News and Reviews: 16th July 2004

News just in Velvet Revolver the band feat Duff and Slash from Guns And Roses play their first ever London show on Sept 2 .Tickets £17.50 are via carlinglive.com .Its at Hammersmith Apollo. 15 July 2004 Simon And Garfunkel + Everly Brothers ,Hyde Park ,London. A massive outdoor show to over 60,000 people with those in the front blocks paying a whacking £100 a ticket. I think this was first show in London for 20 years .Even though its outdoors the band and the vocal harmonies sound fantastic.They start with "Old Friends " "I Am A Rock " " America" then Everly Brothers come on for 4 of their big hits inc "Bye Bye Love " .S and G back on for " Homeward Bound " "Sound Of Silence " " Mrs Robinson " and a stunning " Bridge Over Troubled Water " .Great encores of "Cecillia " "The Boxer" and " Feeling Groovy " .So many songs of total timeless quality were sung tonight.Great show. 11 July 2004 Beach Boys + Louise Griffiths + Eddie Jordan Band ,Silverstone Formula 1 Grand Prix. After event show in the middle of the track. Nice to see Eddie Jordan playing the drums on his yellow Jordan kit. Material was ok and Kerry and Bryan McFadden came on for a couple of songs on backing vocals . Louise Griffiths is the fiance of Jenson Button and was on Fame Academy but her 4 songs are watery rubbish . Beach Boys sound was a bit rough for the first couple of songs but then it was a pleasant hit after hit and even the sun came out for them . Nowhere as good as a Brian Wilson show but great fun.For the encore all the guests joined in on backing vocals etc Jenson Button,David Coulthard, Eddie Jordan, Kerry and Bryan McFadden ,Johnny Herbert ,Murray Walker .See also aftershow page. 10 July 2004 Doors Of The 21st Century ,Wembley Arena ,London.Back again after the success of last years world tour .The problem is they were at Wembley only 7 months ago and that is too early to come back as tonight only half the tickets have been sold.However last time it was a 2 hours 30 mins set and this time they have cut out 30 mins of twaddle and now its a trim 2 hours that was much better . Nearly every song The Doors originally recorded .On vocals Ian Astbury (The Cult) does a great job and there is a big screen showing neat video clips. Encore was a great extended version of "Light My Fire " . Very enjoyable show. 08 July 2004 Wu Tang Clan ,Hammersmith Apollo , London. New York rappers back in town for their first show for a few years .Great pre gig tension building up then the 7 or was it 8 of them RZA , Ghostfaca Killa ,GZA etc come on and take it in turns for 90 mins while the DJ spins the backing tracks .The heaving crowd loved it but to me it did not seem as exciting as old skool hip hop like Run DMC or Public Enemy.20 female fans on stage at the end for a "booty call " was fun and a couple of tunes sounded good. 07 July 2004 Lenny Kravitz ,Wembley Arena , London.First thing you notice at Lenny Kravitz shows is the amount of good looking women about. Lenny starts the set in a very funky mood as he drifts between playing bass and lead guitar. A neat stage show with plenty of lights as he slides into " It Aint Over Til Its Over " and the brilliant new single " California " from the new album " Baptism" .Lenny has sold over 25 million albums in his career.Halfway through the show stumbles as Lenny does a drum solo then the proper drummer does a drum solo then Lenny slowly introduces the band all in the same boring 15 mins of zzzzzzz.Thankfully after he then launches into 3 big tunes on the bounce "American Woman" "Fly Away" and "Are You Gonna Go My Way " .Great encore of "I Belong To You " and "Let Love Rule " with Lenny completing a total walkabout thru the crowds down the front. 05 July 2004 Polyphonic Spree + Har Mar Superstar, Shepherds Bush Empire ,London.Har Mar does a 30 mins set of disco sleaze .For the last 3 songs he is stripped down to just his underpants and he is shaking his buttocks ,not a pretty sight but good fun.The Spree are now all wearing different colour robes which have replaced the plain white ones .There are at least 22 of them on stage inc sax,trombone,violin and even harp.They are a totally good vibes full of joy live act with the crowd all jumping as one to most of the songs . They played the best of the first album with new tracks from second album Together We're Heavy A stunning encore of Soldier Girl and Light And Day .Excellent. 04 July 2004 Elton John Band ,Royal Albert Hall , London.Same show as Wembley show 3 days ago with the massive orchestra and choir .A smaller venue but our seats in the balcony meant the vocals were a bit muffled and so we did not enjoy it as much as Wembley where we were near the front. Elton has so much money he never has to work again but his desire to keep things fresh while on the road by playing solo shows ,band shows and now orchestral shows and playing different sets at each really deserves utmost respect. 03 July 2004 Midnight Show Carbon Silicon + Pink Grease + 10 Minutes With My Dad ,SEONE Club, London.24 hour party to celebrate Hacienda and New York clubs of the 1980s.Mick Jones CS did a cool dance rockin 45 mins set . Pink Grease did a dodgy set of their 1980s NY rock. (by now i was just too tired it was after 3am) 10 Minutes With My Dad did a wild and trashy but great 15 mins of sleaze tunes. 03 July 2004 Patti Smith + Television ,Brixton Academy ,London.Great double bill of 1970s New York art punk.Television were as cool as ever and played stunning versions of " See No Evil " and " Marquee Moon " in their 45 mins set. Patti Smith opened with title track of her new album "Trampin" and played a few others from it.Even at age 57 she still has that fire and desire not to conform .Nice use of video clips behind her. Stunning version of " Gloria " as usual . 02 July 2004 Chuck Berry + Jerry Lee Lewis , Royal Festival Hall ,London. Excellent double bill of original rock n roll legends to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the release of the first Elvis Presley single in July 1954.First up JLL did a 50 mins set with his Killer Band .His vocals were a bit slurred ,he stopped songs at random and walked off stage until his vocals got turned up but overall was very entertaining.He played classics inc " Chantilly Lace" "Mean Women Blues" "Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On " and "Great Balls Of Fire " .Chuck Berry is looking great .His 65 mins set inc "Roll Over Beethoven" "Reelin And Rockin" the much ridiculed " My Ding A Ling " "Nadine" "Memphis Tennessee" and the finale of a dozen girl fans on stage having a bop around for a few mins .No encore but thats Chuck .Great stuff. 01 July 2004 Elton John Band ,Wembley Arena , London.First of 3 London shows by Elton with a huge 108 piece orchestra and 50 piece choir so not surprising tickets down the front are priced at £100 each.Most of the 2 hours 15 mins set was geared to lesser known Elton songs that suited tonights orchestral sound .Towards the end the hits came along like " Sorry Seems To Be " "Philidelphia Freedom " "Saturday Nights Alright For Fighting " a stunning "Dont Let The Sun Go Down On Me" and an emotional " Your Song " but there was no "GYBR " "Rocket Man" "Candle In The Wind " "Daniel " or " Benny And The Jets "It was a unique show but i feel a lot of the crowd and myself could have done with more of the big hits played just by Elton and his band. Highlights for July will include shows by Elton John Band , Edwyn Collins ,Chuck Berry , Patti Smith And Television, Polyphonic Spree , Lenny Kravitz ,Wu Tang Clan ,21st Century Doors, Marillion, Todd Rundgren ,Simon And Garfunkel, Stray Cats ,Bryan Ferry , Guildford Festival with headliners Blondie ,Simple Minds and UB40, Alarm,Dr John, Brian Wilson, Cheap Trick ,Roots Manuva and Rose Tattoo.

Posted 16th July 2004