News and Reviews: 1st June 2004

Godfather of Soul James Brown will the special guest for Red Hot Chilli Peppers 3 big outdoor shows in Hyde Park next month. As part of the Wembley Stadium complex building plans the Wembley Arena stage area will be moving to the opposite end of the arena for easier access from Wembley Way and Wembley Park tube. This will be done in the summer of 2005 . 2004s first major festival is coming up soon. Download at Donington will feature 50 rock bands over 3 stages inc Linkin Park ,Sum 41 , Hives , Metallica , Slipknot and a rare show by legends Iggy Pop And The Stooges .Tickets are 45 pounds per day and 80 pounds for the two days .Get them on 0870 400 0822 or 0870 400 0688 and usual agents. 31 May 2004 ,Will Young ,Royal Festival Hall , London.I had to go deep undercover for this gig. Will is promoting his new album " Fridays Child" with a 20 date theatre tour that sold out in a couple of days thanks to his very loyal fans. The good news is he is playing a lot more of his own material rather than slushy covers .Best songs tonight were "Evergreen " "You And I " and encore "Leave Right Now " . The whole evening felt very average although his fans loved it . 30 May 2004, Ash ,Hammersmith Apollo ,London. Ash tour to promote current album " Meltdown" . Tim Wheeler said it was their biggest ever London headline show and there lies the problem .Ash are great on a festival bill always playing a good 50 mins set but a whole 90 mins of distorted indie guitar meant lots of weaker tracks mixed with great tunes like "Girl From Mars " "Shining Light " and "Burn Baby Burn". 28 May 2004 ,Ian Hunter And The Rant Band , Astoria ,London. I have always had a soft spot for Ian Hunter as one of my first ever shows was seeing Mott The Hoople with support Queen at Hammersmith Odeon in 1973.Ians band features Mick Ralphs from Mott and Bad Co .They do a really good 2 hour set with songs full of passion with great lyrics and throw in a few stellar oldies like "Once Bitten Twice Shy""Roll Away The Stone" "Saturday Gig" Joe Elliot from Def Leppard came for a emotional "All The Young Dudes" and for the finale Joe came on with Brian May from Queen for a rockin "All The Way From Memphis " .The show was recorded for a live DVD out soonish. 27 May 2004, Alvin Lee + Edgar Winter + Tony McPhee ,Royal Albert Hall ,London. 3 act bill of late 1960s blues artists .First on Tony McPhee did a pretty forgettable 25 mins set. American Edgar Winter stole the show for me with his uptempo blues boogie that was good fun and inc instrumental " Frankenstein" .Alvin Lee was good in places like " Going Home " but some of it was pretty average .Good night but nothing mega .Nice to see 1970s hippie legend "Jesus" down the front at the end banging his tamborine. 24 May 2004 ,Evanescence + Seether ,Wembley Arena, London .Amazing what a big hit single can do for a bands career ."Bring Me To Life " has taken off worldwide and this big venue is nearly sold out .Short 65 mins set was not my cup of tea with screechy female goth vocals .Support Seether did a rockin Nirvanaish type 40 mins set that was much better than the headliners. 21 + 22 May 2004 ,Cher + Pam Ann ,Wembley Arena , London .I went to both of these Cher shows which were number 210 and 211 as part of her massive tour that started 2 years ago .As expected a very lavish stage production with loads of dancers . Great entrance as she was lowered from the ceiling dressed as a Russian doll in a cage. Cher astride a fake elephant ?? Some of it was a bit cheesy ,naff and 1980s but very entertaining. There was about a dozen costume changes (and wig changes ) in the 15 songs played tonight .Cher has a dressing room for her wigs .FACT .During the changes Cher showed tv and film clips of her past which were good fun.Songs were pleasant enough with the last 2 bringing the house down If I Could Turn Back Time and I Believe . Support act Pam Ann did a hilarious 30 mins piss take comedy set on the airline industry. 20 May 2004 ,Glen Matlock ,Filthy Macnastys , London EC1 .Hardly surprising this free show by the Sex Pistols legend was a full house .A great sweaty pub gig with a superb crowd up for some rock n roll . Glen did a similar set to the gig 3 weeks ago with a great mix of Sex Pistols , Rich Kids and material from his solo albums. 15+16+18 May 2004, Sting ,Royal Albert Hall , London .I went to see 3 of the 6 Sting shows at this venue .A 2 hour set each night with mainly Sacred Love new album tracks in first hour and second hour was loads of his greatest hits . A really good show and neat use of video screens. The best night was the Sat night when everyone got up from the start and i had a great view in front of Stings superb guitarist Dominic Miller. Different support acts was a nice touch but the amazing voice of Joss Stone was much better than the droning voice of Rufus Wainwright . 13 May 2004 ,Carbon Silicon ,Zodiac Club,Oxford. This was the new band from punk rock legends Mick Jones (Clash + BAD ) and Tony James (Gen X + SS Sputnik ) really great to see them both back on stage .Songs were all new electro dance rock in a BAD style.Good stuff. 06 May 2004 Zucchero ,Royal Albert Hall ,London. Star studded turn out for one of Italys biggest rock stars Eric Clapton,Brian May , Pavarotti, Ronan Keating ,Paul Young and a few others all did one or two songs with him. 04+07+11 May 2004 ,Eric Clapton + Robert Randolph And The Family Band, Royal Albert Hall ,London. I went to see 3 of Erics 6 night stint here .The main set featured mainly old blues songs before he did all the big hits in the last 45 mins .He still gets a fantastic sound out of his coloured Fender guitar.Support played some cool pedal steel guitar. 01 May 2004 ,Glen Matlock + 10 Minutes With My Dad,Enterprise Bar ,London NW1 . Sex Pistols bassist did a really good acoustic show that got everyone in this punk rock club buzzing.Superb mix of Sex Pistols ,Rich Kids and solo material . Really good punk rock tunes after by the DJ too. Wild female support duo 10 Minutes With My Dad made Iggy Pop and Peaches look like Donny and Marie with their on stage antics.

Posted 1st June 2004