waterboys

waterboys gig at sage ........

hmmmm..... great in some ways, so-so in others......
sound was fantastic, the venue was built for music, and one of the alltime best i have been in for sound, viewing good too, except we were in the gods, bit weird looking down from so high up at a rock and roll band, normally looking up innit.....
all seater venue too, which was the real downside to the gig, took the audience way to long to realise they could stand up and wiggle...... this band need a stand up venue imho, music to let yourself go a bit to..... (would be GREAt for GB mainstage in this form)

mike scott, only ever seen him solo at greenbelt, think I remember pip and martin interviewing him and him doing a few numbers at the greenbelt stinking late show many moons ago.......

The band, not the original line up, but steve whickam on fiddle present, and fantastic mad keyboard man, think it is Richard Naiff, according to their useful 'who's who' on their webpages..

Mr Scott was very much the lord of the raggle taggle, with good swagger and poise, and fine, fine delivery of his beautiful songs, as already said most finely complimented by his ensemble...
favourites for me on the night were 'long way to the light' and 'peace of iona'....
Jules wished they had played 'some more stuff she knew' .........
Geordie crowd was in fair form, with the opening shout 'howayyerbuggerman!' and 'gan on hinny' prompting some smiles all round - thats the other downside about this venue a bit - its a bit posh, and i think the crowds are a bit subdued and overwhelmed by its magnitude - not like the old city hall, or mayfair eh!!!!
(me and the jule first ever date - way back in'85 ish, Mewcastle Mayfair (now sadly pulled down), the Cult and after show poarty at Tiffany's nightclub - think i impressed her v much with my choice of first date venue - she did come back for more after all!!!! whehey...)

all in all a good night out, with pre-gig tapas on the quayside, and a couple of jd and pepsi's (much more acceptable than cola coke) - the sage is quicly becoming a piece of bigjohn landscape, looking to see who is coming up....

anyone ever heard of giles petersen? sure someone i know likes his stuff - wasnt he on at GB last year? hmmm....looks like i can get cheap tickets for him at the sage here for Friday 17th March cos we joined the sage mailing list - anyone who fancies it, gimme a shout, bed & board available cheap at the bigjohnmansions.......

ttfn

bj