Tonight the tour moved about a hundred miles north eastwards to the beautiful historic city of York, founded almost 2000 years ago by the Romans.  Following on from last night's show there was little to add as regards new comments as most of the introductions were the same but there were a few changes on the play list.  The following songs were omitted: "Conversation With Flying Plates" "Permissive Twit" "If I Don't Get You (Back Again)" "Lost A Friend" .....and replaced with "Having Said That" "What's It All Supposed To Mean?" "Is It A Crime?"   1st HALF: STARTED AT 19:35 - LASTED 60 MINUTES IT AIN'T FOR ME - [From the album "BY LARRY / THE LITTLE ALBUM"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Accordion] At 7.35 p.m. unannounced as usual, Gilbert took to the stage along with Mick Parker and Julian Webster Greaves with backing vocals provided by Helen Hardy and her daughter Victoria.  THE THING IS - [From the album "A STRANGER IN MY OWN BACK YARD"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Saxaphone, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] Without a word Gilbert goes straight into "The Thing Is" from "A Stranger In My Own Back Yard" accompanied by Julian Webster Greaves on harmonica.  Afterwards Gilbert greets the crowd saying how good it was to be in York and added "What a traffic system, blame the Romans." NOTHING RHYMED - [From the album "HIMSELF"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Flute] The crowd immediately recognised the opening bars of this song and applauded loudly, at which time Gilbert stopped playing and jokingly said "And the next."  Gilbert was accompanied again by Julian Webster Greaves, this time on flute. NO MATTER HOW I TRY - [From the album "THE BERRY VEST OF"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Foot Stomps] Just before the false ending before "I remember our first anniversary", Julian Webster Greaves stepped forward and stamped his feet to the beat. IT NEVER RAINS BUT IT POURS - [From the album "PIANO FOREPLAY"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] "I release an album every two years, that's why I'm here.  I don't get brilliant exposure."  There were shouts of encouragement from the crowd.  "It's nothing to shout about" Gilbert replied. WE WILL - [From the album "THE BERRY VEST OF"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] Gilbert asked "Anybody from Leeds?"  A few voices answered in the affirmative.  "Anyone from Swindon?" he asked not expecting a reply.  A sole voice shouted out "Yes".  Gilbert was delighted and turned to the wings and said "Put the champagne on ice".  He then spoke about Andy Williams recording the song and being an English lyricist.  After saying that English lyricists should write about Grimsby, Huddersfield and Hull, he attempted to play part of a song he was working on.  But try as he might he just couldn't remember the chord sequence. MAKE MY DAY - [From the album "PIANO FOREPLAY"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Saxaphone, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] Another track from "Piano Foreplay" with Julian Webster Greaves playing the saxophone ending. MISS MY LOVE TODAY - [From the album "SOUTHPAW"] [Gilbert : Synth, Mick Parker : Synth] Gilbert changed to his second keyboard (DX7) for this song and said “I have released 14 albums so far and although the well know songs are popular, I often get letters from people saying that they like the hit songs but their favourite is a particular album track.  I am very happy to hear this as I write all my own songs. HELEN & VICTORIA HARDY STICK IN THE MUD - [From the album "FROBISHER DRIVE / IN THE KEY OF G"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Saxaphone, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] Gilbert got the crowd rocking with this one.  Julian Webster Greaves played a solo on saxophone. CLAIR - [From the album "BACK TO FRONT"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Harmonica, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] Gilbert mentioned that there are a lot of good young songwriters around at the moment adding the name of Tom Baxter to the ones from last night.  He feels that even after 35 years in the business that he can still learn from others. SOMETIMES - [From the album "SOUNDS OF THE LOOP"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Julian Webster Greaves : Flute] Julian on the flute solo. THE WAY THINGS USED TO BE - [From the album "FROBISHER DRIVE / IN THE KEY OF G"]  [Gilbert : Synth, Mick Parker : Synth, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] Gilbert changed again to his other keyboard for this song.  The girls returned on backing vocals. WHAT'S IN A KISS? - [From the album "OFF CENTRE"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] FOREVER WONDERING - [From the album "FROBISHER DRIVE"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Saxaphone, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] Gilbert told us that originally he tried to learn the guitar but his teacher wouldn't allow him to play left handedly.  He said "try and play Man of Mystery and FBI with your other hand, it's not easy.  So I took up the keyboard.  And for a keyboard player Fats Domino is a big hero."  Gilbert played the famous riff and when on to say how the Englishness of his lyrics are sometimes misunderstood when playing abroad.  This song has an example in the lines: "My girlfriend's name is Susan We got engaged last march She was killed while getting off a bus At the top of marble arch" "I don't mean on top of the arch but instead the top of Marble Arch (place in London), the same way we would say the top of the road" Gilbert explained.  Julian played a solo on saxophone. WHY, OH WHY, OH WHY - [From the album "THE BERRY VEST OF"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] "This is an old song which I haven't sung live since 1974.  While rehearsing for this tour I rediscovered this old song and I have decided to give it a new sound.  Here's "Why, Oh Why, Oh Why" with a new feel." THUNDER AND LIGHTNING - [From the album "HIMSELF"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Saxaphone, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] The lights went up in the theatre and Gilbert could see the audience  for the first time.  He added "I can see you now, unfortunately the first thing I saw when I looked out was two empty seats in the front row."  (Laughter from the audience) He continued, " I remember reading about Michael Flatley, the guy from the Riverdance.  His grandmother used come to all his shows and used sit in the front row, but when she passed away he would leave an empty seat in the front row in memory of her.  Physiologically I will have those seats filled"  "Thunder and Lightning" brought the first half to a close with Julian returning on saxophone for this track. 2nd HALF: STARTED AT 21:00 - LASTED 65 MINUTES A FRIEND OF MINE - [From the album "I'M A WRITER NOT A FIGHTER"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth] HOLD ON TO WHAT YOU GOT - [From the album "BY LARRY / THE LITTLE ALBUM"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth & Accordion, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] OUT OF THE QUESTION - [From the album "BACK TO FRONT"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Flute, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] "Conversation With Flying Plates" was dropped from the play list tonight and this song was promoted to song 18 of the evening. SAY GOODBYE - [From the album "IRLISH"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Flute, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] Gilbert sang the usual Spanish chorus. But proudly impressed the audience by singing the Japanese and French versions with no problems. "I'll leave the Russian version alone!" HAVING SAID THAT - [From the album "SOUNDS OF THE LOOP"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Flute] This song replaced "Permissive Twit" from last night's play list.  Julian played a solo on the flute. WATER MUSIC - [From the album "IRLISH"] [Gilbert : Vocals] Gilbert introduced this song by explaining how he got the idea for it.  "The basis of this song is the rhythmic sound made by women washing clothes on the rocks at the riverside in the Peruvian jungle.  Because it is a mundane job the women create a rhythm as they wash the clothes on the riverbank.  This sound was recorded for a World  Music CD and I got to hear it and found it interesting.  I wanted to use it as part of a song but instead decided to use it as a backing with no music".  Gilbert stood to sing this song. WHO WAS IT? - [From the album "BACK TO FRONT"] [Gilbert : Vocals, Mick Parker : Electric Piano, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] During this song Gilbert walks and dances around the stage.  At one point he started singing to an unoccupied box at the side of the stage and afterwards asked "Are you alright up there?" which was greeted with much laughter and amusement. After which Gilbert introduced the other people on stage.  "Julian Webster Greaves on saxaphone, flute, harmonica, tambourine and foot stomps.  On backing vocals we have Helen Hardy and Victoria Hardy, mother and daughter.  Last but not least my music director, on synth and piano accordion......Mick Parker." THE MARRIAGE MACHINE - [From the album "A STRANGER IN MY OWN BACK YARD"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Flute, Helen Hardy : Backing Vocals] "I love the relationship between men and women which normally culminates in marriage."  There were cheers from the audience thinking that he was about to sing "Matrimony".  "No it's not that one, you probably don't even know this one" he explained. WHAT'S IT ALL SUPPOSED TO MEAN? - [From the album "PIANO FOREPLAY"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Saxaphone] GO FORTH AND MULTIPLY - [UNRELEASED] [Gilbert : Electric Piano] Gilbert introduced this song by saying, "I like Billy Connolly but I can't say that I am a fan of his language, too many Fs.  Likewise with the Beautiful South, I like their music but they had a song called Don't Marry Her, F*** Me Instead, and as a song writer I feel that you should avoid the obvious. Gilbert likened bad language to going to the bathroom....good to do, but not good to be seen or heard.  This is a song never released by Gilbert but was played here to show his love of words and language. A WOMAN'S PLACE - [From the album "A STRANGER IN MY OWN BACK YARD"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Saxaphone, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] During the 70s when Feminism was at it's height I wrote this song because I thought that it had a good title.  I either had a good sense of humour or a death wish, I've been beaten up so many times by women about it.............and I've loved every minute of it."  .  We then went on to have the 'Battle of the Sexes" where the men sang the line "A woman's place is in the home" and the women replied, "If that's the case you're on your own".  Like last night the men began weakly while the women started well, but the men grew in confidence and ran out easy winners. IS IT A CRIME? - [From the album "LIFE & RHYMES"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Tambourine, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] This song replaced "Lost A Friend" from last night's play list. WHAT COULD BE NICER (MUM THE KETTLE'S BOILING) - [From the album "BACK TO FRONT"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] This was done in reggae style. ALONE AGAIN (NATURALLY) - [From the album "THE BERRY VEST OF"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Tambourine] Gilbert dedicated this song to some fans who had travelled from Japan to see him, proving once again that the attraction of Gilbert's music knows no bounds. Gilbert left the stage momentarily but returned to wild applause. ENCORE MATRIMONY - [From the album "HIMSELF"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Saxaphone & Backing Vocals, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] GET DOWN - [From the album "I'M A WRITER NOT A FIGHTER"] [Gilbert : Electric Piano, Mick Parker : Synth, Julian Webster Greaves : Tambourine & Backing Vocals, Helen & Victoria Hardy : Backing Vocals] STATS Gilbert played and sang 32 songs tonight representing material from 13 different albums.  The breakdown was as follows: Back To Front 4 The Berry Vest Of 4 Himself 3 Frobisher Drive 3 A Stranger In My Own Back Yard 3 Piano Foreplay 3 Irlish 2 The Little Album 2 I'm A Writer Not A Fighter 2 Sounds of the Loop 2 Off Centre 1 Unreleased Tracks 1 Life & Rhymes 1 Southpaw 1