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05 November 2009
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Show Report
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From the moment back in May that John Logan, Ray Davies and Brian Willey told me about plans for this special show when we shared a table at the Ivors, I'd been looking forward to it, not least because it was taking place the night before my birthday, so it had better be good. And indeed it was, despite the first half suffering a few gremlins in the PA mix which were thankfully all fixed by the second. After intros by Sir Tim Rice and surprise compere Feargal Sharkey, now boss of UK Music, the show kicked off with brilliant guitar virtuoso Martin Taylor, who was joined by fellow guitarist Robin Nolan who announced he'd just become a father a short while earlier, so their jazz-tinged set had extra reason for applause.
House band Bill Wyman and his Rhythm Kings took to the stage to showcase solo spots from the likes of Georgie Fame, Albert Lee, Beverley Skeete and Geraint Watkins - all top stuff but it would have been nice to hear a couple of Georgie Fame hits rather than covers, not to mention Albert's classic Country Boy. However the band were on terrific form throughout the evening, especially Graham Broad on drums, Dave Bronze (bass), Terry Taylor (guitar) and a fantastic brass section led by Matt Winch (trumpet). Their special guests included former Focus frontman Jan Akkerman, whose versions of Hocus Pocus and Sylvia (two of my all-time favourite instrumentals) sadly suffered from the aforementioned gremlins, at least from where I was sitting. Luckily these were forgotten during Melanie C's spirited slot, Rick Wakeman's dazzling classical re-working of Eleanor Rigby, and especially on Andy Fairweather-Low's acoustic versions of Wide Eyed And Legless and If Paradise Is Half As Nice. Andy also noted that it was his 92nd performance (or thereabouts) at the Albert Hall, most of them as a member of Eric Clapton's band. The first half closed with Bill Wyman himself singing Honky Tonk Women in favour of his quirky 1981 solo hit (Si Si) Je Suis Un Rock Star, which might have been apt on the night, but c'est la vie. The second half was a triumphant tour-de-force of the very best in British rock and pop music, kicking off with Lee Mead covering two Marc Bolan hits, Get It On and 21st Century Boy, in honour of Bolan's incredible legacy of leaving all his PRS royalties to the Members Fund in perpetuity. Chris Difford played two Squeeze hits, Take Me I'm Yours and Cool For Cats, the latter featuring a fantastic brass arrangement, while his former bandmate Paul Carrack came on to sing the first song he ever wrote, 70's classic How Long by Ace, along with the new single off his current album I Know That Name. Another highlight was former A1 member Mark Read singing his moving tribute to British troops, We Will Remember Them, co-written with Robert Hart, and which a exactly week later was officially recorded at Abbey Road Studios as a charity single to raise funds for Help for Heroes and the Royal British Legion. It was also great to see Kiki Dee, one of our finest female singers, who along with guitarist Carmelo Luggeri performed a beautiful cover of Kate Bush's Running Up That Hill, followed by the ever-joyful I've Got The Music In Me. |
Meanwhile Level 42's Mike Lindup more than made up for Mark King's enforced absence due to his father being seriously ill, by performing superb versions of Something About You and The Sun Goes Down (Living It Up).
The penultimate act of the show was flame-haired Mick Hucknall, who chose to sing a couple of well-chosen covers rather than Simply Red numbers, namely Reconsider Baby and soul classic 634-5789. As usual Hucknall was in fine voice, leaving the stage with everyone clamouring for more, but not realising what role he'd be playing for his surprise re-appearance.
And then it was time for some true rock history, as Feargal introduced three names who would create an absolutely blinding finish to the show - Ronnie Wood, Ian 'Mac' McLagen and Kenney Jones of legendary 70's rockers The Faces, the absolute icing on the Members Fund's cake and a perfect headline act. The big question was who would replace Rod Stewart, but as the guys took to the stage it became immediately obvious that they only needed to call on a few mates already on the bill. As Mac kicked off the familiar piano intro to Cindy Incidentally, Paul Carrack took centre stage and nailed the song perfectly, with the band playing as if they'd never split up over 30 years ago. Next up was Ooh La La, and who better to sing it than Andy Fairweather-Low with a somewhat similar vocal texture to the late great Ronnie Lane, who co-wrote and sang the original. Then all too soon it was time for the third and final number Stay With Me, one of rock's all-time classics, which would need a very special voice to match Rod's throat-scratching original. So who should jump back onstage but the fearless Mick Hucknall, to the surprise of many, but by the end of the first chorus I'm sure the whole place was thinking "who needs Rod?" Mick sang it brilliantly, Ronnie played dirty slide guitar the way only he can, Mac and Kenney excelled on their solo parts and throughout, and by the end the whole audience was singing along to the chorus. Pure magic and fun, which was always what The Faces were all about - and then they went and played it all over again, with all the other acts trooping back on stage to join in a truly rousing finale. The end to a brilliant show - but not quite, as PRS For Music chairman Ellis Rich came onstage to present Ronnie, Mac, Kenney and Ronnie Lane's former wife Katy with a well-deserved Lifetime Achievement Award. So, congratulations once again to everyone involved in what was a terrific night. The after-show party was just as good, with everyone turning up in the Elgar Room upstairs, chatting and posing for the inevitable photos. And at midnight it was my birthday - definitely one I won't forget for a long time. But the main thing to remember was that we were all there to support an extremely worthy cause at a very special anniversary event, staged with heart and style. Here's to the next 75 years! |
David Stark, Editor/Publisher
SongLink International
http://www.songlink.com/20091027-faces-reform-for-prs-charity-show.html
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