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Tonight was the last date of a fantastically successful tour. The majority of venues were sold out. The newspaper reviews were very positive and the standing ovations told their own story. The signings after each show took about an hour and a half on average, many of them ending after midnight. Fans travelled from near and far and were rewarded with Gilbert's best ever line-up on stage and best ever set list.
During today's sound check Gilbert rehearsed "Is It A Crime?" and "Just So You Know", but alas they didn't make it to the live show. For tonight's performance Julian had a radio microphone fixed to his saxophone. It will be interesting to see what happens.
For the purpose of this report the personel on stage were: String Quartet: Laura Stanford [violin], Eleanor Stanford [violin], Amy Stanford [viola] 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: Julian Webster Greaves. Keyboard and Accordion: Mick Parker
FIRST HALF
TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF MY TOE - [From the album "A SCRUFF AT HEART"] Gilbert [Electric Piano] + Mick [Keyboard] + String Quartet Usually Gilbert plays the first three songs before addressing the audience and tonight is no different.
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 [Keyboard]
NOTHING RHYMED - [From the album "HIMSELF"] Gilbert [Electric Piano] + String Quartet + James [Bass] + Julian [Flute] "This is the last night, we've had a fantastic tour. We were in York, Manchester, Birmingham, Birmingham Symphony Hall is fantastic and last night we were in Brighton. How many dates lads? [turning to those on stage]. 250? [Gilbert joked] [audience laughter]. 14...it's been great, so I hope you enjoy the rest of the show."
OUT OF THE QUESTION - [From the album "BACK TO FRONT"] Gilbert [Electric Piano] + Mick [Keyboard] + Julian [Flute] + Charlotte & Nina [Backing Vocals]
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] + Julian [Flute] The next song I'm going to do for you is kind of interesting, because as a lyricist I'm pretty aware of what lyrics mean to people. I have had letters and correspondance telling me how a lyric or song of mine meant so much to them, so that kind of brings it home to me. There's a song on the latest album called "Taking Sides" which is my understanding of a situation of a family and problems that may arise. What was really brought home to me this time was that my two daughters, both in their twenties, didn't get to hear this, nobody gets to hear it until it's finished, even in the developement stage. You often hear song writers say they play their songs to friends to see what they think. I play it to the four walls and if the four walls like it, I'll finish it. So they never hear this song until the finished record. I played it to them in London and they were horrified. They thought that it was about us, our family. I assured them that it was just fictional. My understanding of a situation. But it makes you realise how lyrics can get through to people. They didn't like it then and they still don't like it but I'll do it for you now.
YOU CAN'T CON-CRETE - [From the album "A SCRUFF AT HEART"] Gilbert [Electric Piano] Gilbert explained the story of the Japanese fans not understanding the meaning of concrete and then proceeded to play "We Will" only to stop half way through the intro to tell the story of Dolly Parton on Michael Parkinson's chat show [see previous show for details].
WE WILL - [From the album "THE BERRY VEST OF"] Gilbert [Keyboard] + String Quartet + Mick [Keyboard] + Charlotte & Nina [Backing Vocals]
MR. MOODY'S GARDEN - [From the album "THE BERRY VEST OF"] Gilbert [Keyboard] + Mick [Accordion] + Julian [Voices] Gilbert spoke about his first record - recording "Mr. Moody's Garden" - John Peel - Kenny Everett and John Lennon. [see previous show for details].
I'M IN LOVE WITH LOVE AGAIN - [From the album "A SCRUFF AT HEART"]
DON'T LET IT GET TO YOU - [From the album "A SCRUFF AT HEART"] Gilbert [Electric Piano] "A few nights ago I received a brochure from somebody who asked me if I would sign a CD and send it to them to help with an auction. It was to do with the Red Balloon Learning Centre who help in the recovery of bullied children. Bullying is an issue that affects everybody. This letter brought it home to me how important this subject is. As a lyricist I've written about it and I thought I'd do it for you now."
SOMETIMES - [From the album "SOUNDS OF THE LOOP"] Gilbert [Electric Piano] + Julian [Flute]
OOH-WAKKA-DOO-WAKKA-DAY - [From the album "THE BERRY VEST OF"] Gilbert [Electric Piano] + Mick [Keyboard] + Julian [Flute] "We had the 'Poppa Oom Mow Mow' and we had 'Do Da Diddy Diddy Dum' and we had 'The Do Run Run' and we had this" and he lead into Ooh-Wakka-Doo-Wakka-Day. "Long intro" added Gilbert.
CLAIR - [From the album "BACK TO FRONT"] Gilbert [Electric Piano] + String Quartet + Mick [Keyboard] + Julian [Harmonica] A compilation of footage and photographs of Gilbert and Clair was shown as Gilbert sang this number one hit. The first half closed to whistles and applause.
SECOND HALF STICK IN THE MUD - [From the album "FROBISHER DRIVE / IN THE KEY OF G"] Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + Mick [Keyboard] + Julian [Saxophone] + Charlotte & Nina [Backing Vocals] + Charlotte [Tambourine] Julian steps to the front of the stage for his solo.
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 & Nina [Backing Vocals] + Nina [Caxixi] For the line 'I can go down to a hoe down? Have one hell of a....' [Gilbert turned to the girls who sang yippee!]. Julian moves forward again for his saxophone solo.
MAKE MY DAY - [From the album "PIANO FOREPLAY"] Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band+ Mick [Keyboard] + Julian [Saxophone] + Charlotte & Nina [Backing Vocals] After the song Gilbert told us "There's a nice story that goes with that song which is from the last album we released about three years ago. We were doing a Top Of The Pops 2 which is basically a Top Of The Pops for older people [audience laughter]. We recorded Make My Day in one studio while in another studio Clint Eastwood was being interviewed by Michael Parkinson. It's kind of interesting because he's the original 'Make My Day punk'."
NO 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 + Mick [Keyboard] + Charlotte & Nina [Backing Vocals] + Nina [Caxixi]
THUNDER AND LIGHTNING - [From the album "HIMSELF"] Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + Mick [Keyboard] + Julian [Saxophone] + Charlotte & Nina [Backing Vocals] Julian moves to the front of the stage again with a rousing solo. He is certainly enjoying his new found freedom.
WHY, OH WHY, OH WHY - [From the album "THE BERRY VEST OF"] Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + Mick [Keyboard] Gilbert spoke about some artists covering other people's songs while he covers his own songs himself [see previous shows for details].
COME ON HOME - [UNRELEASED] Gilbert [Keyboard] + Julian [Flute]
CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF YOU - [From the album "OFF CENTRE"] Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + Mick [Keyboard] + Julian [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]
HAPPINESS IS ME AND YOU - [From the album "THE BERRY VEST OF"] Gilbert [Vocal] + Bill [Spanish Acoustic Guitar] + Julian [Flute]
THE MARRIAGE MACHINE - [From the album "A STRANGER IN MY OWN BACK YARD"] Gilbert [Keyboard] + Nina [Vocal] + Band + String Quartet + Mick [Keyboard] + Julian [Flute]
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] + Julian [Flute] + Charlotte & Nina [Backing Vocals] + Charlotte [Tambourine] + Nina [Caxixi] All the girls are clapping their hands above their heads now encouraging the crowd to join in.
ALONE AGAIN (NATURALLY) - [From the album "THE BERRY VEST OF"] Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + String Quartet + Mick [Keyboard] Gilbert leaves the stage to a standing ovation.
ENCORE
MATRIMONY - [From the album "HIMSELF"] Gilbert [Keyboard] + Band + String Quartet + Mick [Keyboard] + Julian [Saxophone] + Charlotte & Nina [Backing Vocals] + Charlotte [Tambourine] + Nina [Caxixi] Gilbert's back and he dances across the stage to the intro of Matrimony. Each time Gilbert asks "Girls what is it?", Charlotte and Nina reply "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] While the girls in the string quartet clapped their hands above their heads and bowed down pointing to the ground on the line 'Get down, get down, get down', James and Bill raised their guitars together in unison like the way "The Shadows" used to do. During his solo Julian wanders right across the stage and ends up beside Mick Parker.
STATS Gilbert played and sang 33 songs tonight representing material from 13 different albums. The breakdown was as follows:
THANKS YOUS On Stage: Gilbert, Mick, Liam, James, Bill, Julian, Nina, Charlotte, Laura, Ellie, Amy, Jess, Jimmy, Nick, Niall, Mark & Billy J. Sound: Kevin & Francis. Lighting: Martin. Audio Visual: Jon & Gary. Merchandise: Marie, Richard, Deirdre, Marie, Olivia, Teresa. Everything Else: Kevin. Finally: A big thank you to all the fans who came from near and far to see Gilbert perform. Thank you!
HIGHLIGHTS The show has many highlights and it's difficult to name one so I'll name four. 1. Taking Sides - Great song from the new album with an interesting back-story. 2. Nothing Rhymed - Played to the backdrop of footage from days gone by. Magic. 3. The Marriage Machine - Performed as a duet with a great vocal from Nina. 4. Happiness Is Me And You - Done simply but beautifully with just guitar, voice, flute and percussion.
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