Ray's Gigs

Daily news and reviews of gigs bars clubs restaurants product launches films theatre fashion shows books art galleries hotels competitions interesting places to visit ...and much more!

Friday 24 June 2022.

Friday 24 June 2022. THE BEACH BOYS live at The Royal Albert Hall. Iconic American band are celebrating their 60th anniversary. The Beach Boys are led by Mike Love and Bruce Johnston, who, along with Jeffrey Foskett, Tim Bonhomme, John Cowsill, Keith Hubacher, Christian Love and Scott Totten continue the legacy. The Beach Boys co-founder MIKE LOVE is now aged 81. I have seen them around a dozen times before including in 2003 in Arizona, USA when they played the day after i saw The Sex Pistols play Tempe , Arizona...I saw half a dozen Sex Pistols shows on that tour. ------------------- The arena floor and stalls are full tonight, but the circle is only 50% sold. THE BEACH BOYS as usual play a long set of 2 hours 30 mins...two sets of 75 mins. Sixteen musicians on stage including a five man brass section, to give a lovely big sound. The younger members of the band made sure the harmonies were top notch. Half a dozen palm trees are at the rear of the stage. The two main senior members remain standing for the entire show, which was very impressive. A big screen showing vintage video clips and photos from their heyday. A nice touch was The Ramones cover of "Rockaway Beach". Over 40 songs played including all their many hits. The second half had all the crowd up and dancing for most of it. Good vibrations indeed...a great show. Full Beach Boys setlist played tonight... FIRST SET Do It Again Surfin' Safari Catch a Wave Little Honda It's OK California Sun (Joe Jones cover) Rockaway Beach (Ramones cover) Surfin' U.S.A. Surfer Girl Please Let Me Wonder Kiss Me, Baby (with Ambha Love) Getcha Back When I Grow Up (to Be a Man) Darlin' Here Today You Still Believe in Me Good to My Baby Caroline, No (Brian Wilson song) Be True to Your School Don't Worry Baby Little Deuce Coupe 409 Shut Down I Get Around SECOND SET California Dreamin' (The Mamas & the Papas cover) Sloop John B ([traditional] cover) Wouldn't It Be Nice California Girls Disney Girls Forever (with John Stamos on vocals) Dance, Dance, Dance Why Do Fools Fall in Love (Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers cover) All I Wanna Do All This Is That Then I Kissed Her God Only Knows Pisces Brothers (Mike Love song) Here Comes the Sun (The Beatles cover) Cotton Fields (Lead Belly cover) Do You Wanna Dance? (Bobby Freeman cover) Rock and Roll Music (Chuck Berry cover) Help Me, Rhonda Kokomo Good Vibrations Barbara Ann (The Regents cover) Fun, Fun, Fun --------- During the show Mike Love said "thanks for choosing us tonight, as there is a lot going on". He is not kidding....tonight had a full quota of big acts playing. Beach Boys - The Royal Albert Hall Green Day - London Stadium Ed Sheeran - Wembley Stadium Diana Ross - 02 Arena Elton John - Hyde Park I chatted to a few nice guys from Norway who are in London the weekend for some quality shows. Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones and Eagles. Elton John at Hyde Park had some rain , so a reminder to them and others that Hyde Park has no cover or shade so if it rains or gets really hot...you need to be prepared. ---------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday 23 June 2022. ABC with orchestra live at The Royal Albert Hall. ABC celebrate 40 years since the release of their lauded and timeless debut album " The Lexicon of Love". ABC will perform the iconic album in its entirety , including a return to this venue where their first orchestrated show won the hearts of critics and fans alike....I was at that show. Martin Fry’s masterpiece "The Lexicon Of Love" went straight to number one upon release. Fusing dance floor finesse with a post-punk attitude, the album spawned timeless tracks such "Poison Arrow", "The Look Of Love", "Tears Are Not Enough", and "All Of My Heart". The album saw ABC enchant the world with their own unique brand of pop and remains one of the best albums of all time. Worldwide hits and six studio albums later; ABC demonstrate that even now 40 years on from "The Lexicon Of Love", Martin Fry’s song-writing and musicianship is still as contemporary as it was in the beginning. ABC will be joined by the Southbank Sinfonia and longtime collaborator Anne Dudley who will conduct the evening. I have seen ABC live a dozen times over the last 40 years, including all three nights at Hammersmith Odeon in 1982 when "Lexicon of Love" originally stormed the charts. I have also seen them play with an orchestra three times at this same venue...in 2009, 2017 and 2019. ---------------------------- The venue is a near sell-out, with maybe 95% per cent of tickets sold. ABC with orchestra are on for 1 hour 50 mins, over two sets of 55 mins each. With band and orchestra added together, there must be around 50 musicians on stage. The songs with the orchestra backing them sound fantastic, especially with the stunning string section. Singer Martin Fry must be the Bryan Ferry of the 1980s as tonight he is wearing a very smart white tux, bow tie and black patent shoes. The first set has plenty of gems and the second set has the tracks from that classic album. Martin brings us back to the 1980s by talking about turning the vinyl over to side two. Martin brings out his iconic gold lame jacket for the reprise of "The Look of Love". The hit singles are superb and i sing all the words to my fave song of theirs "All Of My Heart". A great show. Full ABC setlist played tonight.... FIRST SET Intro - The Lexicon of Love medley (Southbank Sinfonia Orchestra only) When Smokey Sings Viva Love The Night You Murdered Love (How to Be a) Millionaire The Flames of Desire The Love Inside the Love Ten Below Zero One Better World Ocean Blue SECOND SET - The Lexicon of Love album Show Me Poison Arrow Many Happy Returns Tears Are Not Enough Valentine's Day The Look of Love Date Stamp 4 Ever 2 Gether All of My Heart Play Video Encore: The Look of Love (Part Four) (Southbank Sinfonia Orchestra only) The Look of Love (with band and orchestra) (reprise)