page special on Bon Scott.
I have actually seen AC/DC at Wembley Stadium as a support act to The Who in 1979.
I also saw them headline here in 2009.
They are still massive even though original members are dropping like flies in recent months.
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I have seen some good Vintage Trouble clips on Jools Holland and the internet but their
London gigs have always clashed with something else and they have eluded me.
Tonight we end up in The Booby Moore Room hospitality area from 6.45pm to 8.15pm and miss them again.
The room over two floors hosts around 1000 folks with comfy chairs and sofas.
It has full air-con along with a dj playing rock classics including AC/DC tunes.
Also there is complimentary chicken curry buffet stations and lovely ice cold lagers.
Also ice-creams here and a sweet station.
AC/DC take to the stage around 8.30pm and play for just under two hours.
As stadium shows become ever more elaborate theatrical extravaganzas, AC/DC return to the old ways – just a wall of Marshall amps, some fireworks, a couple of comedy props and a load of classic rock songs you know they are going to play.
There was the usual big screens of course.
Every song seems to be followed by a 30 second gap for changing guitars etc.
Halfway through,darkness falls and thousands of Angus red horns light up the stadium.
A giant bell descends onstage for 'Hells Bells' and Whole Lotta Rosie' is adorned by an improbably voluptuous inflatable namesake, and 'Let There Be Rock' climaxes with confetti showers.
They encored with their usual two anthems 'Highway to Hell' and 'For Those About To Rock(We Salute You)'
where a dozen cannons sent out the band in a blaze of cannon fire and pyrotechnics.
In the 1970s I would watch Angus Young in school uniform getting on singer Bon Scott's shoulders and walk
in amongst the crowd to play a guitar solo.Angus is still in school uniform at the age of 60.
By the third song Angus is sweating buckets and by the end of the show he has given 100% and is totally drained.
Brian Johnson's vocals could have been a bit louder in the mix.
The band have so many colossal riffs in their set but Angus Young's guitar solo went on a bit too long I thought.
Needless to say a great rock show.
Full AC/DC setlist played tonight...
Rock or Bust
Shoot to Thrill
Hell Ain't a Bad Place to Be
Back in Black
Play Ball
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
Thunderstruck
High Voltage
Rock 'n' Roll Train
Hells Bells
Baptism by Fire
You Shook Me All Night Long
Sin City
Shot Down in Flames
Have a Drink on Me
T.N.T.
Whole Lotta Rosie
Let There Be Rock (with Angus Young guitar solo on a raised platform in the crowd)
Encore:
Highway to Hell (with Angus Young guitar solo in intro)
For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)
Friday 03 July 2015.
Morrissey plays a pair of shows at Hammersmith Apollo on September 20 and 21.
Morrissey returns to this venue for the first time since 1991 when i was on front stage security.
There is some good footage of that gig up on YouTube.
Thursday 02 July 2015...3.30pm to 11pm...
The House Festival at Marble Hill Park,Richmond.
This is always a great day out as around 5000 folks have paid £220 each to see a dozen bands
with ALL the food and drinks included in the price and it sold out pronto weeks ago.
There was also a funfair with complimentary rides.
Around 20 sponsors have reserved areas for their guests including AOL,BBC Worldwide,
YouTube,SKY,Yahoo,UKTV,TalkTalk and others.
A lovely sunny day and thankfully not as scorching hot as the day before.
Complimentary Collet champers,prosecco,different cocktails,wines and beers for all.
Complimentary Lobster,oysters,burgers,pizza,grilled chicken,meat balls and more for all.
A few celebrity faces were dotted around the venue including Ant n Dec,John Bishop,Dara 0 Briain,
Al Murray,Claudia Winkleman,Jeremy Vine and actor John Hannah.
Half the folks here are happy just chatting and having the live music in the background.
Just five minute gaps between each band coming on as there are two stages near each other.
All the bands are playing short sets between 30 to 50 mins each.
Bands i saw were in the order I saw them...
Chaka Khan takes to the stage at 4.20pm for her 35 mins set with her full band.
A good set including her hits 'I Feel For You','I'm Every Woman' and 'Ain't Nobody'.
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James Bay also plays for 35 mins and has had much success over the past six months since winning
The Critics Choice Brit Award at the start of the year.
Bay has everything going for him: chiselled looks, a gristly delivery honed through years of open mic nights, and a gamut of songs from the rootsy and rousing to the soulfully racked. There is no denying the catchiness of 'Hold Back the River'.
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Slaves are on for 30 mins and are very lively indeed as their tattooed and shirtless bodies are dripping
in sweat as they jump into the crowd a couple of times for some moshing.
Their music is primitive, belligerent two-piece punk that opts for the bare necessities of the duo format –
guitar, drums and voice – over any fancy trappings.
'White Knuckle Ride’s' opening riff ignites a swarming moshpit almost immediately; bodies are bouncing down the front.
It’s a simple yet brutal recipe. Songs such as 'Where’s Your Car Debbie?',about walking a girl back to her car are great.
A really good set and easily the rockiest band playing today.
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Vaccines arrive on stage at 6.45pm for their 40 mins set.
They play the best tracks from their two albums but the gems from their debut still go down the best.
Set included 'Wreckin Bar(Ra Ra Ra),'Teenage Icon','If You Wanna' and 'Norgaard'.
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Rudimental go down well with the younger members of the crowd but not my cup of tea.
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Years & Years headline the second stage and play for 35 mins.
Their 80s style electro pop went down well with tracks like 'Desire' and their number one hit
from earlier in the year 'King'.
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Pet Shop Boys arrive on stage at 9.30pm for their 50 mins set.
They play when it gets darker so their lasers are very impressive.
They are using a big screen for pre-recorded images and they have a couple of dancers wearing
bizarre head dress.
They play lots of their great catchy synth pop hits including 'Surburbia','West End Girls','Rent','It's A Sin',
'Domino Dancing','Always On My Mind' and encore of 'Go West'.
If only all festivals were as good as this one.
Thursday 02 July 2015...another sad death report..
Val Doonican has died aged 88.
Anyone my age would know how popular Val Doonican was in the 1970s with his
Saturday night BBC tv show.
The legendary singer and TV entertainer, who was known for his novelty songs, fetching Aran jumpers and rocking chairs, from which he often performed, passed away peacefully last night.
The star regularly performed on his own BBC show, aptly named The Val Doonican Show, which ran from 1965 to 1986 and also featured guest artists.
Val, who once knocked Sgt Peppers off the top of the charts, achieved notable success in the 60s when five of his albums went into the top 10 of the UK albums chart.
Wednesday 01 July 2015....7pm to 10pm...
The Fire Station restaurant & bar refurbishment press launch,150 Waterloo Road,Waterloo,London SE1.
Great location next door to one of the entrances to Waterloo station.
This grade II listed Fire Station at Waterloo has finally re-opened after an extensive refurbishment.
The building has been lovingly restored and the front elevation looks fantastic.
The internal space has been opened up to reveal more of the original Fire Station aesthetic.
The menu is based around quality burgers and wood-fired pizzas.
One of Waterloo's most recognisable bars has been undergoing a big revamp over the past few months. For those of us who have lived in London for a while, most have been to The Fire Station at some point (it's one of the most obvious meeting points close to Waterloo Station). And now The Fire Station is open again.
The contemporary industrial look has touches of steam punk - vintage fire extinguisher, ceiling lights made with fire engine hose pipes, coat hooks from piping – and a repro wall panel showing the 1666 Great Fire of London.
There's a new menu on offer with a mix of burgers and wood-fired pizzas. The pizzas include
Parma ham, chorizo iberico, beef ragu, salami, pepperoni
Marinated buffalo mozzarella & basil
Smoked mackerel, king prawns, mascarpone, soft boiled egg.
The burgers, meanwhile, include a Black & Gold burger (black pudding & double cheese) as well as a glazed short-rib burger and a crispy portobello mushroom burger with red onion and blue cheese.
And it's an all-day venue too, with breakfast and brunch options too, including
Short rib bubble & squeak with fried eggs.
Smashed avocado roll, sautéed mushrooms, roasted vine tomatoes, poached eggs on sourdough toast.
Portobello mushroom, potato rosti, cheese, fried egg in a seeded roll.
As for drinks, new cocktails have been added, as well as coffee from Caravan. Those cocktails include:
Old Fashioned with housemade cinnamon syrup and smoked with oak chips.
Pear Fizz with Absolut Pear Vodka, pear purée and prosecco.
Vanilla & Fig Sour made with fig-infused Maker’s Mark bourbon.
There will be a soft launch from 2-4 July with 50% off food.
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We had a full size pizza for starters.
My pizza was great---Smoked mackerel, king prawns, mascarpone, soft boiled egg.
I had a nice big juicy double cheese with black pudding burger with mixed fries & coleslaw.
I had caramel and strawberry ice-cream dessert.
The venue had air-con which was great on what was the hottest day of the year.
We each had half a dozen different cocktails that went down a treat.
My fave was the Smokey Cherry Manhattan.
Our main waitress was great but all the staff were great.
There was some rock music playing in the background but not too loud.
Really enjoyable evening here.
www.thefirestationwaterloo.com
Check out The Fire Station website here.
Tuesday 30 June 2015...7pm to 9pm...
The Art Gala at Masterpiece London in aid of the NSPCC at The Royal Hospital,Chelsea,London.
Masterpiece is a huge art, antiques and design fair with over 100 stands in this huge marquee.
Tonight is a glittering event which will raise vital funds for the NSPCC’s post-abuse therapeutic ‘play therapy’ services, supporting children across the UK affected by sexual abuse.
This event marks the third in a series of NSPCC fundraisers – each themed around a different genre of art – which have raised £3.7 million to date. It is organised by a committee of dedicated volunteers, well-respected in the fashion and art world.
Most of the 800 guests have paid £100 for their ticket and 250 of them have paid £1000 each for the
black tie dinner at 9.30pm with a host of celebrity names who watched a short set by Emeli Sande.
Lots of stunning women here wearing their best outfits like it was a West End film premiere.
Guests included
Princess Beatrice
Elizabeth Hurley (looked fantastic for age 50 in a pink gown)
Sir Michael Caine and his wife
David Furnish(Elton Johns husband)
Noamie Harris(actress who is in the new James Bond film Spectre)
Lindsay Lohan
Claudia Winkleman
Charlotte Tilbury(make-up queen)
Patrick Cox(fashion designer who always turns up with Elizabeth Hurley)
Andrew Neil(BBC tv political presenter)
Chris Wright(former owner of QPR and Chrysalis Records)
Dylan Jones(GQ Editor)
Stephen Webster(jeweller)
Giles Deacon
There was a classical music trio that had a ballet dancer performing to their music.
Complimentary Ruinart champers,cocktails,wines and canapés for all guests.
A really good event,just a shame it was only on for two hours when they should have made it three.
At the end we all got in a golf buggy for a lift back to Sloane Square tube which was a nice touch.
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Tuesday 30 June 2015.
Launch of the Unofficial Biography of Mick Jones(The Clash)-- Stayin' in Tune by Mick O'Shea.
Sadly I could not get to the launch event near Goodge Street as it was the same time as The Art Gala.
The book is for sale on the Amazon link at the top for £12.50.
Special Offer valid until this Sunday---book at £10 inc. p&p on website www.eleusinianpress.co.uk
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