Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. September 2009.
By opening their set with the title track from their new studio album The Devil in the Wind, The Men They Couldn’t Hang made a musical statement to the loyal crowd that not only were they back, but back with a bang.
There was nonetheless the familiar feeling of brotherhood as they played the fantastic Ghosts of Gable Street and Shirt Of Blue from the 1986 album How Green is the Valley.
Photograph by Ian D. Hall
Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. July 2009.
After 20 years together and nine studio albums to their name, Thunder returned to Wolverhampton as part of their farewell tour, having announced some months ago that they were calling time on their career.
They didn’t disappoint, kicking off the night with the energetic Backstreet Symphony, the title track of their debut album. From that moment, the audience let them know they will be missed by giving a huge roar of satisfaction at the end of every song.
Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. June 2009.
The Wall Street Shuffle was a hit for 10cc in 1974 but the current financial situation made it an apt opener to their Birmingham show.
Even though Graham Gouldman is now the original member in the group, he was ably assisted by Rickk Fenn on guitar, Paul Burgess on drums, Keith Hayman on bass and keyboards and MIck Wilson on guitars, vocals, keyboards and percussion.
These five men blended together so well on stage that it left a near capacity audience anticipating each song with relish.
Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. June 2009.
With the new album, Journal for Plague Lovers, barely out its packaging, the Manic Street Preachers stoked up the heat at the Wolverhampton Civic as they showed what the music scene had been missing for the past few years.
By playing the new offering its entirety, the capacity crowd was given the chance to savour some of the last work of Richey Edwards, whose lyrics have been set to music by the band.
These included opening track Peeled Apples Me and Stephen Hawking and the lament William’s Last Words.
Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. May 2009.
Opening the evening with Suave and Suffocated from 1992’s Are You Normal and the excellent All I Ask Of Myself Is That I Hold Together from 1995’s Brainbloodvolume, Ned’s Atomic Dustbin came, saw and conquered an absolutely packed audience with a set that never once let up on pace.
With much reminiscing, the band blitzed through classics like Until You Find Out from their debut album God Fodder, Walking Through Syrup and the amazing Two and Two Make Five.
Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. May 2009.
Opening the night with Life Less Ordinary and the Battle of Beanfield, The Levellers played a set full of tunes to a Wulfrun Hall that was almost bursting with fans.
Main vocalist and guitarist Mark Chadwick along with Stephen Boakes on didgeridoo and Jeremy Cunningham on bass, seem to encapsulate all that is good within the band.
It was hard to see which tracks they would have to leave out of their huge back catalogue but those receiving an airing included Beautiful Day and the excellent Death Loves Youth, Dirty Davey and the Cholera Well.
Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. April 2009.
Fresh from their convention slot supporting Marillion in Holland, The Reasoning reinforced their position as one of the country’s top progressive rock bands with a performance that bowled over an enthusiastic crowd.
Opening the set with the title track from their 2007 debut album Awakening, followed by Fallen Angels. The band showed why their musical ability and sharp lyrics have made them favourites on the progressive rock gig circuit.
With singer Rachel Cohen in fine form and in teasing mood, The Reasoning then played the beautiful Chasing Rainbows before carrying on with the fabulous Aching Hunger and the lyrically excellent Breaking the Fourth Wall.
Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. April 2009.
Joe Bonamassa shows that you can be considered a blues legend before you reach 40. The likeable and amiable singer and guitarist has played with some of the greats of the genre but he still seems to be in awe of the fact that a capacity crowd of music lovers would come and see him perform live.
He began a night of incredible music with Django from the 2006 album You and Me before going full steam into the Ballad of John Henry from this year’s album offering of the same name.
Originally published by the Birmingham Mail. March 2009.
Every time Hugh Cornwell plays a gig, he seems to defy age and convention with a host of great songs, either from his days as the frontman of The Stranglers or his equally long solo career.
The first part of the set was taken up with Cornwell playing his brilliant new album Hooverdam in its entirety, which included the opener Wrong Side of the Tracks and Going to the City before going into some truly memorable songs.
Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. February 28th 2009
Once in a while you are treated to a genuine star of the British music scene who takes your breath away.
Paul Carrack opened up a crammed and diverse set with Just A Little Lie and Stay Awake, the latter from his new album I Know That Name. Paul then went onto showcase the new album by playing some of the songs that appear on it, including It Ain’t Easy (To Love Somebody) and the brilliant song written for The Eagles on their last album I Don’t Want To Hear Anymore.