Ricky Martin- Autism Rocks
Hammersmith Eventim Apollo
London
23.09.2016
Cast your mind back if you can to Summer 1999, cause it was then this performer 1st came to the attention of the UK with his smash hit 'Livin La Vida Loca' the Red Hot 'Puerto Rican' Hip Shaker Made waves across the world cross-referencing Spanish speaking music with #Spanglish Genre to cross language barriers he was a smash all over the world not just The Americas .
At the time I did not know that 'Ricky' had been famous for much of his life from being in a boyband 'Menudo' as he was in in US magazines notably (Bop, Super Teen, 16) the same time as 'Madonna' early 80's (they later recorded a ballad together in 1999 for his 'Ricky Martin' self titled Spanglish Album titled 'Be Careful With My Heart').
I and my mum were fortunate enough to have gone along that Summer to 'Virgin' Megastore London Oxford Street to meet him at an instore appearence, we joined a throng of excited young girls and women #RickyMania, and we eventually got a glimpse of him sat down signing things fast No Photos were allowed and he only signed his name no dedications, security moved people down the line quickly, he said hello and smiled ( he didn't speak much English like today) but my mum touched his hand and said "Ooh Thank you Ricky" when he signed our cassette tape it made me laugh luckily she didn't get restrained lol .
Since then then my mum has always been a fan and now she dosent get out of the house much except locally so I want to bring back some memories from the show.
So Here I am some 16 yrs later ready to party I'm in a centre seat 6 rows away in a quite small theatre, resident DJs are playing Spanish Latino Dance music to warm up the crowd, tonights show is 'Sold Out' I'm aware how lucky I am to be at the show as there are mainly 'Spanish' fans accounting for over 50% of the venue's audience tonight, many have travelled from as far as 'Chile','Italy','Poland' some have brought large flags (My hackles go up immediately ,hope my view isn't obscured).
As the time is approaching 8pm the stage is set and soon after the lights go down there are musician's in 'Ricky's Live band on the stage and some male and female dancers, then as the crowds excitement goes to boiling point "It's Hot in here" he appears descending from top deck stage where 'Autism Rocks Logo' has been displayed , He's dressed in 'Black' his Muscles Pecs and Abs very well worked out by the looks of it as he commands the stage with remarkable stamina he dosent look a day over 31 , with that unmistakable grin as he casts his glance over the front row of excited exhuberant fans who are screaming and jumping up and down.
He runs through a lesser known song over here 'Mr Put It Down' a few songs later and one of my fav's 'Shake Your Bon Bon', he played a lot of Spanish material and another wardrobe change was required for 'Livin La Vida Loca' the room shook as he powered through it, during the lyrics for the song he changes them and says "Woke Up In London City" lights go off and crowd scream then on again, and away we go that guy can dance.
He continues to shimmy across the low stage, this is not the usual size venue 'Ricky' is used to playing , he normally plays huge stadiums in the Middle East and Across the Globe in particular The Americas where he became a rising star .We get a really varied setlist tonight with 'Sound Loaded' s 'She Bangs' another of my favs, dressed in White now it's the ballads section with his self titled '1999' album song 'I Am Made of You' a fav album track so glad he played it .
This part began with the 'Ricky Martin Foundation' film screened about poor children and coinciding with the spoken message of 'Autism Rocks' ending that part with a powerful emotional 'Vuelve', 'Ricky' turns away from the crowd with the microphone stand held behind his head and you think oh that's it what a show .
But No he comes back again in a Maroon suit with a cane and some scantily dressed female dancers for his Spanish songs , then back to Black again for 'Lola /Maria' ('Maria' was the first 'Ricky' song/video I'd heard I first spotted him on VH1 in 1998) I had an idea then I liked his music.
It just gets better with a storming version of 'La Bomba' where he flirted with the crowd giving us a chance to win the 'Who Is The Loudest in the venue competition I think we won , I can recall parading around the house in 'Flamenco' fashion to his Latino Dance songs this one & 'Por Arriba' Yes I'm a Rock Chic but I'm also a multi faceted diamond when it comes to musical taste.
I thought again it had ended when he returned again this time with a supreme version of 'The Cup Of Life' (Football Song from 1998 World Cup Ah now you know it right ? lol), I think he's played every song I wanted to hear tonight, it has been a magical fantastic night and for a worthy cause 'Autism Research', in December 'Autism Rocks' Sessions return with 'Nile Rodgers & Chic' one to put in your diary if you are in West London.
So as the night slips away I gather my things to get a taxi back to my hotel, I have some great memories to share with my mum including the full video of 'Livin La Vida Loca' Live, and I've shared some with you all in this blog now, What a performer so glad I came down to see his exclusive intimate show he dosent come to the UK much .
So Adios !!
Lmi xo
OnRoundhay Leeds Festival
Primal Scream /James
September 17th 2016
Today as I arrive the afternoon before what is to be 'Roundhay Park's 1st Live event for 10 years played by the likes of 'Madonna' on her first U.K. Tour 'Who's That Girl' in 1987, I'm laden with bags at the station, have to catch the bus from Briggate and a 20 minute bus ride to my B&B (I'd of been better of getting a taxi specially when I realised how far it was to walk to my B&B) it was worse when I got there it was on a hill top with steps up to it I was exhausted as it was !!
Out of breath I checked in after scaling it the with travel bags with 2 carrier bags, I got to my room to relax my stress continued TV wasn't working had to be re-tuned,my kettle isn't normal it has a filter and spout no instructions near the TV, so I decide to boil it to try ..too late though with the cup it boiled and poured itself all over the tabletop and wooden floor ,turns out the filter was full below before I boiled it (un-beknownst to me ) and the cup was too small anyway to make a drink with it the staff had no idea about it, they said my room was the only one with this type of kettle (Oh Lucky Me) they'd never tried it and so apologised and mopped up luckily I'd stopped it going near the TV or I'd of been electrocuted OMG hope tomorrow is better...
So Saturday at last I'm ready to party, its a Beautiful day I get my Sunglasses on I'm dressed Festival Themed, I catch another bus to 'Roundhay Park' I go to the park entrance around 11am , I'm surprisingly chilled out in the afternoon sunshine I see someone I know already and there are 3 or 4 waiting already to get in gates open at 12pm today, I grab my spot at the front to the right due to the left on a hill top slant, the stage is very high up but as the the show starts I'm used to it .
The First band up are 'Caro' from Yorkshire they began their half hour set I'm struck by how much like 'The Maccabees' the singer sounds, its too distracting I feel like he's trying to imitate him all the way with no originality. Second act are a band called 'Actor' an atmospheric Indie band with a female lead singer in a pale Blue 'Bowie-Esque' Suit, with guys on guitars and a drummer ,I can see these supporting 'White Lies' they'd be the perfect warm up and are that type of sound and visually interesting, I think we'll hear more of them as the 2 bands just on were endorsed by 'BBC Radio 1 Introducing'.
Next up a change of sound altogether a funky brassy bunch called 'The Haggis Horns' they basically played instrumental Brass Instruments,This festival is very much a family event with 'John Lewis' hosting a food stall to cook and eat your own food dishes and a 'Puffin Books' stage where stories can be read to entertain kids with various characters of childhood heroes dotted about, my favs were 'The Clangers' time for a quick selfie before next act 'Max Jury' gets on stage ,he's from the 'US' plays keyboards and sings a lot of songs unfortunately not my cup of tea.
Much more people have joined us now its filled out in capacity, it's still a glorious day, I've even tested out the festival loos which are clean, after this point however they'll definitely be an abomination as the drinkers are in the house at the bar behind us !!
Next band 'Wolf Alice' an Indie/Rock band who once supported 'Manic Street Preachers' on tour in 2015 I met them before soundcheck in 'Manchester' when I was passing by to see a friend and I wished them good luck, another album later and they are the young people's festival favourites but today without the usual mosher's except myself of course, No stage diving either from Female Singer /Guitarist as she likes to get cosy in the crowd haha. So its a great vibe no pushing at the moment its a comfortable crowd I'm not used to this vibe at festivals the small festivals really are the Best.
I can hardly believe how quick my day has gone it's nearly 'Primal Scream' time, stage is shuffled about while a DJ plays 90's music Rave Music he warms us up for a BIG 90's finish, 7.15pm and at last the stage is set, I get my first glimpse of the legendary 'Bobby Gillespie' I last seen them in 2008 and had missed the 'Screamadelica Anniversary' show's I was gutted and more recently they cancelled their scheduled Summer shows due 'Bobby' having a back injury.
'Bobby' is wearing Black Trousers and Black Jacket but a Pink and White spotted Shirt and the party has started already he claps his hands and the crowd go nuts for 'Movin on Up' to which they walk on stage to I'm in for a treat 'Glasgow's finest Rock band are set to play for over an hour and the set is not short of Classics, I think they covered most of their respected back catalogue, formed way back in the early 80's 'Primal Scream' are the Ninties Generation's answer to 'The Stones' and just as respected.
As 'Bobby' prompts the crowd in his chilled out 'Glaswegian' accent "Come Oooon Leeeds, Come Ooon !!' 'Jailbird' starts from '1994's 'Give Out But Don't Give Up' album iconic and out the same time as 'Up To Our Hips' from 'The Charlatans' pure 90's Groove those were the days folks ,we also get recent hits 'Accelerator' and more from 'Screamadelica' the slowie 'Damaged' no stone was unturned to please the estimated 10,000 strong crowd.
I'm dancing freely on the front row just watching for drunks muscling in no probs so far, then we have a treat as the sun goes down its 'Higher Than The Sun' Omg how I'm totally in the moment and it only gets better later on the 'Loaded' & then Blues mode again for 'Country Girl' and wait for it 'Rocks' this is My fav moment as Bobby G gets down off the stage walks over and 'High Fives' me I'm speechless that isn't even the encore for that is saved for 'Come Together' complete with choir vocals & full song with original lyrics this gig is feeling like a giant spacecraft taking off with visuals of 'Screamadelica' on screens across the stage and 'Bobby's trippy vocals I'm in a euphoric mood I don't want them to finish.
But they have to because its time for 'James' to reclaim the stage, they also started in the 80's but made popular in the 90's through 'Baggy Scene' notably named so for 'Tim Booth wearing flared trousers and big hair giving them that honoury title they were my first ever open air large scale Gig back in '1992' I was very young it was in 'Alton Towers' it rained all day so 'Tim' kept saying 'Welcome to Alton Showers' lol. The majority of people here tonight are wearing 'James' T-shirts I cant believe anything will top the show I've just seen by the 'Primals' .
As 'Tim Booth' saunters onto the stage I'm about to be reminded of why they were so good ,his band gather behind him and he's wearing flared trousers and a beanie hat to new song 'Getting Away With It' (All Messed Up) he's standing on stage dancing arms flailing wildly and hat now covering his face entirely at which point as the song ends he rips the hat off to reveal his now bald head as this is the 'Tim Booth' of '2000's era for some time that famous mop had been shorn off from that performance alone I'm reminded what a genius band they are live and then ....We get it ,We get 'Sit Down' (They normally refuse to play this as its their biggest hit of the 90's they tire of playing apparently) and trumpeter 'Andy Diagram' perches himself on the edge of the stage literally sits down next to me lol.
They are here to play songs from 'The Girl Who Saved The World' to which they announced a Huge Tour a few weeks ago and during 'Surfers Song' 'Tim Booth' sets off to do some crowd surfing to my right, as he later explains " Its really complicated I've got watch there are little kids out there", we also get the classics 'Laid' ,'Sound' and 'She's A Star' (from which to this day I believe 'Natalie Imbruglia' stole the Slide Guitar section from that song at the end of 'Torn listen to them both you'll see) and the incredibly Poignant 'Out To Get You' from 'Gold Mother' , They played 'Nothing But Love' which is featured on a TV Commercial.. I'm stunned as I didn't know it was them that did it and its a great uplifting Un-James sounding song and a couple more songs later 'Sometimes' from 1994's 'Laid' album.
The Encore is 'Say Something' which is a superbly delivered song with catchy chorus ,see that's the thing about 'James' they grab your attention with clever lyrics nifty guitar riffs and pure love for what do on stage,they know how to entertain ,So now I'm reminded how Superb Live they were and I'm happy to report they still are.
As I head away from the main stage feeling very much the cat that got the cream, I'm offered a lift from a fellow gigger who's 10 year old son stayed front barrier centre stage throughout the whole show ,he will know how to sort crowds out when he's 16 kudos to him... and a great night for all, until that is I lost my Funky Blue shades up the very steep hill up to the car park, Yes another one #DontNeedTheGym.
Til the next gig which is a very special report and perhaps not what I'm usually used to reviewing for you,let me enlighten you lol
See you in the Autumn Folks!!!
LMi xo
