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There was an enforced change in the line up on stage tonight. Due to a prior engagement Julian Webster Greaves was playing with Shakin' Stevens in Denmark and Nick Payn deputised for him. Nick is one of England's finest sax and harmonica players. You name them and Nick has played with them, Bill Wyman, Ron Wood, Dave Gilmore and Albert Lee just to name a few.
For the purpose of this report the personnel on stage were: String Quartet: Laura Stanford [violin], Eleanor Stanford [violin], Amy Stanford [violin] and Jessica Cox [cello]. Band: Liam Bradley [drums + percussion], Bill Shanley [guitars] and James Blennerhassett [bass]. Backing Vocals: Charlotte James and Nina Ferro. Saxophone, Flute & Harmonica: Nick Payn. Keyboard and Accordion: Mick Parker
1st HALF: STARTED AT 20:09 - 21:10
TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF MY TOE - [From the album "A SCRUFF AT HEART"] Gilbert [Electric Piano] + Mick [Keyboard] + String Quartet In the absence of a trombone player, Mick played the trombone solo on the keyboard.
A PROPER FOOL - [From the album "A SCRUFF AT HEART"] Gilbert [Electric Piano] + String Quartet + Charlotte & Nina [Backing Vocals]
MY PLACE OR YOURS - [From the album "A SCRUFF AT HEART"] Gilbert [Electric Piano] + Mick [Synthesizer]
NOTHING RHYMED - [From the album "HIMSELF"] Gilbert [Electric Piano] + String Quartet + James [Bass] + Nick [Flute] Gilbert announced 'We're back!' to huge applause. "We love you Gilbert" a female fan shouted. This is a bank holiday weekend in Ireland and Gilbert explained "We were a bit worried with it being a bank holiday, that you might all be in Spain". James changed to the upright electric bass for this song. Aesthetically this looks fantastic as his hand slides along the frets for the opening chords of Nothing Rhymed. This song just became a crowd "sing-along". I've seen Gilbert sing this song many times, but this time as he sang it coupled with the old footage shown on the screen above him and the crowd singing, it gave me shivers down my spine. It was fantastic.
OUT OF THE QUESTION - [From the album "BACK TO FRONT"] Gilbert [Electric Piano] + Mick [Keyboard] + Nick [Flute] + Charlotte & Nina [Backing Vocals] Gilbert changed from the piano to the keyboard for this song. Where the last song was a 'sing-along', this one was a 'clap-along'. "Between us we could have conquered Everest" sang Gilbert, "Everest" the girls replied. There were continual shouts of approval and encouragement from the audience. After the song a fan shouted "That's it Gilbert, go on!" "Relax, the night is young" answered Gilbert.
MISS MY LOVE TODAY - [From the album "SOUTHPAW"] Gilbert [Keyboard] + Mick [Keyboard]
TAKING SIDES - [From the album "A SCRUFF AT HEART"] Gilbert [Electric Piano] + String Quartet + Mick [Keyboard] + Nick [Flute] "As a lyricist usually when I write songs, it's usually a melody first and then I'll determine what the lyric will be and nine times out of ten I've not really any idea what that lyric will be about" explained Gilbert. Thinking that the subject matter of this song was real and about their family, Gilbert's daughters Helen-Marie and Tara initially didn't like this song. "They still don't like it" quipped Gilbert. "We love you Gilbert" a reassuring voice shouted from the Circle.
YOU CAN'T CONCRETE - [From the album "A SCRUFF AT HEART"] Gilbert [Electric Piano] + Mick [Keyboard] + Nick [Saxophone] "I like the idea of using puns, as in "You Can't Con-crete" but in Japan they don't know what concrete is, so they were very mystified by that." Gilbert told us. He continued, "I remember once watching Dolly Parton being interviewed by Michael Parkinson. She is a good songwriter and she was talking about lyrics and the subject of these 80 year old oil barons marrying young pretty blondes, and she came out with this lyric 'I'll oil wells love you". [audience laughter]. "I'll oil wells love you Gilbert" shouted a female fan to huge audience laughter and clapping. Laughing Gilbert said "I'm not sure about the oil wells but...."
WE WILL - [From the album "THE BERRY VEST OF"] Gilbert [Keyboard] + String Quartet + Mick [Keyboard] + Charlotte & Nina [Backing Vocals] Sing-along time. Afterwards the crowd clapped, cheered and whistled almost like a football crowd.
MR. MOODY'S GARDEN - [From the album "THE BERRY VEST OF"] Gilbert [Keyboard] + Mick [Accordion] + Nick [Backing Vocals] "This next song dates back to 1968." This was my second record on the Major Minor label. I recorded this in a studio in London with a college friend of mine, with me on the piano and he doing some voices for me. John Peel was very good to me and allowed me to go on his programme 'Top Gear' and also Kenny Everett a very popular DJ played it [audience applause]". Nick provided the voices. Gilbert laughed during the second verse and fumbled the line 'And if he doesn't come today'. He recovered and sang the verse again saying "I'll get it right this time". The crowd loved it.
I'M IN LOVE WITH LOVE AGAIN - [From the album "A SCRUFF AT HEART"] Gilbert [Electric Piano] + String Quartet
SOMETIMES - [From the album "SOUNDS OF THE LOOP"] Gilbert [Keyboard] + Nick [Flute] Gilbert moved to the keyboard for this track.
OOH-WAKKA-DOO-WAKKA-DAY - [From the album "THE BERRY VEST OF"] Gilbert [Electric Piano] + Mick [Keyboard] + Nick [Flute] Gilbert teased the audience by starting this song three times, stopping each time to ask, "Are you going to sing along?". Then "I'll be listening in the chorus, that's your piece" and finally "You started me on this song three years ago the first time I ever performed it." Gilbert was very ably back by the 2000 audience choir. He changed the lyric slightly to say "Now here in Dublin" instead "Now up in Bradford" The crowd sang in one voice "Who's that lady I saw you with?." "What lady?" replied Gilbert smiling. "It was not your wife" came the reply." "My wife" sang Gilbert. There was prolonged applause and cheers at the end. "You got the job" replied Gilbert.
KNOW WHAT YOU'RE RIGHT - [From the album "A SCRUFF AT HEART"] Gilbert [Electric Piano] + String Quartet Gilbert messed up the last verse and insisted on redoing it after the song.
CLAIR - [From the album "BACK TO FRONT"] Gilbert [Electric Piano] + String Quartet + Mick [Keyboard] + Nick [Harmonica] Once again images of Gilbert and Clair were projected onto the screen above the stage. Gilbert left the stage to prolonged applause and whistles.
2nd HALF: STARTED AT 21:35 - 22:45
STICK IN THE MUD - [From the album "FROBISHER DRIVE / IN THE KEY OF G"] Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + Mick [Keyboard] + Nick [Saxophone] + Charlotte & Nina [Backing Vocals] + Charlotte [Tambourine]
CAN'T GET YOU TO LOVE ME - [From the album "A STRANGER IN MY OWN BACK YARD"] Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + Mick [Keyboard] + Nick [Saxophone] + Charlotte & Nina [Backing Vocals] + Nina [Caxixi] Straight into this with a 1..2..3..4 This is a great live version of the song with great solos by Nick on saxophone and Bill on guitar with Liam driving it from the back and James pounding the bass.
MAKE MY DAY - [From the album "PIANO FOREPLAY"] Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band+ Mick [Keyboard] + Nick [Saxophone] + Charlotte & Nina [Backing Vocals] James returned to the upright electric bass for this.
NOW MATTER HOW I TRY - [From the album "THE BERRY VEST OF"] Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band+ Mick [Keyboard] Someone called for "Get Down". Gilbert replied "I'm not leaving yet are you?" and asked "Have you got a taxi booked?" When the crowd recognised this song Gilbert stopped playing, toying with the audience. This is another crowd favourite. "Oh we're rocking tonight" said Gilbert.
IF I DON'T GET YOU (BACK AGAIN) - [From the album "HIMSELF"] Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + Liam [Congas] + Mick [Keyboard] + Nina [Backing Vocals] + Nina [Caxixi] I've said it before and I'll mention it again, Liam is excellent on congas and percussion on this song.
THUNDER AND LIGHTNING - [From the album "HIMSELF"] Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + Mick [Keyboard] + Nick [Saxophone] + Charlotte & Nina [Backing Vocals] This song with the whole band rocking just makes you want to get up and dance. Well done on the saxaphone solo Nick, you nailed it first time.
WHY, OH WHY, OH WHY - [From the album "THE BERRY VEST OF"] Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + Mick [Keyboard] "When some artists play live, they cover people's songs. I cover my own songs. [audience laughter]. This is one song that I have adapted from the original version." This was done in a reggae style.
COME ON HOME - [UNRELEASED] Gilbert [Keyboard] + Nick [Flute] Gilbert has never recorded this song but has taken the opportunity to sing it on this tour.
CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF YOU - [From the album "OFF CENTRE"] Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + Mick [Keyboard] + Nick [Flute] + Charlotte & Nina [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 & Nina [Backing Vocals] Just as Laura was about to play her violin solo, her sister placed a green cowboy hat on her head. She seemed to play with added gusto. Nice job.
HAPPINESS IS ME AND YOU - [From the album "THE BERRY VEST OF"] Gilbert [Vocal] + Bill [Spanish Acoustic Guitar] + Nick [Flute] Gilbert dedicated this song to two of his younger fans Brandon and Georgia Bradley. Gilbert and Bill then stepped forward to centre stage for a stripped down acoustic version of this song with support by Nick playing the flute. The band introductions followed this song.
THE MARRIAGE MACHINE - [From the album "A STRANGER IN MY OWN BACK YARD"] Gilbert [Keyboard] + Nina [Vocal] + Band + String Quartet + Mick [Keyboard] + Nick [Flute] Great duet between Gilbert and Nina.
WHAT'S IN A KISS? - [From the album "OFF CENTRE"] Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + String Quartet + Mick Parker [Keyboard] The sing-along began again.
SAY GOODBYE - [From the album "IRLISH"] Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + Mick [Keyboard] + Nick [Flute] + Charlotte & Nina [Backing Vocals] + Charlotte [Tambourine] + Nina [Caxixi] The mood continued into this track with the crowd clapping along.
ALONE AGAIN (NATURALLY) - [From the album "THE BERRY VEST OF"] Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + String Quartet + Mick [Keyboard] The mood calmed down briefly but there were wild cheers of recognition a few bars into the song. The guitar solo was perfect [as usual]. This song almost brought the house down and Gilbert left the stage momentarily to deafening applause and cheers, not least from his numerous family members and friends who occupied the boxes at the side of the stage.
ENCORE
MATRIMONY - [From the album "HIMSELF"] Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + String Quartet + Mick [Keyboard] + Nick [Saxophone] + Charlotte & Nina [Backing Vocals] + Charlotte [Tambourine] + Nina [Caxixi] "WE WANT GILBERT" went up the chant. People were dancing in both the Circle and the Stalls, singing, clapping and having a great time.
GET DOWN - [From the album "I'M A WRITER NOT A FIGHTER"] Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + String Quartet + Mick [Keyboard] + Charlotte & Nina [ Backing Vocals] There were more people dancing than sitting at this stage. The atmosphere was electric. Gilbert encouraged the crowd to sing along with him and they responded with vigour. As is now the norm he jumped up on the piano and led the singing with everybody's eyes on him. He enjoyed it, we certainly enjoyed it. What a night!
While I think of it I must pay tribute to two unsung heroes of the tour: Kevin and Francis who set-up and monitor the PA system. It can't be easy with so many people and instruments on stage, each of which has to microphoned. The different venues, different consoles, different size crowds are all factors that influence their work. Well done lads!
STATS Gilbert played and sang 32 songs tonight representing material from 13 different albums. The breakdown was as follows:
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