After a nice Mexican we made our way back to the Hall for the show. I think I enjoyed Ethel a little better in Bristol.Don't know why! Maybe it was the freshness of the sound on first exposure. They were excellent again and were quickly followed by Joe Jackson for whom I have the utmost respect and admiration. Joe performed the same set as he had in Bristol impeccably and he was appreciated by the mostly Todd audience. Interval and a quick glasss of wine and a chat to a Todd fan from Bradford who had travelled to the gig after having been to the York show earlier in the week. It amazes me how many of the fans take in more than one show which I guess is due to the paucity of appearances this side of the Atlantic over the last 10 years. I have travelled from Ireland 4 times in the last twelve months to see the man and I would do the same in the next 12 months if I had the chance. Anyway on to the show! Todd opened with Love of the Common Man and his acoustic set include ISTL and Afterlife which he hadn't played at Bristol. Some amusing repartee with the audience especially the guy who was congratulated on his "copious knowledge" of Todds'catalogue which outdid Todds own! (He had requested 'Marlene'), and the guy who prompted Todd to ask when the gig had turned in to a Press Conference after an extremely long-winded Beatles orientated question wwhich was followed by 'You've Got to Hide Your Love Away'.
Piano set was the same as Bristol and Todd returned to the guitar and ukelele to finish with 'The Wheel' another song I hadn't heard at Bristol. Ethel then returned and we had 'The Lord Chancellors Nightmare Song' (impeccably sung!), Pretending to Care (what can I say? My 13 year old has been singing it all day!) and the sublime ' Stood Up'. Joe returned and did his two before the rousing encore George Harrisons 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps'. What a night! What a day! It's hard to believe that the standard of the performances has taken a quantum leap from the American leg of this tour and I have to ask myself what the hell do the US fans want? This was live performance at its best. Strings break and people miss notes. That's life and part of the LIVE experience. If you want perfect renditions of the recorded works listen to the cd! Sorry about the length of this review but as you might be able to tell I really enjoyed my day. Come back soon Todd!
Todd Set List
Love of the Common Man Beloved Infidel Black & White I Saw the Light Afterlife Song Of The Viking Hello It's Me Hawking Bang on the Drum/ukelele You've Got to Hide Your Love Away The Wheel Lord Chancellors' Nightmare Song Pretending to Care Stood Up While My Guitar Gently Weeps