News and Reviews: 22nd October 2006

21 Oct 2006.Glen Matlock live at Too2Much ,Soho, London.This was a benefit night for The Rainforest Foundation .Far too many acts on the bill meant everyone only had a 20 mins set inc Glen so its a 5 song set "Somewhere Somehow","A Different World","Ambition","On Something" and "Whose Side Are You On?".Short but sweet........ 19 Oct 2006.Johnny Borrell (Razorlight) live at Fulham Palace Gardens,London.Lavish invite only party for 500 people to launch the new BlackBerry Pearl mobile phone.A massive tented area in the grounds of this historic venue.All night free cocktails,champers and food.Johnny Borrell did a really good 8 song acoustic 30 mins set backed by a 6 piece gospel choir.He looked super cool in his trademark white clothing. The setlist was "Golden Touch","In The Morning","Back To The Start","Before I Fall To Pieces","Somewhere Else","Kirbys House,"America" and "In The City".A great night................ 16 Oct 2006.Meat Loaf live at The Royal Albert Hall,London.One off UK show to launch his new album Bat Out Of Hell 3.(Bat 1 has sold over 30 million albums and Bat 2 has sold over 15 million albums).Meat and his band and mini orchestra play for 2 hours over 2 sets.He still has that larger than life persona that works great on stage.As expected loads of big over the top songs like "All Revved Up","Paradise By The Dashboard Light" ,"You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth" a mega "I'll Do Anything For Love" and " Objects In The Rear View Mirror".The second set started with some new songs inc "The Monster Is Loose" and "Blind Like A Bat".When he played "Bat Out Of Hell" the place erupted. Great encores of "Its All Coming Back To Me Now" with Marion Raven and last song "Life Is A Lemon" was superb.So an enjoyable show and Meat returns to the UK in 2007 for a full arena tour ......... 14 Oct 2006.The Secret Policemans Ball live at The Royal Albert Hall ,London.One off show for Amnesty International feat lots of comedy and a couple of live music acts. Two sets lasting 3 hours 30 mins.First set started with two songs by The Zutons inc "Valerie" then comedy sets by Dylan Moran,Chevy Chase ,Chris Maxwell,some funny impressions from Jon Culshaw and Ronni Ancona. Russell Brand followed by The Mighty Boosh were both excellent.Second set started with two songs by The Magic Numbers inc "I Shall Be Released" with Martha Wainwright.Al Murray was great fun. Not impressed by The Green Wing team.Natalie Imbruglia sung " Torn" with a funny mime artist. A couple of American comics were average and headliner Eddie Izzard was pretty average.A good night but not as good as those amazing SPB shows i went to in the late 1970s. Sadly none of the Monty Python team turned up on stage tonight which was a shame.................. 13 Oct 2006.Dressed To Kill live at The Standard, Walthamstow,East London.Its quite a journey to the other side of London for this gig but you know it will be worth it .DTK are the UKs number one KISS tribute band.I have seem them numerous times since they first started in 1991 and they always deliver.Tonight they are on stage for a staggering 2 hours and 5 mins.They look stunning. All the costumes,boots ,make up ,blood spitting, fire breathing and rocket firing guitars are here.Opening with "Deuce " "Shout It Out Loud" and "Do You Love Me " things get off to a great start.The long set meant they could play a few lesser known KISS gems which even included a track from Paul Stanleys new solo album thats not in the shops until the end of the month. "Lick It Up","Beth" ,"God Of Thunder"and "2000 Man" were all mega."Love Gun " was perfection and "Black Diamond" finished the main set.The singer has plenty of Paul Stanley style chat flowing and the bassist does the most amazing Gene Simmons you will ever see.The encore was rocktastic as "Detroit Rock City","Crazy Crazy Nights " and "Rock And Roll All Nite" were delivered with fireworks and confetti galore. What a superb entertaining show they put on. They play the Standard every 6 months so keep an eye on the venues website..................... 12 Oct 2006.Sex Pistols Experience + Rebel Truce live at The 100 Club ,London.The countrys top Pistols and Clash tributes on the same bill. Rebel Truce have a singer with plenty of Strummer poses and are very tight."Janie Jones" ,"Londons Burning","White Man In Hammersmith Palais", "London Calling","Complete Control " and "White Riot " are some of the great songs played tonight.Sex Pistols Experience have just come back from a month long American tour and are confident and brilliant as always. The John and Sid are on top form as they play 80 mins of all the best Pistols tracks."Holidays In The Sun", "God Save The Queen","Pretty Vacant ","EMI", "Bodies" ,"Anarchy In The UK" and many more. Encore of " No Fun " with punters on stage sealed a great show.Check their website for gigs near you www.sexpistolsexperience.co.uk........ 10 Oct 2006.Glen Matlock live at Virgin Megastore,Piccadilly,London.Sex Pistols legend plays a four song acoustic set before he signs copies of his book "I Was A Teenage Sex Pistol" which has added chapters for the Pistols gigs in 1996 + 2002 + 2003.The set was "Burning Sounds","Yeah Right","Stepping Stone " and "Pretty Vacant".Short but sweet................ 07 Oct 2006.Dead Men Walking live at Islington Academy ,London .(the line up for this tour is Mike Peters, Slim Jim Phantom,Captain Sensible and Kirk Brandon). The annual DMW tour is always a real treat.All the best tunes from their careers with The Alarm,The Stray Cats,Damned and Spear Of Destiny. Tonight they are all in very smart suits .For 80 mins we get classic after classic song ."Runaway Boys","Westworld","68 Guns","Smash It Up","Strength","Stray Cat Strut" ,"Happy Talk", "Glad Its All Over" ,"Blaze Of Glory" ,"Liberator" ,"Rumble In Brighton" ,"45RPM",and a mental "New Rose".For the stunning encore of Joy Divisions "Transmission" they are joined by tour support TV Smith and then they finish with superb versions of "Neat Neat Neat" and "Rock This Town" to seal an excellent must see show. The DMW tour is all over the UK until Oct 25. Full info on www.deadmenwalking.co.uk............ 03 Oct 2006.Paul Rodgers + The Answer live at The Royal Albert Hall,London. Great to arrive at venue to find out The Answer have been added to the bill .They do a really good 35 mins set of quality blues rock with great vocals and great guitar.They now headline their own tour.Check out www.theanswer.ir for more info. No doubt Paul Rodgers playing with Queen last year has meant he can play larger venues for his own shows.Got a great stalls seat 8 rows from the stage which is mega.The 1 hour 40 mins set starts with a few Free oldies like "Stealer","Ride On A Pony" and "Be My Friend" .Paul looks and sounds fab. "Feel Like Making Love" is superb.Then Gary Moore comes on to play guitar to 2 songs and is stunning as usual. "Wishing Well " is dedicated to Brian May and Roger Taylor who are in the house.For the last half hour we run down the front(how old am i again??) and i am 2nd row centre to see Paul Rodgers sing "All Right Now" only 3 feet from me.I could see all the pockets of his designer trousers were covered in safety pins. Gary Moore came on for the encores which included "The Hunter" and Paul on his own for "Seagull" .Very good show................... Although i have been going to gigs since 1973 i love reading about acts who played in the 1950s and 1960s .Jazz legend Humphrey Lyttelton has a great new book out called "It Just Occured To Me" which is full of great stories from back in the day from someone who played legendary venues like The 100 Club and The Marquee Club in the 1950s.Well worth a purchase.................... Friday on BBC1 sees a real treat as The New York Dolls appear on the Jonathan Ross Show which is their first time on British TV since that legendary OGWT show from the early 1970s......... West London seems to have more rock stars than ever in the area .Sunday afternoon i saw Ian Brown in Holland Park then Monday afternoon i chatted with Mick Jones of The Clash in Notting Hill Gate and Tuesday i saw Richard Ashcroft putting some shopping into his Range Rover in Shepherds Bush................................. I was lucky enough to have seen soul legend Teddy Pendergrass 3 times in 1982 at the Hammersmith Odeon(now Apollo) just weeks before his car crash incident. Demonvision have at last brought out "Teddy Live In 79" which features all his biggest tunes.I have a copy to win so tell me the name of any Teddy album. The comp has now closed. The winner was Simon from Camden.

Posted 22nd October 2006