Robin Trower - Manchester Academy April 28th 2006
Setlist: Twice Removed From Yesterday / Hannah / Roads To Freedom / Too Much Joy / Islands / Day Of The Eagle / Bridge Of Sighs / 20th Century Blues / Victims Of The Fury / Too Rolling Stoned / Go My Way / Another Time / Little Bit Of Sympathy // Lady Love / Daydream / What’s Your Name
It’s always a big problem going to see someone you’ve admired over many years.
I will concede that it may not quite be on a par with ending world hunger, bringing peace to all the places religious nuts are bitch-slapping each other, or even finding a cure for [InsertDisease of choice name here]. It may not even be on a par with uncovering who shot JFK, proving that man did/did not (Delete as applicable) walk on the moon, or announcing to the world exactly which golf-loving movie star made his wolf dance during a massage at a Scottish hotel. Damn, I’m not even sure if it’s as big a problem as the teabag bursting in your mug, but hot-diggetty, it had certainly been keeping me awake for several nights preceding the evening of April 28 th 2006. And, before you accuse me of sniffing the ant powder, I am just as sober as you are right now!
It’s always a big problem going to see someone you’ve admired over many years.
I will concede that it may not quite be on a par with ending world hunger, bringing peace to all the places religious nuts are bitch-slapping each other, or even finding a cure for [InsertDisease of choice name here]. It may not even be on a par with uncovering who shot JFK, proving that man did/did not (Delete as applicable) walk on the moon, or announcing to the world exactly which golf-loving movie star made his wolf dance during a massage at a Scottish hotel. Damn, I’m not even sure if it’s as big a problem as the teabag bursting in your mug, but hot-diggetty, it had certainly been keeping me awake for several nights preceding the evening of April 28 th 2006. And, before you accuse me of sniffing the ant powder, I am just as sober as you are right now!
Davey Pattison
You see, I have been listening to Robin Trower for years and never expected to actually see him play live. I had thought that I may possibly catch a gig in the US, but that would have required stocks of preserves that I simply do not have. Last year, I actually missed his UK tour because I was in America at the time! And ‘they’ say that there’s no God. Of course there is. God is necessary to keep us all down. But, I don’t want to get into that particular rant right now. Ask me again, later.
So, here we are, Manchester Academy 3, on a surprisingly mild Friday evening at the arse-end of April ’06. Was this all going to be a big disappointment? How come that in the space of a month, I will be seeing live, Robin Trower, Dave Matthews and Journey, each one for the first time? And, what is with £2.80 for a warm can of Guinness in a plastic beaker? All important questions, but none so vital as: Who would be singing with Trower tonight?
My choice would have to be the wonderful Davey Pattison. I really think that Davey is one of the best singers in the business, and has been for a long, long time. I first heard him on the Gamma stuff and then, of course, on Passion, which I still think (in spite of the very ‘80s production style) is a great recording. Now, how about some crazy statistics? Davey, no matter how good he is, will still only be the third best singer that Trower has had in his band. That sounds like a bad thing, but in this case, it isn’t: James Dewar… Jack Bruce… Davey Pattison. I rest my case. James Dewar had the sweetest voice this side of Paul Rodgers, whilst Jack Bruce, more or less, invented the rock vocal, as we know it. Davey is right in there next to Jack Bruce and James Dewar. I’d take that kind of rating, any day. Ironically, he’ll still only be the third greatest Scottish vocalist that Trower has had in his band. Funny old thing, life.
Well, imagine my surprise when, who should take to the stage with Mr Trower, but Mr Pattison. Nice. With Dave Bronze on bass, and Pete Thompson keeping the beat, this was obviously not going to be half-assed; this was a very serious band. So, as long as Davey could still sing, and Robin could still play, we were in for a hell of a gig.
So, here we are, Manchester Academy 3, on a surprisingly mild Friday evening at the arse-end of April ’06. Was this all going to be a big disappointment? How come that in the space of a month, I will be seeing live, Robin Trower, Dave Matthews and Journey, each one for the first time? And, what is with £2.80 for a warm can of Guinness in a plastic beaker? All important questions, but none so vital as: Who would be singing with Trower tonight?
My choice would have to be the wonderful Davey Pattison. I really think that Davey is one of the best singers in the business, and has been for a long, long time. I first heard him on the Gamma stuff and then, of course, on Passion, which I still think (in spite of the very ‘80s production style) is a great recording. Now, how about some crazy statistics? Davey, no matter how good he is, will still only be the third best singer that Trower has had in his band. That sounds like a bad thing, but in this case, it isn’t: James Dewar… Jack Bruce… Davey Pattison. I rest my case. James Dewar had the sweetest voice this side of Paul Rodgers, whilst Jack Bruce, more or less, invented the rock vocal, as we know it. Davey is right in there next to Jack Bruce and James Dewar. I’d take that kind of rating, any day. Ironically, he’ll still only be the third greatest Scottish vocalist that Trower has had in his band. Funny old thing, life.
Well, imagine my surprise when, who should take to the stage with Mr Trower, but Mr Pattison. Nice. With Dave Bronze on bass, and Pete Thompson keeping the beat, this was obviously not going to be half-assed; this was a very serious band. So, as long as Davey could still sing, and Robin could still play, we were in for a hell of a gig.
Opening with a song like Twice Removed is a one big gun in your arsenal. Following it up with Hannah and Roads to Freedom could, in some circles, be taken as grandstanding. A change of pace came with Too Much Joy and Islands, allowing us a chance to catch our collective breath, which was just as well considering the audience was almost entirely comprised of people ‘of a certain age’, who were all only one cough away from an iron lung. That, however, turned out to be the calm before the storm. Day Of The Eagle, Bridge Of Sighs, 20th Century Blues, Victims Of The Fury, Too Rolling Stoned. My God! Does it get any better than that? Not many, Uncle! I glanced around me, expecting to see people being stretchered out, amid a flurry of paramedics, oxygen masks and weeping, wailing relatives. “Tox screen! Chem. 7!” I shouted out in my excitement…
Maybe I exaggerate, slightly. Or, maybe not… Muahahahaha!
Where was I? Oh, yeah. Too Rolling Stoned… Bloody excellent! And, we were only half way through the set. This was classic stuff. Day Of The Eagle/Bridge Of Sighs had me as close to enjoying myself as I am ever likely to get. Victims Of The Fury and Too Rolling Stoned almost had me in tears! Any doubts I may have had, coming in, about Davey’s voice, or Robin’s playing were shameful horrors of the past, never to be mentioned again. This was superb fare. For me, Little Bit of Sympathy was probably the high point of the main set. Davey’s voice was just sublime on it.
Maybe I exaggerate, slightly. Or, maybe not… Muahahahaha!
Where was I? Oh, yeah. Too Rolling Stoned… Bloody excellent! And, we were only half way through the set. This was classic stuff. Day Of The Eagle/Bridge Of Sighs had me as close to enjoying myself as I am ever likely to get. Victims Of The Fury and Too Rolling Stoned almost had me in tears! Any doubts I may have had, coming in, about Davey’s voice, or Robin’s playing were shameful horrors of the past, never to be mentioned again. This was superb fare. For me, Little Bit of Sympathy was probably the high point of the main set. Davey’s voice was just sublime on it.
They did the going off-stage bit and returned with a fantastic rendition of Lady Love, and a truly outstanding Daydream, the latter taking tonight’s show to new heights. Awesome.
Initially, Davey had seemed nervous and uncertain but, as the band played on; he seemed to find his groove and started having some fun. Robin was all-Robin, and the Bronze/Thompson rhythm section was flawless. I had built up this gig in my mind since I found out about it and got the tickets; I had waited a long time to see this. In spite of all my expectations, this gig exceeded every single one of them. This is a very tight band and, being in the middle of a tour, they are right at the top of their game. Most importantly, they seemed to be having fun, not just going through the motions. That comes out in the playing.
Seeing someone like Trower in such a small venue, packed to the rafters, all hot and sweaty, is how music is meant to be enjoyed. When I’m too old to go to these sorts of events, then I’ll know I’m ready for the dirt nap. In the meantime, I’ll be somewhere near the front.
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
1st May 2006
Initially, Davey had seemed nervous and uncertain but, as the band played on; he seemed to find his groove and started having some fun. Robin was all-Robin, and the Bronze/Thompson rhythm section was flawless. I had built up this gig in my mind since I found out about it and got the tickets; I had waited a long time to see this. In spite of all my expectations, this gig exceeded every single one of them. This is a very tight band and, being in the middle of a tour, they are right at the top of their game. Most importantly, they seemed to be having fun, not just going through the motions. That comes out in the playing.
Seeing someone like Trower in such a small venue, packed to the rafters, all hot and sweaty, is how music is meant to be enjoyed. When I’m too old to go to these sorts of events, then I’ll know I’m ready for the dirt nap. In the meantime, I’ll be somewhere near the front.
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
1st May 2006
About the photographs...
Aside from the fact that Robin Trower is one of the all-time great British guitarists... of all time... ever... he is also known for the amazing array of faces he pulls whilst doing so. This is one of Robin's trademarks and it was lovely to see at Manchester. If I hadn't seen the faces, it wouldn't have been right.