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David Essex, Gig Review. Civic Hall, Wolverhampton.

Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. April 2008.

With a wealth of material going back nearly 40 years, it would be hard for anyone person to come up with as good a set list and showmanship as David Essex does. Combine this with his shy elegance and you can see why he is still touring and is one of the best professionals in the business.

Opening the night with his new album’s title track, Happy Ever After, he continued with Before I Met You and the beautifully sung If I Could. David then went into a collection of songs that will be featuring in his new musical, All the Fun of the Fair.

David Essex, Gig Review. Civic Hall, Wolverhampton. full post

(141 words, estimated 34 secs reading time)

Gary Numan, Gig Review. Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton.

Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. March 2008.

Having just celebrated his 50th birthday, Gary Numan appeared as fresh and as good as he has ever been whilst still appearing to be mean, moody and more than able to please a near capacity audience.

Coming on stage to huge applause, Gary and the rest of band postured and preened through the openers of Replicas and the stunning Me, I Disconnect From You.

With no need for introduction of each song, Gary was able to speed through the set whilst retaining the honesty and meaning of classics such as Praying to the Aliens, I Nearly Married a Human and the wonderful It Must Have Been Years.

Gary Numan, Gig Review. Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton. full post

(199 words, estimated 48 secs reading time)

Asia, Gig Review. Civic Hall, Wolverhampton.

Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. March 2008.

With a new album entitled Phoenix out soon, Asia thrilled a small but appreciative audience with a night of tasters, classic and member’s songs.

Asia opened with amongst Only Time Will Tell and the magnificent Wildest Dreams before Steve Howe took centre stage with the Yes classic Roundabout.

As good as the first part of the evening was, by opening the second set with Carl Palmer’s contribution, E.L.P’s seminal piece Fanfare for the Common Man, the music and night was driven up a notch.

Asia, Gig Review. Civic Hall, Wolverhampton. full post

(146 words, estimated 35 secs reading time)

Megadeth, Gig Review. Carling Academy, Birmingham.

Despite an early curfew, and following on from two support bands, Megadeth stormed through one of the tightest and visually perfect sets to have graced the Carling Academy in a long time.

Opening the set with Sleepwalker from last year’s release United Abominations, and Wake Up Dead from the classic album Peace Sells…But Who’s Buying?, Megadeth proved the old adage that less is most definitely more by just letting the guitars do all the talking.

Megadeth, Gig Review. Carling Academy, Birmingham. full post

(166 words, estimated 40 secs reading time)

Marillion, Gig Review. Civic Hall, Wolverhampton.

Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. December 2007.

With their fifteenth studio album not due till next year, Marillion might have felt they took a big gamble by touring so close to Christmas, they need not have worried.

By playing a set list that had something for everybody, from 1989 up to the present day, the band left a near-capacity crowd content and full of pre-Christmas cheer. A truly eclectic evening was kicked off by Bridge and Living With The Big Lie form their 1994 critically acclaimed album Brave.

Marillion, Gig Review. Civic Hall, Wolverhampton. full post

(185 words, estimated 44 secs reading time)

Thunder, Gig Review. Civic Hall, Wolverhampton.

Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. November 2007.

One thing you can guarantee at a Thunder gig is that you will be joined by some of the most vocal and dedicated fans in rock today.

By opening the set with Dirty Dream from last year’s Robert Johnson’s Tombstone album and the excellent Last Man Standing Thunder set their stall out to entertain.

They continued to huge applause from a capacity crowd with The Devil Made Me Do It and the love song I’ll Be Waiting.

Thunder, Gig Review. Civic Hall, Wolverhampton. full post

(185 words, estimated 44 secs reading time)

Magnum, Gig Review. Carling Academy, Birmingham.

 

Whenever Magnum return home to the Midlands you are assured a gig to remember, one full of pomp , incredible guitar work and lyrics that stand the test of time.

Opening the first set with When We Were Younger from the latest album Princess Alice and the Broken Arrow, Magnum pulled out all the stops to thrill a capacity crowd. The audience greeted every song enthusiastically, including the seminal Les Mort Dansant, All England’s Eyes and the whole of the album Wings of Heaven, which was being recorded live to mark its 20th anniversary.

Magnum, Gig Review. Carling Academy, Birmingham. full post

(148 words, estimated 36 secs reading time)

Fish, Gig Review. Robin 2, Bilston.

Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. September 2007.

With a new album, 13th Star, due in January, it seems appropriate that Fish should visit a favourite stomping ground to showcase some new songs and weave it around the 20th anniversary of the Clutching At Straws record.

Arriving on stage to The Beatles’ Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Fish opened the set with the provocative Slainte Mhaith before going full steam into the new Circle Line and the confrontational Square Go.

The new songs were well received by the capacity crowd, as was the older material which included the wonderful Hotel Hobbies, Warm Wet Circles and That Time Of The Night.

Fish, Gig Review. Robin 2, Bilston. full post

(169 words, estimated 41 secs reading time)

Rush, Gig Review. N.E.C. Arena, Birmingham.

Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. October 2007.

For anybody who was concerned what five years away from the studio would do to Rush’s live experience- don’t worry, they are back bigger and better than they have ever been.

With a set carefully constructed around old favourites such as Circumstances and the mind-blowing Freewill to a huge chunk of the new album Snakes and Arrows Rush did not disappoint once.

After a short intro film the band were greeted enthusiastically to the stage by a capacity audience who cheered loudly as the threesome opened up with the thumping Limelight, Digital Man from the new album and the brilliant Entre Nous.

Rush, Gig Review. N.E.C. Arena, Birmingham. full post

(153 words, estimated 37 secs reading time)

Roger Hodgson, Gig Review. Symphony Hall, Birmingham.

Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. October 2007.

There are few musicians who would not feel intimidated by the air of expectation from a capacity crowd after being from a city or venue for nearly a quarter of a century.

Thankfully, on his return to Birmingham, former Supertramp singer Roger Hodgson carried it off beautifully.

This often painfully shy man strode on stage to respectful applause which seemed to catch him slightly unawares before he regained his composure and started a stunning evening’s entertainment with the opener Take The Long Way Home.

Roger Hodgson, Gig Review. Symphony Hall, Birmingham. full post

(153 words, estimated 37 secs reading time)