Ray's Gigs

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Sunday 12 November 2023.

Sunday 12 November 2023. CLIFF RICHARD live at Hammersmith Apollo. I am back to see Cliff for the second time. Pretty much the same show as the night before. An incredible 14 number one UK hits in the 21 songs played. The chat on stage in both halves was a bit different. Cliff is wearing a different sparkly outfit. Despite being 83 , he does plenty of dancing around the stage. Many fans have come to see Cliff multi-nights , even though front block tickets are £100 each Again there was a very positive feel good vibe here tonight. So many hit songs in another great show. ---------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- Saturday 11 November 2023. CLIFF RICHARD plays the fifth of six nights at Hammersmith Apollo. Before The Beatles,there was Cliff Richard , who had the biggest selling single in the year 1959, with his fifth single release 'Living Doll'. Cliff will be aged 83 when he plays these shows. The shows will be filmed and shown in UK cinemas on Nov 25 and 26. Across his illustrious and unrivalled 8-decade career spanning stage and screen, Sir Cliff Richard has become a British icon and cultural treasure, amassing many gold and platinum records, well over 250 million records sales worldwide, 14 number-one singles, a colossal 96 Top 20 hits, 7 number-one albums and a string of Brit and Ivor Novello awards to his name. First night reviews say that he is playing all fourteen of his UK number one hit singles. I have seen Cliff on stage over 15 times since 1979 , when he headlined a charity show at The Royal Albert Hall, where he did three songs and KATE BUSH did three songs. I also saw the reunion tour with The Shadows at The 02 Arena. In 1958, 'Move It ' was Cliff Richard's debut single, and was widely credited as one of the first authentic rock 'n' roll singles made outside the United States. He went on to record countless commercial releases at Abbey Road studio, either with The Shadows, or as solo releases. ----------- It is stalls seated tonight, as lots of older folks here with 75% being loyal females who attend multi-nights. Many are wearing tinsel and fairy lights CLIFF RICHARD and band play for around two hours over two sets of 60 mins each.Pretty much a nice greatest hits set, with his 50s and 60s hits in the first half, and his 70s hits onwards in the second half. Cliff is looking as youthful as ever , and despite being aged 83, he is wearing sparkly jacket, sparkly shirt, sparkly tie , sparkly shoes and the black trousers look leather. A friend who went to the opening night said Cliff is 100% miming the entire show. On my inspection the vocals are too perfect for an 83 year old , so I would think there is some vocal production trickery going on. This crowd don't care though. Most songs had an introduction on how they came about , and Cliff was interviewed on stage for around 10 mins in the middle of both sets. The show certainly could have been a bit louder The crowd rushed to the front for the last few songs. It was a full on greatest hits show, with hit after hit. So many gems from the last 65 years...a great show. Full CLIFF RICHARD setlist played tonight .. FIRST SET The Young Ones (Cliff Richard & The Shadows cover) Please Don't Tease ( Cliff Richard & The Shadows cover) Living Doll Summer Holiday ( Cliff Richard & The Shadows cover) Bachelor Boy ( Cliff Richard & The Shadows cover) Chat - Cliff Richard with Iain Dale (10 mins) I Love You ( Cliff Richard & The Shadows cover) Congratulations Ocean Deep Travellin' Light (Cliff Richard & The Shadows cover) Move It! The Millennium Prayer SECOND SET Saphire The Minute You're Gone ( Sonny James cover) Mistletoe & Wine Saviour's Day Miss You Nights Chat - Cliff Richard with Iain Dale (10 mins) Wired for Sound The Next Time (Cliff Richard & The Shadows cover) Devil Woman We Don't Talk Anymore Encore: Band and crew introductions My Kinda Life --------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- Friday 10 November 2023. CREEPER live at Shepherds Bush Empire. UK goth emo band are touring their third studio album. This is the last night of their five night UK tour. I have seen Creeper before in 2020 when they supported Baby Metal at Wembley Arena. ------------ Level 3 is half empty, but otherwise the venue is pretty full. THE NIGHTMARES came on stage at 7.25pm for their 30 mins. They are from Wales and play a good 30 mins set of tracks from their album. SAVE FACE on stage at 8.15pm for their 30 mins set. Save Face are a New Jersey native rock band. Emerging in all red jumpsuits, the band had good tracks including ' Glitter' . With the set containing elements of a gothic vibe, it’s easy to see why the band have been compared to the likes of My Chemical Romance. The frantic and chaotic nature that lead singer Tyler brings to the table. Throughout the set there’s barely a moment where he stands still whether that is him jumping up and down on stage. A really good set , with tracks from their two albums. CREEPER on stage at 9.20pm for their 90 mins set. The band have a nice stage production , with loads of lights and dry ice plumes and confetti in the encore. Three raised platforms at the front of the stage. Most of the songs are really good uptempo tracks , which result in loads of moshing , and 60 or 70 bodies crowd surf into the pit, to keep the security busy. It was a full on proper gig atmosphere in the front stalls. The band are super tight and singer Will Gould is a great front man, as the fans gang on his every word. The band remind me of other great live bands at this level like Palaye Royale and The Struts . .a really good set.