News and Reviews: 1st April 2007

31 March 2007. The Who live at The Royal Albert Hall,London.This was the last night of 6 events here for The Teenage Cancer Trust(i was at 4 of them).Over the past 5 or 6 years i seem to have seen The Who play a dozen times including a Los Angeles show in Sept 2002 at The Greek Theatre and its always been great.Same again tonight where they played a superb 1 hour 40 mins show. So many timeless rock classics "Cant Explain", "Seeker","Who Are You","Behind Blue Eyes",a mega "Baba O'Riley" then 3 tracks from their recent new album then "You Better You Bet","My Generation", and a mega "Wont Get Fooled Again". Pete and Roger both on top form and Zak Starkey on drums was brilliant. Encores included a fab "Pinball Wizard","See Me Feel Me" and "Listening To You".This band are always fantastic.......... 30 March 2007. Kaiser Chiefs live at The Royal Albert Hall,London.This was show number 5 of the 6 events here for The Teenage Cancer Trust.I saw The Kaiser Chiefs only 4 weeks ago at Shepherds Bush Empire where they played a storming show. Tonight was pretty much the same with all the best songs from their two albums like "Everyday I Love You Less And Less","Ruby","Na Na Na Naa", new single "Everything Is Average Nowadays", "Modern Way","I Predict A Riot",then the singer did a full walk around the stalls area of the venue .Encores were "The Angry Mob" and a mega "Oh My God".Another energy filled 75 mins set that went down a treat........................ 29 March 2007. My Chemical Romance live at Wembley Arena, London.I had seen MCR a couple of years ago when they supported at festivals and not been that impressed.Their 3rd album " The Black Parade" has now sold over 2 million copies and they can now sell out arenas.As i expected its mainly a teenage crowd who are singing their hearts out and the mosh pit down the front is heaving.The first half of the 90 mins set was the recent album in its entirety but only the title track really did it for me.Lots of fireworks,fire cannons,confetti and explosions in the show.The second half of the set was the best tracks from their first two albums.The crowd loved it but i thought it was pretty average..... Black Sabbath with Ronnie James Dio on vocals tour the UK in November with a Wembley Arena show on 10 November.www.livenation.co.uk to buy tix... 28 March 2007.Russell Brand + Noel Fielding + 3 other comedians live at The Royal Albert Hall, London.Of the 3 support slots Stuart Lee was the best.A few years ago someone said "comedy is the new rock and roll" well Russell Brand and Noel Fielding are more rock and roll than most bands could ever be.This comedy night at RAH sold out just as quick as the gigs here as both are massive now.Noel and his Mighty Boosh team sold out 5 nights at Brixton Academy last year and Russell sold out Shepherds Bush Empire twice .They performed on their own and together with material of surreal ,weird madness of the highest order that the crowd loved.Together they could surely even play Wembley Arena such is the chemistry they share on stage now. See aftershow page for this event............... Rock legends Rush play UK arenas in October inc 2 shows at Wembley Arena on October 9 and 10. Tickets on sale 31 March ....................... 26 March 2007. Noel Gallagher live at The Royal Albert Hall,London.This was the first of the 6 shows here for The Teenage Cancer Trust.Noel was joined by Gem on guitar and keyboards and the Shack drummer on a tiny kit for a 90 mins set of Oasis classics mixed in with lesser known b sides etc.Best were "Cast No Shadow" and "The Importance Of Being Idle".Paul Weller came on for two songs "The Butterfly Collector" and "All You Need Is Love".Everyone singing to "Wonderwall" and "Slide Away".Great encores of "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out","Dont Look Back In Anger","Married With Children" and "Strawberry Fields Forever".17 songs played in total. A good show but not as good as seeing Oasis in full flight rocking out though................... 25 March 2007.ESP(Eric Singer Project)live at The Camden Underworld,London.First of all i must mention this was gig number 4700 i have been to since 1973.ESP is a mini supergroup of rockers who have played with some big names.Drummer Eric Singer has played with KISS and Alice Cooper.Guitarist Bruce Kulick has played with KISS and Grand Funk Railroad.Singer John Corabi has sung with Motley Crue and Ratt.Bassist Chuck Garrick plays with Alice Cooper.They played a really good 1 hour 40 mins set of material that is related to their own bands and some cover versions.As i am a big KISS fan it was great that the two members here played a few KISS songs "Watching You","Nothing To Lose","War Machine", "I Love It Loud" and mega encore of "Black Daimond".Other gems played inc "Schools Out", "Sweet Leaf","Power To The Music" and the other encores of "Tie Your Mother Down " and "Were An American Band".A really good club gig........... 23 March 2007.Lionel Richie + Louise Setara live at Wembley Arena,London.Support i had never heard off before but she has an album out called "Still Waters".Her Nora Jones style would be more suited to Ronnie Scotts than this venue. This was the first of four Lionel shows at Wembley as part of his huge 3 month arena tour of Europe by this Motown legend who has sold over 100 million albums.A nice big stage production and 3 huge video screens.The UK crowd have a real love for him.Lots of fun on stage banter. He was massive in the 70s and 80s with so many great tunes in the 2 hours 10 mins set like "Penny Lover","Easy","Running With The Night","Still","Stuck On You",mega versions of "Dancing On The Ceiling" and "Three Times A Lady","Endless Love","Sail On","Brick House" and encores of "Hello","Say You Say Me" and his biggest party tune "All Night Long".A great feel good show from this real entertainer.......... 22 March 2007.Calvin Harris live at The Vinyl Factory ,London.This was an invite only gig to launch the new Wrangler store in Carnaby St. About 300 are here for 3 hours of free booze and food and its a lively atmosphere.Calvin Harris and his band play a 35 mins set.Its a cool mix of catchy 80s electronic rock that moves your body. Some good songs like the hit single "Acceptable In The 80s","The Girls" and "Vegas".From here he supports Faithless on their UK arena tour and he will be massive by the end of the year.Check out www.myspace.com/calvinharristv............. 20 March 2007. Buckcherry + Backyard Babies live at The Mean Fiddler,London.Support i had seen before and they are still playing their average rock and roll.Buckcherry were touted as the new Guns And Roses when they burst on the scene in 1999 mainly due to their ode to cocaine "Lit Up" which was a stunning single.I saw them 4 times that year inc 2 shows supporting KISS at Wembley Arena and Paris Bercy but then the second album arrived and drug habits split up the band.This sold out show was to promote their recent 2006 3rd album "15"(it was recorded in only 15 days) that has sold over a staggering 800,000 copies in America.They played loads of great uptempo tracks from it like "Broken Glass", current single "Next To You","Out Of Line", "Sorry" and "Crazy Bitch".The album is well worth a purchase .Their wild singer is covered in tattoos and their lively sleaze rock really is good to watch live on stage. They played "Riding" and "Porno Star" from the 2nd album and the venue erupted for their anthem "Lit Up "near the end.Really good 80 mins set and its great to see them back ............... 19 March 2007.Dolly Parton live at Wembley Arena, London.This country and western legend has been around for some 40 years but this was the first time i have ever seen her live (she has only toured the UK once in the last 20 years).Now aged 61 and so tiny yet she is just great live .Two hours on stage over two sets.Loads of nice stories and banter between songs(she is one of twelve children,turned down recording a duet with Elvis Presley because he wanted half the copyright on her song etc).Lots of great songs like "Jolene","Little Sparrow","Coat Of Many Colours","I Will Always Love You","Islands In The Stream " and "Here You Come Again".Also a few covers inc "Turn Turn Turn " and encore of "Imagine".Her excellent DVD "Live And Well 2002" even has a version of Led Zeps "Stairway To Heaven".A real pleasure to watch............. 18 March 2007.Shakira live at Wembley Arena, London.Sold out show.Only UK gig on this tour. This was gig number 100 on Shakiras world tour to promote her "Oral Fixation Vol 2 " album. The Columbian star had lots of support from many South Americans in the crowd.A nice big stage production with 2 huge video screens. Shakira is an amazing performer.Full of energy and a body to die for.Every song she was shaking her hips and flicking her hair and doing her sexy belly dancing in 4 or 5 midriff revealing outfits.You could not take your eyes off her .Half the 95 mins set were songs in her native tongue which was a bit of a pain but lots of great songs "Dont Bother","Illegal", "Whenever Wherever","Underneath Your Clothes" and the encore of mega worldwide hit "Hips Dont Lie" with 6 female dancers was excellent.A very enjoyable show..................... 16 March 2007.Arcade Fire live at Brixton Academy,London.This was the 3rd of 4 sell out shows at Brixton for one of the hottest live indie acts around.Arcade Fire played all the best tracks from both their albums.Ten members on stage with lots of energy and swopping of instruments.Some of the songs sounded the same but its a great mix of keyboards,brass,violins. The highlights of the 90 mins set were stunning versions of "Rebellion(Lies)" and encore of "Wake Up"(U2 used this song as their intro song for their recent world tour).Good gig...... Tickets go on sale Friday 16 March for another great 3 band rock package put together by Live Nation.Alice Cooper + Motorhead + Joan Jett And The Blackhearts play a 10 date arena tour in Nov 2007 inc Wembley Arena on Nov 17............ 14 March 2007.Journey + Danny Vaughn live at Hammersmith Apollo,London.Support used to be in a band called Tyketto and his 30 mins of acoustic rock was ok. Journey were another band i was not fond off in the 1970s although i did see them in their heyday at this venue in 1979. Not many bands can open with a 3 minute guitar solo but then not many bands have got superb guitarists like Neal Schon.This was their first London show for at least 20 years and the sold out crowd were really buzzing.A long set of 2 hours 10 mins which was basically fantastic for first 30 mins then good for an hour then superb for the last 30 mins."Ask The Lonely","Wheel In The Sky" and "Whos Crying Now " were all played near the start and "Faithfully","Dont Stop Believing" ,"Any Way You Want It " and encore "Separate Ways(Worlds Apart) " were all great at the end.Their loyal crowd really loved it all. A really good show overall and for newcomers i would suggest their "Greatest Hits " album...... 13 March 2007.America live at Hammersmith Apollo, London.Not sure what i am doing here really as back in 1976/1977 when i was a punk rocker i used to really hate bands like America and Kansas. Anyway its their first London show for maybe 25 years or so i think.Their history is interesting. They all got together in the Watford/North London area around 1969 as they were all sons of American servicemen in the UK and they recorded 7 albums with Beatles producer George Martin who is in the crowd tonight and they were massive in USA in the 1970s .As expected its sleepy american folk rock with lots of harmonies but not much real excitement.A nice mix of old hits like "Ventura Highway","You Can Do Magic","I Need You" and "Never Be Lonely" along with tracks from the new album " Here And Now".The highlight was the one song encore of "Horse With No Name" where they were joined by Brian Wilsons guitar player which was great but then it was over. The 95 mins set was far too short for a band with so much material and they hardly move a lot on stage like Mick Jagger does.Average gig......... 12 March 2007.Lily Allen live at Hammersmith Apollo,London. Lily might have lost out to Amy Winehouse at The BRIT Awards but her biggest headline London show to date is a 5000 sell out. She bounces on to the stage with fag in hand and admits to being a bit nervous and a bit pissed. A 70 mins set of catchy pop reggae tunes from her mega selling album "Alright Still".Loads of teenage girls here who do see her as one of them. "Not Big","Knock Em Out","LDN","Friday Night" and a superb "Smile" are all good .Lily is a pretty average singer but her cheeky lyrics and on stage banter carry her through.To pad out the set we get covers by Blondie ,Kaiser Chiefs and The Specials.The following day she will leave for another American tour.A good show............ 10 March 2007.Nine Inch Nails live at Brixton Academy,London.This was NIN 3rd night of 4 at Brixton to support the album "With Teeth". Like the 2005 shows here their loyal fans are mainly dressed in black.With their keyboard heavy industrial rock they are not for the faint hearted.The 95 mins set had some great songs like "Heresy","Wish","Hurt" and "The Hand That Feeds".The band all in black were hard to see with the non stop strobe lighting but thats their style i suppose.Good gig though......... Sadly i have lost all the reviews from Jan/Feb due to my rush to do a quick update and me forgetting to "save changes" meant i lost them on Friday .Sorry about that but hopefully most of you read them anyway.The events were The BRIT Awards,The NME Awards,Kylie Minogue,Wolfmother, The Feeling,The Who,Blondie,Bryan Ferry,Lez Zeppelin, Pete Townshend,Glen Matlock,Scissor Sisters,Aerosmith(the best gig of the year so far),Hammerfall,Krokus,Last Man Standing, The Killers,Rufus Wainwright,All Saints, The Twang(best new band i have seen this year), Keane,Kaiser Chiefs ,Paul Roberts(ex Stranglers).

Posted 1st April 2007