Saturday 04 December 2021.

Saturday 04 December 2021. RIVERDANCE live at Hammersmith Apollo. Riverdance is playing seven shows at Hammersmith Apollo on their UK tour. Friday 03 Dec - evening show Saturday 04 Dec - matinee and evening show Sunday 05 Dec - matinee and evening show Monday 06 Dec - evening show Tuesday 07 Dec - evening show I have seen Riverdance a couple of times before, including their first UK tour. This tour is to celebrate their 25th anniversary since their iconic appearance on The Eurovision Song Contest...which was in 1994 but covid has delayed the tour by two years... ----------------- Riverdance is as popular as ever , as tonight is completely sold out. A visually great production with digital images at the rear , that looked very 3D in many parts. A full live band are playing at the back of the stage. The show is on for 1 hour 50 mins over two sets of 50 mins and 60 mins. The famous Riverdance theme song is used several times during the show. Riverdance is influenced by styles from around the world. Flamenco, Russian and a thunderous dance off between the new Irish immigrants who arrived in New York and American jazz tappers. The Irish had been taught to dance tall and straight – the jazzers are nonchalant, leaning and waving their arms. In a contest for flair and speed, it would be difficult to say who would win of the five on stage , but the short guy was best. Don’t expect an evening of just Irish dancing. It’s there and it’s superb – fast, beautiful, cheeky, with immaculate precision as if they are all powered by electricity. But also we have balletic lifts, athletic twirls and whirls with leaps and cartwheels and scissor kicks and the splits in the air. A female dancer fended off male dancers by high-kicking Riverdance straight leg style to their heads, in moves that Bruce Lee would have been proud of. Of course there was a few times when the iconic line of male and female dancers kicked away in perfect synchronized harmony, across the full length of the stage. In 18 scenes including virtuoso instrumental pieces and lyrical and uplifting singing, this is the Irish story unfolding, sometimes wistful, sometimes powerful, always with great spirit. A great show, that featured plenty of mesmerising dancing. ---------------------------------- ---------------------------------- Friday 03 December 2021. KENNEY JONES & THE JONES GANG live at 229 Great Portland Street, London W1. Legendary drummer now aged 73, who has played with The Small Faces, The Faces and The Who. Support comes from a great mod band called THE SHA LA'S. The day of the gig is the exact 7th anniversary ( 03 Dec 2014) of the death of Kenney's Small Faces and The Faces keyboard band mate Ian McLagan. Tickets are £30 plus £3 booking fee. -------------------- Not sold out tonight, but it looks a very healthy 90 per cent sold at this 620 capacity venue. THE SHA LA LA'S arrived on stage at 8pm and played for 30 mins. The Sha La La's are a London based four piece steeped in Mod and Soul Roots. Signed to Detour Records their 60s R&B influences are apparent but make no mistake, their sound is definitely their own. Their vocalist delivers with real purpose , and the swirling Hammond organ sounded fab. They played the best tracks from their albums including the single "You Got Me (Wantin') ". Their pukka original songs were an ideal support act tonight...a short but very sweet set. For more info visit.....https://www.facebook.com ›theshalalas KENNY JONES & THE JONES GANG arrived on at 9pm for their 90 mins set. Six musicians on stage including a keyboard player and a chap on the bongos. The band still feature two ex members of Bad Company from the 1990s. Robert Hart on vocals, and Dave "Bucket" Colwell on guitar. Robert Hart has an excellent rock voice that suits all the classic songs performed tonight. Kenney Jones has performed live most of the songs in the setlist with various bands tonight. A great show. FULL SETLIST PLAYED TONIGHT.... Whatcha Gonna Do About It (Small Faces cover) Substitute (The Who cover) All or Nothing (Small Faces cover ) Maggie May (Rod Stewart cover) The Time of Your Life (from their album) Wishing Well (Free cover) Tin Soldier (Small Faces cover ) Pinball Wizard (The Who cover) See Me, Feel Me (The Who cover) Angel (from their album) My Generation ( The Who cover) Lazy Sunday (Small Faces cover) Mr Brown (from their album) Stay With Me (Faces cover) Won't Get Fooled Again (The Who cover) Encore: Can't Get Enough (Bad Company cover ) All Right Now (Free cover)

Posted 4th December 2021