News and Reviews: 1st November 2004

31 Oct 2004 ,HIM + Cathedral ,Hammersmith Apollo , London .Cathedral do an ok set which has a nice Black Sabbath 1970s feel to it . As its Halloween lots of fans are dressed up for HIM. Blimey how come there is so many screaming girls here to see this Finnish Goth Metal band? . The front of stage is a heaving mass of bodies and security are earning their money tonight. The songs like " 666" and "This Fortress Of Tears " rock along nicely but its not anything that special . The crowd however love the entire 90 mins set. 29 and 30 Oct 2004 , Bryan Adams ,Wembley Arena, London. The Canadian rocker back on tour to promote his first new album for a few years called "Room Service " .As always the band are all dressed in t shirt and jeans The tracks from new album are very average so no wonder it has not sold that much. Loads of his great simple pop rock oldies were played like "18 Til I Die" "Lets Get This Thing Started" "Kids Wanna Rock" "Summer Of 69" "Everything I Do" a brilliant "Cuts Like A Knife" " Run To You " "One Night Love Affair " "I Need Somebody" "Straight From The Heart " "Heaven " Its Only Love " " The Only Thing That Looks Good On You Is Me" etc in a 2 hour set. Lots of teenage girl fans here tonight who were not even born when "Reckless " album came out 20 years ago .A highlight of his show is when he picka a girl out to sing "Baby When Your Gone " with him on stage . Both the girl from Stanmore and the girl from Spain the following night really got it to it and did a good job. Overall a very enjoyable evening . Mutt Lange produced both Bryan Adams and Def Leppard albums. The production is so alike most of Bryan Adams album "Walking Up The Neighbours " sounds like Def Lepp. If you have this album play it and you will agree. What a shock .BBC Radio DJ legend John Peel has died of a heart attack aged 65 while in Peru . No one has done more for new music and new bands than him over his incredible 37 years at Radio 1 . 26 October 2004 . 7pm .The Sex Pistols legend lives on. Tonight was the drinks launch do of yet another book on them "Only Anarchists Are Pretty " by Mick OShea out on Helter Skelter books . Nice to have a chat with TV Smith (touring Germany in Nov and UK in Dec) and Gaye Advert (surprisingly a big metal fan of bands like Slipknot and Murder Dolls ).Left Russell Square 9 pm to catch the second half of The TV Awards at The Royal Albert Hall and the aftershow party across the road 9..30 pm to 1am . Not really interested in TV celebs to be honest but Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne were here and hats off to Simon Cowell . He was picked up in his brand new 100k Bentley with uniformed driver .What a poser. Good bash though . 24 October 2004 .Goldie Lookin Chain, Astoria ,London. GLC round off a fantastic 6 months with 3 sold out shows at The Astoria .These comedy rappers from Newport , Wales are flying at present .You knows it .There are 17 of them on stage but not an instrument in sight and half of them are just dancing without even a microphone but who cares? Its all about having a good time . Stage set consists of a couple of podiums and a couple of sofas ( all that jumping around is tiring stuff .you knows it.) Taking it in turns to dish out the lyrics to tracks like the singles " Guns Dont Kill People Rappers Do " and "Your Mothers Got A Penis " its all good lively fun and the crowd love it. Its all over after 65 mins as the balloons fall from the ceiling .Looks like GLC are having the last laugh. 23 October 2004 Dead Men Walking ,Martletts Hall , Sussex .The thought of seeing DMW playing in a small hall that holds only 300 was well worth the 50 mile drive each way in the rain. As i have said before some acts are worth seeing 2 or 3 times on a tour .The crowd are not as up for it as last nights London show and the band are not sweating as much as the London show but its still superb. 22 October 2004 Dead Men Walking ,Mean Fiddler , London. DMW consist of Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols ) Mike Peters (The Alarm ) Slim Jim Phantoum (Stray Cats ) Kirk Brandon (Spear Of Destiny) and Bruce Watson (Big Country). They played a fantastic 1 hour 40 mins set to a crowd that were really up for it .A mix of classics and solo material got everyone jumping and the band really sweated tonight. "68 Guns" "Ghosts Of Princes And Towers " "Chance " " Stray Cat Strut" "On Something" "God Save The Queen " "Rumble In Brighton " " In A Big Country " "Rock This Town" "45 RPM " amongst others . Stunning encores of "Runaway Boys " "Pretty Vacant " and the Beastie Boys "Fight For Your Right " .Great show .See aftershow too. 21 October 2004 Sarah McLachlan ,Royal Albert Hall, London. In America she is massive with album sales over 22 million which is amazing. Loads of them here tonight have made it a sell out show . She is here promoting her latest album " Afterglow " but despite having a great backing band and nice melodies the Cranberries style songs just washed over me . It just felt so boring but her fans were pleased to see her. 20 October 2004 Whitesnake + Quireboys , Hammersmith Apollo ,London. A great double bill of Classic British Rock . Quireboys do a neat 30 mins set of blues tinged rock n roll and finish with great versions of " Hey You " and "Its 7 Oclock ". Whitesnake are now a mix of UK and Americans in the band . They look and sound great. David Coverdale still has that stunning voice . Yet another show being recorded for a live concert DVD . They did an excellent greatest hits set lasting 1 hour 50 mins. Loads of great songs "Is This Love" "Crying In The Rain" we got a superb drum solo too , "Aint No Love In The Heart Of The City " was the great singalong it always is ."Fool For Your Loving" and "Here I Go Again " are both great rockers that finished off the main set nicely .They encored with " Still Of The Night " and then David Coverdale came back for a solo version of "Soldier Of Fortune " .A great rock n roll show .Fact. Also see aftershow party page for who was there. 18 October 2004 Chris De Burgh ,Royal Albert Hall ,London. First of all i must state i would never pay for a ticket to see this old codger but somehow you have to respect the fact that he just does his own thing for his own fans and has been doing so for 30 years. A long set of 2 hours 40 mins was hard work when most of it was bland rubbish . Just him with his guitar and piano. His best songs were "Lady In Red" "Dont Pay The Ferryman" and encore of "High On Emotion". He went on a couple of walkabouts thru the crowd which went down really well. A little known fact is that his daughter is the current Miss Ireland and Miss World and is quite a stunner so Chris thinks he is a bit of a sex symbol although hes more of a cross between Daniel ODonnell and Terry Wogan but there were plenty of middle aged women giving him pressies . Pleasant enough show for those that dont get out much i presume.

Posted 1st November 2004