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Again fans came from near and far. From near we had Dominic and Liz Reddin from Port Laoise and Aidan and Evelyn Conway from Ashbourne and from far we had Maria and Ulrika from Sweden and Tony McGartland [Northern Ireland] from in between [Get well soon Tony]. Two first timers and new fans of Gilbert were Gillian and Ross Arnold from Saggart, Co. Dublin. Mike Dwyer was also there with his good lady Brenda Grimes. Also there were the Morris family and friends totalling thirteen in number.
There was another enforced change in the lineup on stage tonight. Due to a prior engagement Bill Shanley was playing with Ray Davies in London and Jimmy Smith deputised for him. Jimmy has a wealth of experience having played with a who's who of music including Van Morrison and Leo Sayer.
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], Jimmy Smith [guitars] and James Blennerhassett [bass]. Backing Vocals: Charlotte James and Nina Ferro. Saxophone, Flute & Harmonica: Nick Payn. Keyboard and Accordion: Mick Parker
FIRST HALF: STARTED AT 20:10 - 21:10
TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF MY TOE - [From the album "A SCRUFF AT HEART"] Gilbert [Electric Piano] + Mick [Keyboard] + String Quartet Tonight the trombone solo was played by Niall Harvey. Those among you who saw Gilbert's recent appearance on The Late Late Show singing this song will recognise Niall, as he played the solo that night also.
A PROPER FOOL - [From the album "A SCRUFF AT HEART"] Gilbert [Electric Piano] + String Quartet + Charlotte & Nina [Backing Vocals] Gilbert started with the first two lines of the last verse before correcting himself.
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 "Well what can I say, we're back! we're back" to huge applause. The singing began and female shouts of 'We love you Gilbert' could be clearly heard.
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. Just like last night the crowd clapped along and sang "One minute you say you will, and the next you don't." Gilbert sang the line "
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] Each night this song is very well received.
YOU CAN'T CONCRETE - [From the album "A SCRUFF AT HEART"] Gilbert [Electric Piano] + Mick [Keyboard] + Nick [Saxophone]
WE
WILL - [From
the album "THE BERRY VEST OF"] Gilbert [Keyboard] + String Quartet + Mick [Keyboard] + Charlotte & Nina [Backing Vocals] Sing-along time. After the song Gilbert spoke about the previous night "A peak in my career happened last night, forget awards, forget gold disc, forget record sales. What landed on this stage last night was a revelation to me. Tom Jones gets dozens of them." [Gilbert waved a pair of ladies knickers above his head]. The crowd laughted long and hard. Gilbert was quick to explain that it wasn't setting a precedent.
MR. MOODY'S GARDEN - [From the album "THE BERRY VEST OF"] Gilbert [Keyboard] + Mick [Accordion] + Nick [Backing Vocals]
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]
OOH-WAKKA-DOO-WAKKA-DAY - [From the album "THE BERRY VEST OF"] Gilbert [Electric Piano] + Mick [Keyboard] + Nick [Flute] When Gilbert introduced this song by saying "This is for Brian" you could have knocked me down with a feather. It doesn't get any better than getting a personal dedication from your favourite musical artist. And to make it even better, my nearest and dearest were there to witness it. Thanks Ray.
In the song Gilbert sang "
KNOW WHAT YOU'RE RIGHT - [From the album "A SCRUFF AT HEART"] Gilbert [Electric Piano] + String Quartet
CLAIR - [From the album "BACK TO FRONT"] Gilbert [Electric Piano] + String Quartet + Mick [Keyboard] + Nick [Harmonica] The crowd loved this one. At the end of each verse Gilbert sang "Clair" and looked to the audience and they sang "Oh Clair" Later Gilbert sang: "Clair, I've told you before, don't you dare, get" The Crowd replied: "Back into bed". Gilbert: "Can't you" Crowd: "See that it's late" Gilbert: "No you" Crowd: "Can't have a drink"
As Gilbert took a bow and the applause, Linda [Stienstra] presented him with a bouquet of flowers.
SECOND HALF: STARTED AT 21:32 - 22:47
STICK IN THE MUD - [From the album "FROBISHER DRIVE / IN THE KEY OF G"] Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + Mick [Keyboard] + Nick [Saxaophone] + 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 [Saxaophone] + Charlotte & Nina [Backing Vocals] + Nina [Caxixi] Slight technical problem at the beginning of this song which caused Gilbert to stop. Something seemed to blow and Gilbert lost power to his monitors. "Is it Guy Fawkes already?" he inquired. In seconds Francis and Kevin had it sorted and away we went. Great guitar solo by Jimmy.
MAKE MY DAY - [From the album "PIANO FOREPLAY"] Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band+ Mick [Keyboard] + Nick [Saxophone] + Charlotte & Nina [Backing Vocals] When Gilbert turned to see if Mick Parker was ready for the next song he was suprised to see Mick out of his seat and fiddling with something at the front of his keyboard setup. "You carry on doing your laundry there, it's okay" laughed Gilbert. [Audience laughter]. After the song Gilbert went on to tell that when he was recording this song for Top Of the Pops 2 in a BBC studio, the actor Clint Eastwood [of Dirty Harry 'Make My Day' fame] was recording an interview with Michael Parkinson in the next studio. "Nice irony" he thought.
NOW MATTER HOW I TRY - [From the album "THE BERRY VEST OF"] Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band+ Mick [Keyboard]
IF I DON'T GET YOU (BACK AGAIN) - [From the album "HIMSELF"] Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + Liam [Congas] + Mick [Keyboard] + Charlotte & Nina [Backing Vocals] + Nina [Caxixi]
THUNDER AND LIGHTNING - [From the album "HIMSELF"] Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + Mick [Keyboard] + Nick [Saxophone] + Charlotte & Nina [Backing Vocals] This song is the highlight of the second half if not the whole show.
WHY, OH WHY, OH WHY - [From the album "THE BERRY VEST OF"] Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + Mick [Keyboard] "I do cover versions of my own songs........somone has to" Gilbert added. [Audience laughter] Midway through the count in, a female fan shouted "I love you Gilbert." "I love you too love.......but just don't tell my wife." came the reply.
COME ON HOME - [UNRELEASED] Gilbert [Keyboard] + Nick [Flute]
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] Laura was very prominent on this song with a wonderful country violin solo.
HAPPINESS IS ME AND YOU - [From the album "THE BERRY VEST OF"] Gilbert [Vocal] + Jimmy [Spanish Acoustic Guitar] + Nick [Flute] A fan shouted for "Peaceful Waters". Little did we think that her request would soon be answered. Gilbert needed to raise his hand to stop the crowd from singing the last "Happiness is me and you" as it is slightly drawn out and different from the record. Gilbert spotlighted Jimmy at this stage and he received a warm round of applause. During the band introductions Gilbert almost forgot to introduce MD Mick Parker much to his own amusement.
THE MARRIAGE MACHINE - [From the album "A STRANGER IN MY OWN BACK YARD"] Gilbert [Keyboard] + Nina [Vocal] + Band + String Quartet + Mick [Keyboard] + Nick [Flute] I just love this version. I would like to see Nina centre stage for this. At this stage Gilbert decided to do an unrehearsed number much to the band's suprise as it hadn't been previously mentioned. Gilbert recognised that there was a lot of fans in the theatre that had see the show the previous night and he wanted to give them something different. "Are you right guys" he asked and added "I hope I remember myself". "This is for my mother". [In a recent TV interview with Gilbert and his Mum, when asked her favourite song, she replied "'Where Peaceful Waters Flow' but he never does it." Well tonight he put that right.
WHERE PEACEFUL WATERS FLOW - [From the album "I'M A WRITER NOT A FIGHTER"] Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + String Quartet + Mick [Keyboard] + Charlotte & Nina [Backing Vocals] A great live performance with super drumming. Very well received. "Where the air is green and the land is clean", said Gilbert after the song and added "Where else but here".
WHAT'S IN A KISS? - [From the album "OFF CENTRE"] Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + String Quartet + Mick [Keyboard]
SAY GOODBYE - [From the album "IRLISH"] Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + Mick [Keyboard] + Nick [Flute] + Charlotte & Nina [Backing Vocals] + Charlotte [Tambourine] + Nina [Caxixi] This is a great live track.
ALONE AGAIN (NATURALLY) - [From the album "THE BERRY VEST OF"] Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + String Quartet + Mick [Keyboard] The audience matched Gilbert word for word.
ENCORE
MATRIMONY - [From the album "HIMSELF"] Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + String Quartet + Mick [Keyboard] + Nick [Saxophone] + Charlotte & Nina [Backing Vocals] + Charlotte [Tambourine] + Nina [Caxixi] People crowded the front of the stage and danced, sang, clapped their hands, stomped their feet, shouted and waved. "What is it?." "It's Matrimony!"
GET DOWN - [From the album "I'M A WRITER NOT A FIGHTER"] Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + String Quartet + Mick [Keyboard] + Charlotte & Nina [ Backing Vocals] The crowd were whipped up to a frenzy at this stage. Gilbert stood on top of the baby grand piano, led the singing and encouraged the crowd to sing back at him. He brought the song to a huge cresendo while hammering wildly on the keyboard. The noise within the theatre was deafening as the crowd applauded and cheered as one and after sharing the applause with his fellow musicians, he was gone, leaving us with the memory of a fantastic evening's entertainment.
STATS Gilbert played and sang 33 songs tonight representing material from 13 different albums. The breakdown was as follows:
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