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JohnFPorcaro
Fourth Love
USA
168 Posts |
 Posted - 02/04/2005 : 18:06:29
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| Anybody on the Board go ? |
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alunmorgan
First Love
19 Posts |
Posted - 02/04/2005 : 21:59:00
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| NCLA was an old cinema -without seats. Love came on at 9:30. The sound right at the front was not too good but who cares when you can shake the Singer's hand. The performance was better than at the Rocket but not as good as in the Bierkeller. The Singer as usual just got better and better, Johnny (Joey!) Echols was rather quiet but Mike Randle made up for this with lots of improvisations. The current setlist was played in a different order with atleast one different title. But there was no Andmoreagain. Why? A smallish crowd, lots of oldies and newcomers (some not knowing who Love were. One left saying that was the best gig he'd ever been to.) Dave Nolte played his heart out. |
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Dukie
Fifth Love
United Kingdom
410 Posts |
Posted - 02/04/2005 : 21:59:08
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| Great show.. but a small audience for the size of the venue( a converted cinema)...Arthur and the band were in great form and did the longest of the three shows that I have seen this week - 20 songs including a very good "Can't Explain" and a version of "You set the scene" that Mike DiMarco considered to be worth the price of admission alone.Arthur and Johnny came out to sign autographs afterwards, but Arthur doesn't stay around for very long(so head for the concession table and get in line).Photos and set list on Torben's site later tonight (if I can stay awake that long after putting my son to bed). |
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trevor
First Love
United Kingdom
9 Posts |
Posted - 02/04/2005 : 22:25:02
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Newport was wonderful! The venue was perfect for a Love gig - no seats and a bar all the way from the back of the hall to the front (with real beer served in glasses). Doors opened late, which may have contributed to Love not appearing on stage til around 9.50. To an old timer like me that seems far too early, but by modern standards it qualifies as late! (My teenage son goes to gigs elsewhere that finish before then, at which time the venues turn into night clubs.) Stationed at the front right, next to Caryne and Dukie (hi!), the excitement built as I awaited my favourite band playing on my birthday. Too cool or what!
First off, the band had a laugh about Joey Echols, as the locally printed posters called him, and then launched majestically into Alone Again Or. It was clear that Johnny really added to the sound, complementing Mike and the rest behind a lean and fit looking Arthur. I know life is 'more than style' but it was hard not to notice that Arthur and Johnny were both the epitome of style and cool, all the way down to their eye-catching shoes. Free to dance, it was hard to resist and so it continued for the next hour and half. Even the bar staff were jigging around! Ranging over the usual classics, Arthur once or twice 'wandered' off, only for Rusty to smartly step in and guide him back to the song.
So many highlights - the first time the roof was raised, but certainly not the last, was The Red Telephone followed by You Set the Scene. Hopefully an ordered set list will be forthcoming form another source; I was too busy pogoing and taking in the majesty of the band. Johnny's first solo went down a storm - so lyrical and fluid, it was sublime. Even better to witness it from almost touching distance. Dave Nolte was having a ball, smiling almost reverentially at Johnny, chatting with Mike and grinning all the way through.
After playing most of FC except Andmoreagain and The Good Humor Man, Rainbow in the Storm, Your Mind and We, My Little Red Book, Can't Explain, Signed DC, She Comes in Colours, My Flash On You, Everybody's Gotta Live/Instant Karma, Singing Cowboy, the set climaxed with my expected encore of Clarke and Hilldale. This was introduced as the last song, after which Mike was almost off stage before he realised that Arthur was up for more! We then had what I had most looked forward to - a frantic 7 and 7 is played at lightning speed by a guitar ensemble. Amazing! As the slow reprise faded Arthur gave his speech about 'Love one another' and the band left to stage to a rapturous ovation. Would/could they top that?
After a long wait, with the audience not budging, the band re-appeared sans Arthur. When the talismatic leader came back he was wearing his 'casual' top, joking to the audience "Now see what you've done", pointing to his less stagey sweat shirt. Having been inundated with requests all evening, he lead the band into the most requested song, Stephanie Knows. Mike made some wonderful harpsichord sounds as the evening reached a natural end. The band and the crowd were content to leave it there. A great show.
Fraser at the back of the hall then set up chairs and all of the band came out to meet and greet their fans, signing tickets, albums and CDs, posing for photos and chatting to all and sundry. Having added Johnny's autograph to my treasured FC vinyl and white FC Souvenir T-shirt, it was time for a 2 hour drive home. After stopping outside to photograph the hilarious 'Joey Echols' poster our happy group headed back to the mid Wales hills. How come this band gets better and better? Catch them while you can. |
Edited by - trevor on 03/04/2005 10:28:32 |
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bigrubberglove
Fourth Love
188 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2005 : 01:28:42
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fantastic review trevor!
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Allan
Old Love
USA
560 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2005 : 16:10:32
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Great review Trevor. And Happy Birthday too!!
Allan |
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Dukie
Fifth Love
United Kingdom
410 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2005 : 23:59:35
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| Trevor, if you would like to e-mail me I believe I have a photo of you at the concession stand after the show...... |
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Judith
Third Love
United Kingdom
93 Posts |
Posted - 15/04/2005 : 22:55:42
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| This was my second time of seeing band (last time at Coal Exchange) and they were absolutely brilliant, and felt I had to join forum. Look forward to more. |
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Any Newport reviews ?
