MAY 2009 SOLO TOUR REViEWS **SETLiST SPOiLERS**

[johnnywashngo]

Leeds Rios last night was pretty good. Actually it was flippin fantastic

That being said, what the hell was wrong with the PA at Rios?
It seemed each act had their fair share of problems, either mics dropping out or no volume or no monitors - all very annoying.

Moving swiftly onwards...

Eureka Machines were a very pleasant surprise. I went to the gig without any knowledge of them or their music and, to be honest, didn't expect much. The first act in a three act show is, more often than not, a bit average but Eureka Machines completely blew me away. Great show, good tunes.

Laika Dog were a bit of a disappointment. I used to love Terrorvision back in the day and therefore, was expecting these guys to rock my world. Maybe I set my expectations a little too high because I felt a little crushed when listening to them. The band looked bored, the music was very average and my pervading thought throughout the show was 'when will they finish'.

Ginger was fantastic. Pretty much what I was expecting. The songs sounded great and the band played really well throughout. The banter was top quality from Ginger. I would have liked to have heard more from the other guys but thats not a big deal.

Overall - a pretty decent show.

[vickyp]

Eureka Machines were a very pleasant surprise.... The first act in a three act show is, more often than not, a bit average but Eureka Machines completely blew me away. Great show, good tunes.

I'm glad you enjoyed them - I wonder if oleandershelly got to see them too?

The doors were late opening but there was already a healthy queue outside at ten past 7 when we got there. The end of the queue was nearly out in the street once the doors opened at half past.

I think Pete fits in really well, looking very much at home in that suit. I got a load of photos which you can see here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickypeck/3523575930/
Also there are photos from Ginger's set here - http://www.flickr.com/photos/vickypeck/ ... 919406577/

Ginger's set was great again, the setlist was a little changed round from previous shows that I'd been to and there was the addition of a little bit 'o gravy to the set, which turned out to be very popular with the crowd. (I was going to say it went down well but managed to stop myself just in time... oh wait... ). Afterwards we got to meet Eddie Eyeball again and got a photo with him, he's a lovely fella. Managed to say hi to Tony and half of Laika Dog on the stairs as the security kicked us out.

I've really enjoyed the gigs on this tour I've been to, it's been something special indeed and Leeds was the last one for me but I'm happy to end on a high note, everyone was smiling last night and that's great to see.

[Col]

Newcastle:::::

Ooooh, didn't wanna be the first reviewer really. Plagued by monitor problems, i thought it was gonna go tits up at one point. Ginger gave the choice of carrying on playing or leaving the stage as he couldn't hear shit and spent a good bit of the gig on his knees trying to hear something.

He definitley perked up later tho and some storming numbers were delivered. Crowd was a bit quiet but there was some classic banter. Ginger gave up on the microphone at one point and shouted from the stage at one point!!!

Laika Dog were fantastic I thought.

Great to meet up with people again.

Overall, had a good nite but was slightly disappointed with the set - was nearly ruined with technical probs.

[Col]

[Col]

[shadow]

sorry col....but im glad you were the first to post about newcastle...it was not a good gig...and i so wanted it to be having seen a cracker at sheffield
youre right about the monitor problems but i thought the whole sound was absolutely shite.....feedback,mushy sound,crap and fluctuating levels,disappearing vocals,inaudable lead breaks and i dont think i heard the bass all night
however G and the band battled on heroically and it was still evident how good they are....the only fairly consistent factor was the drum sound and thank god denzel is such an absolutely top player that he held the whole thing together
as for the main man he was immense in his handling of the situation and the crowd
oh yes the crowd.....fun loving party city i think not....G had to work his bollocks off to get a reaction(which he did do by the end) .....they were so dead it was unreal....it was so obvious it was a nightmare for the guys the crowd could have helped...but no...G had to do it all....well done that man....no i dont think well be going back to Gs hometown again....what a letdown.....to top it all the bouncer in charge upstairs did his absolute best to piss everybody off and stop them enjoying themselves
STILL HAVE GREAT FAITH IN THIS BAND

[Col]

Yeah the crowd were pretty quiet, VERY quiet at times. I'd say they were appreciative though - apart from the angry heckler at the back.

5 minutes walk up the road there was 55,000 watching a footie match. How many would have gone to the gig last nite, we'll never know. Would it have mad any difference? - dunno.

The crowd weren't to blame for the shit sound and the shit mix tho.

[SteveP]

from my perspective, the only time I've heard good quality sound in academy 2 is when I stood at the bar for The Almighty (December '06 vintage) and the Quireboys last December, out from under the cover of the overhang etc, it just blasts the living tits off you, it actually took 2 days to get my hearing back to normal after Therapy the other weekend cos it was just so fuckin loud.

I have to admit, once it got to about 10 o clock, the atmosphere in there got better, mostly to do with the fact the match was finished and we'd beaten the smogs and we still have a chance of staying up, I know that's deffo what happened to me.

Only disappointment to me was the aforementioned shite sound on stage for the band.

BTW, all credit and kudos to Denzil on Drinking In The Daytime, fuck me, how good was he on that song?!!!

Oh, and how good was Dick Decent acting out the lyrics to Yeah Yeah Yeah!!

and err, Col, you haven't changed your sig yet, or have you forgotten what it is?????

[Arabiandisco]

What, no reviews from Winchester yet? Honestly sometimes I think i'm the only 'hearts fan on the south coast. Although obviously not last night as 120 fellow fans squeezed into The Railway which as it turns out is only about the size of my shed. I enjoyed Idiot 3 and they had the best sound of the night. After them Laika Dog came on and the volume was raised to ear bleeding level with one of the worst sound mixes i've ever heard. It was only the fact that I have both of their albums that I recognised any of the songs. Tonys vocals were way too low and the guitar too high. But they still rocked. Ginger and the band had a little better sound. Ginger commented on the size and suggested that perhaps they were a little too big to be playing there and that next time they'd try and get somewhere bigger. Setlist was about the same as the other gigs. Hearing the Valor songs reminded me how awesome that album is and the SG5 closers really hammers home that Ginger should have stuck with that side project. Loved the Sonic Shake. The venue was too small for them to go off so Ginger had us all turn around and face the back wall as we shouted for more. Then we all turned back and cheered as though it was a big surprise that they'd come back on. Oh, and some girl got Ginger to ask her boyfriend to propose to her. It not sure he actually ever did and Ginger took the piss out of the sanctity of marriage. Oh well. Then Ginger said they'd be back in September, i'm assuming as the 'hearts in support of the new album. That's enough from me. My ears are still ringing and my brain hurts.

After London, I was gonna embark on the long trek from Basingstoke, but sadly it was sold out...

[Col]

I have to admit, once it got to about 10 o clock, the atmosphere in there got better, mostly to do with the fact the match was finished and we'd beaten the smogs and we still have a chance of staying up, I know that's deffo what happened to me.

There was only a couple of wobblygobs in there. Even Ginger wasn't that fussed about the score.

and err, Col, you haven't changed your sig yet, or have you forgotten what it is?????

Aye, cut your job and get a hair!!!!

[29xTheJames]

I think along with Andy we must of been only Smoggies there. Felt very outnumber - and I wanted Boro to lose!

Laika Dog were good, although looking at Tonys eyes said it all. He was absolutely gone.

Ginger handled himself like a true pro and master. I honestly wouldnt of blamed him if he threw a fit and stormed off. Which I thought he would.

Col, it appears my lady and myself are featured rather heavily in the photo you posted. Sorry!

Drinking in the Daytime was without a doubt the highlight for me. Its one of my fave songs by any artist...Loved the way Ginger would have lil competitions with Denzel to see if he could end the song in time (anyone else notice that?)...that guitar solo Jase did, JESUS WAS IT AMAZING...who the hell kept shouting lame jokes from the bar...at one point cause of mic problems Ginger leaned right over me and Velvet and started singing, Velvet and me were like screaming school girls to say the least!

Photos to come soon.

[Col]

You are in them all mate

[29xTheJames]

Oh dear I am sorry! But the photo of Ginger pointing is what I meant from when he leaned over us. So close, yet so far!

Heres Velvet, myself and his mate Juian





Notice the scribbled out song???

















Of course I have a load more.

[Jason_scorching_past]

The chorus of "This Too Will Pass" makes me think of Radiohead's High and Dry -

Don't leave me high, don't leave me dry

This too will pass, ...(whatever the next bit is)

Probably doesn't sound much like it really but I kept hearing that when they played it.

[Ean]

Notice the scribbled out song???

What about it?