The Osmond Brothers–Liverpool Philharmonic Hall 10th April 2012

I try not to go into gigs with any expectations but for this concert I expected a thoroughly professional show. This was from experience, and I wasn’t disappointed.
Sadly we were short one brother for the show as Wayne had a stroke before the tour began and the doctors wouldn’t let him fly over. Even with a man down the show must go on and the delivered song after song of classics with a few tracks for their new CD thrown in for good measure.
The second they hit the stage the first few rows moved forward. I moved to let others on my row past to get to the stage but I was quite happy where I was especially as I had a good view and plenty of room to dance.
I admit to singing along to everything but the new stuff. We won’t talk about how loudly I sang along to Long Haired Lover From Liverpool, but it does loom large in my music related legend.
The band have a media created image of simply being a schmaltzy boy band, so some more casual bystanders may have been surprised by how many songs were upbeat and more in the vein of Crazy Horses than Love Me For A Reason, there was even a rock drum solo from brother Jay.
These guys have been entertaining since birth, or at least that’s how it seems, and they are extremely good at what they do. This was their farewell tour as The Osmond Brothers, but I suspect there’s a bit more to come from the individual brothers.




Video playlist of five tracks from the night.

McFly–Leeds March 17th 2012

 

I don’t mind admitting how much I like McFly. I’ve enjoyed watching them develop from the first catchy pop tunes through to the epic feel of the last album Above The Noise.

Despite buying the music I hadn’t seen the band in concert since around the time of their second album. It was mostly children in the audience back then, but that audience has grown up along side the band and they have obviously widened their appeal judging by the number of blokes in the audience.

The gig was fantastic. The band bantered amongst themselves with much teasing from Harry and Dougie over their recent reality TV successes. They know how to work their audience and delivered cracking performance after cracking performance covering their whole nine year career. The new songs they offered up showed that the new album is going to be highly anticipated by their fans. (So many already knew the words to the new songs!)

They have most certainly broken free of the stigma of “flavour of the month boy band” and by seizing control of their own careers have turned into a powerpop band to be reckoned with.

Solid Silver Sixties Show–Liverpool Philharmonic Hall 13th March 2012

Before I even begin to talk about this show can I applaud Vanity Fare who are on stage throughout the show, that’s a long day when there’s a matinee show too! I admire their stamina!
Vanity Fare open the show with their hit that wasn’t the one about hitchhiking and from the first note the Liverpool audience were up for it and very lively. I’ve been to some of these shows where it takes a while for the audience to warm up, but not this lot! The chap next to me was clapping and singing along all night and having a whale of a time. I think this was probably my favourite SSSS audience ever!


Brian Poole received a warm welcome to the stage and enticed a few audience members up to dance while just about everyone else was dancing in their seats. The highlight of his set was Someone Someone – the whole audience seemed entranced.

Closing the first half of the show was Chris Montez. I don’t think he stayed still for a single second during his set. He was all over the stage and exuded an infectious enthusiasm. He unleashed several well-known songs including a few made famous by Ritchie Valens. Ending with Let’s Dance he leapt from the Philharmonic stage join some of the ladies in the audience who were up and out of their seats for a chance to dance with him. He was very popular while signing stuff during the interval too, but then again every signature came with a kiss for the ladies.
Some splendid a capella singing opened part two, with Vanity Fare covering the Billy Joel classic The Longest Time. There most famous hit Hitching A Ride once again had the audience singing along before Brian Hyland took to the stage.


Accompanied by his wife and son, Mr Hyland offered a fine selection of rock ‘n’ roll as well as his famous hits, Sealed With a Kiss and Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini. The latter being quite a crowd pleaser.



Topping the bill was Peter Noone. This man was the reason I went to my first Solid Silver Sixties Show way on back in 1995, and is therefore responsible for a number of people I have met through these shows that I am pleased to called my friends. It had been nine years since Peter last did one of these tours, but it was like he had never been away. His child-like enthusiasm spilled out on the stage and infected the audience, who were largely up on their feet dancing from the second he hit the stage. All the favourites were there including Mrs Brown, Sentimental Friend, Something’s Happening and my personal highlight, Sunshine Girl.


All the acts returned to the stage for the finale, Land of A Thousand Dances. Audience participation and dancing was compulsory. As the show came to an end it was clear that everyone had had a fabulous time.





Video playlist features - Brian Hyland, Chris Montez and Peter Noone.

 

Oops!

I currently can't find my note book with my gig reviews and notes in. Hence the delay in posting gig reviews. If I don't find it soon I'll try and remember what I had scribbled down!

Update

My musical year got off to a slow start, but photos and brief reports from the two gigs I have been to so far (Solid Silver 60s and Mcfly) are coming soon.

Keeping it eclectic my upcoming gigs this year include The Osmond Brothers, Ian Anderson, Elvis Costello and Greg Lake.

Next month sees the tenth annual International Pop Overthrow Liverpool. This event is the highlight of my year, and I can't wait for my IPO family to be in town. I may try and rustle up some guest bloggers for the event. If anyone attending fancies scribbling something down let me know.

Stay tuned!