Roger Daltrey & Dr Peppers Jaded Hearts Club Band
Presents Teenage Cancer Trust
Royal Albert Hall London
22.03.18
Well Folks Here's part 2 of the Easter Blogs
If you'd have said to me 10 years ago I'd be dashing off to London to watch a 'Beatles Tribute Band' one day at short notice with 'The Who's 'Roger Daltrey' headlining I'd of said "No way would I be interested in that not my thing "!!
But add into the mix 'Muse's 'Matt Bellamy' and 'Blur's 'Graham Coxon' ,the vocals 'Chris Cester' of 'Jet' and you have the ingredients for a Rock N Roll Supergroup of the century , and for once getting a ticket wasn't a problem tonight I think we got the best seats in the house as if watching from on the side of the stage almost level with the low stage to our left, it's a stunning set up Red & Gold Décor and Glittering Chandeliers Posh Stewards but very welcoming atmosphere there are a lot of Rock fans here tonight and us 7 'Muser's take over the whole row on the annual 'Muse Snob's Night Out.
As hostess 'Emma B' introduces us to the night's entertainment we are played a short film about the charity, and then the band walk on stage to an audience of 'Who' fans that didn't quite know what to make of this combo.
'Graham' walks onto right hand side of the stage and picks up his guitar with 'Muse's 'Matt Bellamy' close by with 'Viola Bass' a replica of 'Paul McCartney's (they even played 'Stella's Birthday Party earlier this year whereby Sir Paul joined them, and Dom's 40th last year with 'Miles Kane' on vocals), so it's a shock this has even come to pass as their first public show.
Chris Cester' is the vocalist he's the brother of 'Nic Cester' and of the band 'Jet', standing tall tonight in black leather jacket (they were all in black basically) and with his dyed Blue and Purple hair as a symbol of the charities colours
Over to the left of 'Chris' 2 members of 'Nine Inch Nails' and on Drums not 'Dom' but 'The Zutons's drummer a friend of the band.
'Matt' looks positively giddy but nervous as they kick off with 'I Saw Her Standing There','Beatlesmania' is back even 'The Who's fans look impressed at what they are witnessing, everyone in the band looks like they are having fun for a good cause, and in particular over to the left side of the stage us 7 from the 'Muse Snobs' gang, I'm up dancing already like its the real 'Beatles' especially when 'Please Please Me' begins I'm going for it lol.
As 'Matt' shakes his head he's in character something I've not seen before ,with his cool shades, grinning with his new bandmates 'Graham' watching giggling at his new band mate it is indeed a proud moment for 'Muse History' and indeed for 'Blur History', they played the previously rehearsed 'Back In The USSR' 'Chris' has a tambourine which he's not afraid to bash out loud on 'Money' (That's what I want) and another classic track 'Taxman' and 'Cant Buy Me Love' 'Chris' makes an excellent frontman, with 'Matt' supporting on high pitch adlib vocals.
By far the best highlight of the evening was the final song 'Helter Skelter' and 'Bellamy's Shreik on the verses of that song , it worked so well, they all looked like they were having the time of their lives down there,Chris said "This is our 6th show , who knows it probably our last..." OMG I hope not that was completely amazing, I wished they had played for longer as they were only the support it was a great set .
They all take a bow , having won over a brand new audience of 'Who' fans on the floor as they leave, I'm accosted by this slightly drunken woman 3 rows back she shouts to me "You totally spoiled that for me standing up dancing, I hope you don't do that when Roger is on !!", some of my fellow 'Muse Snob's had nipped off to get the drinks in, so I just turned to her and said "Sorry but I was just supporting the band as no one was dancing (Bloody hate seats so got up dancing for a few tracks just enjoying myself, no great sin) her husband calms her down by explaining it was probably the tall bloke next to me on the end she couldn't see through not me, he looked embarrassed, I thought there's no way I was going to just sit motionless while the guys played their first public U.K. Show ...Tut!!!.
We await 'Roger' and his band, before that 'Emma B' comes back out again to introduce some 'Teenage Cancer Survivors' after watching a very moving film they are invited onto the stage to Thank the shows sponsors 'Aldi' for raising money for the cause.
After some quiet reflection, The next band are introduced and the band walk onto the stage with 'Roger Daltrey' in Shirt and Jeans he looks smaller in reality than those 70's videos, he is with 'Pete Townsends brother 'Steve', they kick things off with a long instrumental and 'Who' Track Roger has 2 tambourines he's waving them around in circles in the air, as 'Who Are You' starts, the crowd going mad already (don't worry woman behind me I'm still seated lol).
A lot of fans in the crowd are wearing 'Quadraphenia' jackets, theres a mixture of ages here tonight mainly the over 50's but still very mixed,teenagers with parents, 'Roger 'then struts about as he goes into 'Pinball Wizard' (I know this one too) he then plays a song I've heard before but cant think where it's called 'Behind Blue Eyes' (it's apparently their song which I had no idea) he did play a 'Leo Sayer' cover but no idea what it was not one I'd ever heard.
My highlight was when the hall really come to life for 'I Can See For Miles', and I can see for miles in the box seats over the way I can see this drunken geezer and his mate going mad singing the lyrics swinging round lagered up climbing the pillar outside of the box I and my fellow 'Muse Snobs' watch as he's eventually told off and sent back to his seat downstairs to collect his jacket and ejected out of the building clearly he wasn't supposed to be there, it's quite a spectacle .
Back to the show and 'Roger' is not scared to be political referencing 'Facebook' watching our every move and how friends are fake not to trust technology 'Oh dear'..., its very apt for next track 'How Many Friends' followed by 'The Real Me' which I also knew I had hoped he'd play 'Won't Get Fooled Again' and Quadraphenia classic 'Love Reign O'er Me' but no neither did we get 'My Generation'.
'Roger' then pulls out an old classic 'Baba O' Reilly' a track I actually knew through a 'Pearl Jam' Live Bootleg ,so at '74' 'Roger Daltrey' has proved without a doubt he can still rock with the best of them and pack out a hall like this with Rock fans that don't necessarily know all the Who's music like myself for instance ,What a Great Gig, What Great Cause, What a Fantastic venue.
Lmi xo
Paul Draper Performs 'Spooky Action'
& 'Attack Of The Grey Lantern'
'In Its Entirety'
Manchester Ritz
1st March 2018
I never thought I'd get the chance to hear all these songs live again, you have to rewind to '1996' to the 'Brit-Rock' Indie era when a band from 'Chester' (Paul's from Deeside actually) ruled the Indie Charts they are of course or should I say were .. Mansun.
Tonight front man (And 'Jedi' according to some blokes at the front due to his bearded appearance and Icon status) 'Paul' is geared up with his own band assembled to perform his solo album 'Spooky Action', its absolutely freezing outside with only a few people braving it for the front row as its early yet, most people wander off to the bar and merch stall, support act is acoustic think his name was 'Phil ' but didn't catch it.
By 8pm the room is filling up nicely everyone is waiting as the lights go down for 'Paul' as he walks onto the stage he picks up his guitar buoyed by the crowd Cheering and Whistling expectant he takes a sip of his Special Brew tea simmering away near the mic stand.
Beginning with 'Don't Poke The Bear', its true to say that the new songs have not lost the 'Mansun' Touch,mainly due to the guitar signature and 'Pauls' unmistakeable vocals for which this showcase a treat if you never heard the tracks before, my fav ones from this set were 'Things People Want', 'Friends Make The Worst Enemies'.
The Crowd are on board vocally what else do you expect from a Manchester crowd, as Paul begins to play 'Attack Of The Grey Lantern' in it's entirety we begin with main overture 'The Chad Who Loved Me' followed by 'Mansun's Only Love Song', its then it starts to pick up volume as 'Taxloss' starts I'm almost having an out of body experience as I'm back in '1997' at a 'Mansun' gig.
It would of been great if at the end of the song the crowd would be covered in 'Mansun/Draper' Money to have it floating around like in the video but it didn't happen,instead he went straight into the next song 'Who Do You Hate?'.
The Crowd are nuts tonight so as 'Wide Open Space' starts we're all jumping up and down singing along, by 'Stripper Vicar' it's a great feeling onstage with the band and the crowd it feels special, another single 'She Makes My Nose Bleed', and 'Paul' is noteably very clever lyrically some these are the work of genius, once 'NME' darlings with their 'Punk', Rock' Fashion statements 'Brit Rock' was born when 'Mansun' created this album.
We only mellow a bit for 'Naked Twister' but pick it up again for 'Egg Shaped Fred' the crowd are definitely living in the moment right now 'Dark Mavis' ends the set subtley with the band waving and walking off stage.
The crowd are stamping their feet and chanting 'Draper, Draper', finally after lot of noise 'Paul' walks back out to the demanding crowd looking a little overwhelmed at the response the show obviously a hit with the 'Manc' crowd.
So we're treated to the 'Secret Track' which I'd forgot about, I'll try to explain to a younger generation on CD's in the 90's there was sometimes a hidden track on the end track where there is no sound after it ends,but the clock counter keeps going round for anything up to 5 minutes (more in the case on 'Nirvana's 'In Utero' Gallons Of Flowing Alcohol.. track) then a track comes on how I miss those secret tracks.
This track 'An Open Letter To The Lyrical Trainspotter' was on there and so concludes a magical night as the band walk over and take a bow, and 'Paul' thrilled with the crowd takes a final bow and and walks away for the last time tonight.
What a Great show, what Great memories and critically acclaimed quite successful tour really!!.
Next time we go further back in time where I had not expected to go in a rather special "Easter Blog" Part 2
Lmi xo
Franz Ferdinand 'Always Ascending' Tour
Manchester Albert Hall
13th February 2018
Its been 4 years since I last seen this band play live they always go away for years to create the next album ,I've been a fan since their eponymous debut album 'Franz Ferdinand' so when I heard they were touring again I jumped at the chance to see them.
Their new album 'Always Ascending' out now with a more 'Pop' feel to it than an Indie one, apart from the change of look and 'Alex's newly white blonde locks a total change of the usual 'Franz' we're used to but its a combination I cant refuse.
Tonight support is from another Indie Rock Band legend he's one half of 'The Strokes' 'Albert Hammond Junior' fresh from touring with 'The Killers' on their US Tour he's here tonight to play us some new material from his Solo album to a Sold Out crowd.
He's actually really very good Live, his vocals with less drawl than his counterpart 'Julian Casablancas' with a more Punchy and Rocky vocal ,a lot of people came to see him, he's got a large following as I watch him he literally bends over backwards to entertain us, no he does he's very bendy, he loves to strut his stuff with tendency to walk closer to the edge of the jutted out altar of a stage, it almost has me nervous he'll be too confident but he manages to stay up there without too much drama.
9.15pm there's a lot of noise amongst the crowd eagerly anticipating 'Franz's great return, stage left shadowy figures take to the stage there are only 3 original members Joe, Paul and Alex , the latter of the three appears to my right and the crowd cheers, he is as tall as I remember, his White blonde hair the highlight under the stage lighting which is a Purple Haze of Dry Ice.
They kick off with 'Paper Cages' from the new album and into a classic 'Do You Want To' which wakes the crowd up a bit during the song, 'Alex' points right at me delivering the lines leading up to the main chorus, they chose a great mixed setlist for this tour from each album, from 'Tonight' 'No You Girls', and gig simply takes off when 'Matinee' begins.
The 'Manc' crowd are getting a bit lively on the barrier it gets challenging to grip on, more new tracks are of course sandwiched between, and 'Alex' stands and is in awe of our crowd , I promised that I see them down the front over social media platforms,but now they've noticed my enthusiasm specially during one of my fav tracks 'Love Illumination' from their last album 'Right Action'.
I wasn't expecting 'Michael' to be on the setlist the crowd went crazy for that and that was followed by 'The Fallen' it had to be in there. The energy onstage is on a level not seen since the last tour, that you almost forget how amazing this band is live until they get onstage and turn it up loud, never is that energy more on display than when the whole band are jumping up and down in unison with 'Alex' doing his splits in the air, before the chorus for 'Take Me Out' literally brings the house down, the whole place goes nuts.
They play lead single 'Feel The Love Go' during a 4 song encore, the crowd are roaring as 'Ulyesses' starts, they've captured us and don't want to let us go as 'Fire' begins the whole room is bouncing as the band finish in style, the band come over the the front of the stage and take a bow but 'Alex' has one more surprise for us "We're going to be over by the merchandise if you want any of your albums signing come over and say Hello, Thanks Manchester ".
So I did just that as I meet 'Alex' again for the first time in 9 years, I tell him what a show it was, he says to me "I seen you down the front yeah" , I tell him "Got to thank you for the pic (plectrum) you gave me after the last tour in Manchester Academy, you gave it to me at the end of the show", he smiles impressed ,I hope.
I chat to 'Paul' as I'm leaving for the door but there's no photos due to the venue trying to get everyone through the doors, the band each signed my setlist which I got, also I met a young girl who knew I liked 'Muse' and she explained her grandad worked with Matt's dad astonished I said "No, Joe Meek your Joe Meek's Grandaughter" Yes she says I am and even better than that she knew me on Instagram and through the fact I've followed them for years who'd of thought the band influenced by Joe Meek's sound ie 'The Tornados' 60's sound etc would of caused this out of the blue meeting ,I have to dash for my train so I swapped twitter details and vamoosed .
Next Time Back to the 90's
Lmi xo
