Gilbert O'Sullivan Reviews

Tonight's show hearalded the start of the Gilbertville tour. The line-up supporting Gilbert on stage was eleven strong and made up of familiar faces from the last few tours. Welcome back to Nina Ferro, a multi award winning vocalist and songwriter in her own right, who last shared the stage with Gilbert in 2007 and returns here to replace the unavailable Charlotte James [Get well soon Charlotte!]. Tonight Gilbert showcases his latest album Gilbertville, which has been widely acclaimed and warmly received and he performs seven tracks from it. Gilbert seems to be talking less between songs and playing more music instead.

MERCHANDISE

People never cease to be amazed on tour at the amount of albums that Gilbert has recorded and that are available at the Merchandise Stand. The stand is fronted by Gilbert's sister Marie, and her husband Richard and they both spend their concert evenings helping fans find their required albums from the large back catologue. For those who can't make it to a live show, the same merchandise is available from www.bygumrecords.com A new tee-shirt has been designed for the Gilbertville tour and comes in five colours and features the cartoon sketch of Gilbert from the Gilbertville album sleeve. Bygum Records have also had Every Song Has It's Play reprinted and is now available. The very popular tour programme from last year has sold out and and an updated version is planned.

LINE-UP

For the purpose of this report the personnel on stage were:

String Quartet: Laura Stanford [violin], Eleanor Stanford [violin], Amy Stanford [viola] and Jessica Cox [cello].

Band: Rod Quinn [drums + percussion], Bill Shanley [guitars] and Nick Scott [bass].

Backing Vocals: Nina Ferro and Niamh McNally.

Saxophone, Flute & Harmonica: Julian Webster Greaves.

Keyboard and Accordion: Mick Parker.

All photographs by Brian King

(1) - THUNDER AND LIGHTNING - [From the album "HIMSELF"]

Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + Mick [Keyboard] + Julian [Saxophone] + String Quartet + Nina & Niamh [Backing Vocals]

In the past Gilbert always seemed to start with a slow easy number but on this tour he comes out rocking right from the start with the full band. This live version of the song features two early solos from Julian [sax] and Bill [guitar].

(2) - CAN I LEAVE THE REST UP TO YOU - [From the album "GILBERTVILLE"]

Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + Mick [Keyboard] + Julian [Tambourine] + Nina & Niamh [Backing Vocals]

This is the first song tonight from the new album.

(3) - PRIVATE EYE - [From the album "GILBERTVILLE"]

Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + Mick [Keyboard] + Julian [Flute] + Nina & Niamh [Backing Vocals]

Gilbert explained that this track has musical [stage & film] influences which he loves.

(4) - NOTHING RHYMED - [From the album "HIMSELF"]

Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + String Quartet + Julian [Flute]

(5) - A FRIEND OF MINE - [From the album "I'M A WRITER, NOT A FIGHTER"]

Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + String Quartet + Mick [Keyboard] + Julian [Tambourine] + Nina & Niamh [Backing Vocals]

(6) - OUT OF THE QUESTION - [From the album "BACK TO FRONT"]

Gilbert [Keyboard] + Mick [Keyboard] + Band + Julian [Flute] + Nina & Niamh [Backing Vocals]

(7) - MISS MY LOVE TODAY - [From the album "SOUTHPAW"]

Gilbert [Keyboard] + Mick [Keyboard]

(8) - WHERE WOULD WE BE (WITHOUT TEA) - [From the album "GILBERTVILLE"]

Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + Mick [Keyboard] + Julian [Flute] + Nina & Niamh [Backing Vocals]

Gilbert mentioned that he was happy to debut this song in Birmingham because of the line:

"Like a baby without it's pram

Birming without it's ham"

At the end of the song just like on the album track Gilbert asks "Anyone for tea" and this time the band reply "Yes please!"

Gilbert later explained the line "Buddy without his bins".

(9) - NOBODY - [UNRELEASED]

Gilbert [Vocal] + Mick [Accordion] + Julian [Flute]

Gilbert spoke about a newspaper article in which it discussed the "instrument of heaven" which they decided was the harp. The question was then posed as to what was the intrument associated with hell? Among the suggestions was bagbipes but the winner was the accordion. Gilbert spoke about the current popularity of the accordion among modern artists, naming as an example Mumford and Sons.

(10) - WE WILL - [From the album "THE BERRY VEST OF"]

Gilbert [Keyboard] + String Quartet + Band + Mick [Keyboard] + Nina & Niamh [Backing Vocals]

(11) - KNOW WHAT, YOU'RE RIGHT - [From the album "A SCRUFF AT HEART"]

Gilbert [Baby Grand] + String Quartet

(12) - DON'T LET IT GET TO YOU - [From the album "A SCRUFF AT HEART"]

Gilbert [Baby Grand]

(13) - I'M IN LOVE WITH LOVE (AGAIN) - [From the album "A SCRUFF AT HEART"]

Gilbert [Baby Grand] + String Quartet

(14) - CAN'T FIND MY WAY HOME - [From the album "Every Song Has It's Play"]

Gilbert [Vocal] + Mick [Keyboard] + String Quartet

Gilbert sat on a stool centre stage and explained that this song is about the experience of being in love with someone.

(15) - WHO WAS IT? - [From the album "BACK TO FRONT"]

Gilbert [Vocal + Sound Effects] + Mick [Keyboard] + Julian [Baby Grand] + Nina & Niamh [Backing Vocals]

Gilbert stood and sang centre stage while Mick and Julian doubled up on the keyboard and piano.

(16) - ALL THEY WANTED TO SAY - [From the album "GILBERTVILLE"]

Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + String Quartet + Nina & Niamh [Backing Vocals]

(17) - OOH-WAKKA-DOO-WAKKA-DAY - [From the album "THE BERRY VEST OF"]

Gilbert [Electric Piano] + Band + Mick [Keyboard] + Julian [Flute]

Gilbert explained that this song has Music Hall influences.

(18) - CLAIR - [From the album "BACK TO FRONT"]

Gilbert [Keyboard] + String Quartet + Band + Mick [Keyboard] + Julian [Harmonica]

INTERVAL [20 Minutes]

(19) - YOU GOT ME GOING - [From the album "SOUTHPAW"]

Gilbert [Keyboard] + Julian [Saxophone] + Band + Mick [Keyboard] + Nina & Niamh [Backing Vocals]

(20) - MAKE MY DAY - [From the album "PIANO FOREPLAY"]

Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band+ Mick [Keyboard] + Julian [Saxophone] + Nina & Niamh [Backing Vocals]

(21) - THE ALLERGY SONG - [From the album "GILBERTVILLE"]

Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + Julian [Harmonica]

(22) - NO MATTER HOW I TRY - [From the album "THE BERRY VEST OF"]

Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band+ Mick [Keyboard]

(23) - CAN'T THINK STRAIGHT - [From the album "SOUNDS OF THE LOOP"]

Gilbert + String Quartet + Mick [Keyboard] + Nina & Niamh [Backing Vocals]

(24) - OR SO THEY SAY - [From the album "OFF CENTRE"]

Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + + Julian [Saxophone] + Mick [Keyboard] + Nina & Niamh [Backing Vocals]

(25) - WHY, OH WHY, OH WHY - [From the album "THE BERRY VEST OF"]

Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + Mick [Keyboard]

(26) - CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF YOU - [From the album "OFF CENTRE"]

Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + Mick [Keyboard] + Julian [Flute] + Nina & Niamh [Backing Vocals]

(27) - HOLD ON TO WHAT YOU GOT - [From the album "BY LARRY"]

Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + String Quartet + Mick [Keyboard & Accordion] + Nina & Niamh [Backing Vocals]

(28) - HERE'S WHY - [From the album "GILBERTVILLE"]

Gilbert [Vocal] + Band + Nina & Niamh [Backing Vocals]

BAND INTRODUCTIONS

(29) - I WANNA KNOW - [From the album "GILBERTVILLE"]

Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + Julian [Saxaphone] + Mick [Keyboard]

(30) - WHAT'S IN A KISS? - [From the album "OFF CENTRE"]

Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + String Quartet + Mick [Keyboard]

(31) - ALONE AGAIN (NATURALLY) - [From the album "THE BERRY VEST OF"]

Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + String Quartet + Mick [Keyboard]

ENCORE

(32) - MATRIMONY - [From the album "HIMSELF"]

Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + String Quartet + Mick [Keyboard] + Julian [Saxophone] + Nina & Niamh [Backing Vocals]

(33) - GET DOWN - [From the album "I'M A WRITER NOT A FIGHTER"]

Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + String Quartet + Mick [Keyboard] + Nina & Niamh [Backing Vocals]

STATS

Gilbert played and sang 33 songs tonight representing material from 12 different albums. The breakdown was as follows:

Gilbertville	7	All They Wanted To Say/Can I Leave The Rest Up To You/Here's Why/I Wanna Know/Private Eye/The Allergy Song/Where Would We Be (Without Tea)
The Berry Vest Of	5	Alone Again (Naturally)/No Matter How I Try/Ooh Wakka Doo Wakka Day/We Will/Why, Oh Why,Oh Why
Himself	3	Matrimony/Nothing Rhymed/Thunder & Lightning
A Scruff At Heart	3	Don't Let It Get To You/I'm In Love With Love (Again)/Know What You're Right
Back To Front	3	Clair/Out Of The Question/Who Was It?
Off Centre	3	Can't Get Enough Of You/Or So They Say/What's In A Kiss?
I'm A Writer Not A Fighter	2	A Friend Of Mine/Get Down
Southpaw	2	Miss My Love Today/You Got Me Going
By Larry	1	Hold On To What You Got
Every Song Has It's Play	1	Can't Find My Way Home
Piano Foreplay	1	Make My Day
Sounds Of The Loop	1	Can't Think Straight
Unreleased	1	Nobody