Gilbert O'Sullivan Reviews

"LIVE AT THE MARQUEE"

This was Gilbert's first appearance in Cork since he played at the Opera House in 2001. Tonight's show was at the "Live At The Marquee" festival on the banks of the River Lee. The venue was a specially constructed marquee with a fully seated capacity of 5,000. It was difficult to guage how many were there but I'd guess that it was about two thirds full. It was a beautiful evening and the crowd were buzzing with anticipation.

SET LIST

Gilbert included the song "You Got Me Going" from the album "Soutpaw" in the set list tonight. This is the first time that he has sung it live since the 1978 tour.

MERCHANDISE

Because it's never mentioned at the live shows I must remind those going to future shows about the wide range of CDs, posters and t-shirts that are available at the Merchandise stand at each venue. Here in Ireland it is impossible to get any of Gilbert's CDs in the record stores such as HMV and Virgin so the merchandise stand at the Gilbert's live shows offers a wonderful opportunity to replace all those well worn vinyl albums. All the merchandise can also be bought on-line from www.bygumrecords.com

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: Martin Ditcham [drums + percussion], Bill Shanley [guitars] and Nick Scott [bass].

Backing Vocals: Charlotte James and Niamh McNally.

Saxophone, Flute & Harmonica: Julian Webster Greaves.

Keyboard and Accordion: Mick Parker.

TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF MY TOE - [From the album "A SCRUFF AT HEART"]

Gilbert [Electric Piano] + Mick [Keyboard] + Julian [Saxophone] + String Quartet

A PROPER FOOL - [From the album "A SCRUFF AT HEART"]

Gilbert [Electric Piano] + String Quartet

ONE DOOR CLOSES - [From the album "A SCRUFF AT HEART"]

Gilbert [Electric Piano] + String Quartet + Mick [Keyboard] + Julian [Flute]

Gilbert said "I knew we'd be back in Cork sometime but I didn't think that it would be in a circus tent. [Audience laughter ans cheers]. I'm glad you are not Oasis fans" [referring to the concert at Slane Castle which was headlined by Oasis and drew 85,000 fans.] He then made reference to the international rugby match earlier that day between the British & Irish Lion against South Africa, which the Lions lost.

NOTHING RHYMED - [From the album "HIMSELF"]

Gilbert [Electric Piano] + String Quartet + Nick [Bass] + Julian [Flute]

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

Gilbert [Electric Piano] + Mick [Keyboard] + Julian [Flute] + Charlotte & Niamh [Backing Vocals]

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

Gilbert [Keyboard] + Mick [Keyboard]

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

Gilbert [Electric Piano] + String Quartet

The last words of this song usual are "Know What" but on this occasion Gilbert shouted "You're right!"

Introducing the next song Gilbert said "You've heard of Il Divo [A popular operatic pop vocal group], well this is Il Gilo" [as the four guys from the band gathered behind him].

LOVE YOU OUT OF TROUBLE - [From the album "A SCRUFF AT HEART"]

Gilbert [Electric Piano] + String Quartet + Mick [Keyboard] + Everybody Else [Backing Vocals]

"Sing-along time"

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

Gilbert [Keyboard] + String Quartet + Mick [Keyboard] + Bill [Guitar] + Charlotte & Niamh [Backing Vocals]

MR. MOODY'S GARDEN - [From the album "THE BERRY VEST OF"]

Gilbert [Keyboard] + Mick [Accordion] + Julian [Voices]

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

Gilbert [Electric Piano] + String Quartet

TAKING SIDES - [From the album "A SCRUFF AT HEART"]

Gilbert [Electric Piano] + String Quartet + Mick [Keyboard] + Nick [Flute]

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

Gilbert [Electric Piano]

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

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

CLAIR - [From the album "BACK TO FRONT"]

Gilbert [Electric Piano] + String Quartet + Bill [Acoustic Guitar] + Mick [Keyboard] + Julian [Harmonica]

STICK IN THE MUD - [From the album "FROBISHER DRIVE / IN THE KEY OF G"]

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

CAN'T GET YOU TO LOVE ME - [From the album "A STRANGER IN MY OWN BACK YARD"]

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

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

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

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

Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band+ Mick [Keyboard]

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

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

The audience loved this performance.

CAME TO SEE ME YESTERDAY - [From the album "THE LITTLE ALBUM"]

Gilbert [Vocal + Tambourine] + Band + String Quartet + Mick [Keyboard] + Charlotte & Niamh [Backing Vocals]

Gilbert stood centre stage for this song with tambourine in hand.

THUNDER AND LIGHTNING - [From the album "HIMSELF"]

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

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

Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + Mick [Keyboard]

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

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

WHERE PEACEFUL WATERS FLOW - From the album "I'M A WRITER NOT A FIGHTER"

Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + Mick [Keyboard] + Backing Vocals [Bill, Nick & Mick]

The audience sang loudly and enthuastically at the end of this song and were applauded by Gilbert who added "Good voices."

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

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

HOLD ON TO WHAT YOU GOT - [From the album "BY LARRY / THE LITTLE ALBUM"]

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

HAPPINESS IS ME AND YOU - [From the album "THE BERRY VEST OF"]

Gilbert [Vocal] + Bill [Spanish Acoustic Guitar] + Julian [Flute] + Martin [Percussion]

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

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

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

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

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

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

ENCORE

MATRIMONY - [From the album "HIMSELF"]

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

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

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

STATS

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

	A Scruff At Heart	8
	The Berry Vest Of	7
	Himself	3
	I'm A Writer Not A Fighter	3
	Southpaw	2
	Back To Front	2
	Off Centre	2
	The Little Album	2
	Frobisher Drive	1
	Sounds Of The Loop	1
	A Stranger In My Own Back Yard	1
	Piano Foreplay	1