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Music GIG REVIEWS
For further reviews, visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk
Prince LG Arena, Birmingham
Given that Prince is one of the most influential recording artists of all
time, it’s hardly surprising that the announcement of his return to Birmingham
after a nineteen-year absence was greeted with a veritable
frenzy of expectation. But could the reality of his long-awaited return
live up to the expectation?
The answer was a resounding yes.
Throwing himself body and soul into a mammoth thirty-four-song set,
the now-fifty-five-year-old ‘godfather of funk’ ably illustrated both his
seemingly endless talent for self-reinvention and his pretty much unrivalled
ability as a multi-instrumentalist and live performer.
A set by no means short of surprises got off to a characteristically
playful start, courtesy of three false-alarm dips of the lights. Entering
the stage to the pounding bass riff of Funk’N’Roll, and decked out in a
fitted white suit and flared trousers, Prince (complete with full-bodied
afro) channelled the spirit of his icon, Jimmi Hendrix. This was a performance
refreshingly free from frills or special effects, the live experience
instead being allowed to speak for itself.
The set combined funked-up reinventions of popular crowd-pleasers -
1999, Controversy, Kiss - with extended renditions of lesser-known
album tracks such as Raspberry Beret, and tantalisingly brief mashups
spanning the entirety of Prince’s eclectic back-catalogue.
What stood out most, though, beyond the artist’s undisputed showmanship,
was his musicianship. Shifting from virtuoso guitar solos
reminiscent of Hendrix in his prime to stripped-back acoustic solos
highlighting his pitch-perfect vocal delivery, Prince presented a set
marked by chameleonic shifts in style, texture and mood, successfully
steering the line between self-indulgence and celebration.
Special mention, too, must go to the all-female backing band, 3rdEye-
Girl. Lead guitarist Donna Grantis’ intricate and unremittingly energetic
solo sequences were a joy to behold.
Highlights of the evening included a full-bodied funk-rock reimagining
of the 1999 album track Something In The Water (Does Not Compute),
a richly soulful performance of How Come You Don’t Call Me Anymore?,
and the hotly-anticipated versions of ’80s pop classics 1999,
Kiss and When Doves Cry. But the pinnacle of the evening came in the
form of an epic live rendition of Purple Rain, which combined richly
layered instrumentation with soaring guitar solo sequences reminiscent
of a later-era Pink Floyd.
An awe-inspiring performance! Katherine Ewing ■■■■■
Neil Finn Symphony Hall, Birmingham
With teatowels and tote bags for sale alongside tee shirts on the merchandise
stand, it would be easy to dismiss Neil Finn as a middleaged,
middle-of-the-road act. But while his audience demographic
might suggest otherwise, the brilliant New Zealand singer-songwriter
is anything but MOR. His former (and now on-off) band, Crowded
House, always had far more depth and edge than a perfunctory assessment
would suggest, and Finn’s recent solo album, Dizzy
Heights, adds a variety of contemporary twists and textures to his typically
melodic palate. But if the album is a triumph, this live show totally
eclipsed it. Ably supported (as well as rejuvenated) by a formidable
backing band featuring his wife and a group of musicians young
enough to be his offspring (his two sons are regular cohorts), Finn
showcased material from all areas of his CV in an inspired and inspiring
performance. Bookending the curfew-breaking one hundred-andfifty-minute
set with stunning solo acoustic readings of Crowded
House classics World Where You Live and Better Be Home Soon, he
slipped as effortlessly between piano and electric/acoustic guitar as
he did between the various phases of his career. Indeed, it was surprising
how easily the thirty-plus years of tunes slotted together;
whether it was energetic rock (Locked Out, I Got You), psychedelic
pop (Divebomber, Suffer Never), piano balladry (Message To My Girl)
or simply the Weather (With You). Finn’s genial bonhomie - he performed
the requested Enz song Six Months In A Leaky Boat despite it
being one of his brother Tim’s tunes - further enhanced the experience.
So, too, did the musicians, who seemed to be enjoying the
evening every bit as much as the audience. Guitarist Jesse Sheehan
even got an extended solo slot while Finn retuned his instrument.
In short, there really was some-Finn for everyone to enjoy.
Steve Adams ■■■■■
Music LISTINGS
For full listing information on gigs,
including times and dates,
visit www.whatsonlive.co.uk
SUN 1 JUN
MAKUINI AND THE
HOODOO MEN The
Robin, Bilston
SMOKE FAIRIES Hare &
Hounds, Birmingham
TOUMANI & SIDIKI DIA-
BATE Warwick Arts Centre,
Coventry
BLAKE & BRAZIL Irish
Centre, Birmingham
ROO PANES The Yardbird
Jazz Club, Birmingham
BACKYARD MUSIC BOYS
Oozells Square, B’ham
STEVE AJAO’S CLUB
BEBOP Spotted Dog,
Birmingham
THE DAVE FARRANT
BAND, BLANK PARODY &
SECOND TRIP The Actress
& Bishop, B’ham
COWER, HOUNDS!, ONE
LIFE LEFT & KRITICAL
CHARGE The Flapper,
Birmingham
MON 2 JUN
THE DUNNETT/BAXTER
BIG BAND The Yardbird
Jazz Club, Birmingham
HOT POTATO FEATURING
YEDO GIBSON Birmingham
Conservatoire
CARNABY STREET: THE
CONCERT Solihull Arts
Complex
VERSES The Asylum,
Birmingham
TUE 3 JUN
HOLLIS BROWN Hare &
Hounds, Birmingham
ANGELA BROWN The
Robin, Bilston
KROCK - THREE OBJECTS
IN A CONCERT HALL
Birmingham Conservatoire
HOWLING BELLS Hare &
Hounds, Birmingham
JOHN FULLBRIGHT The
Glee Club, Birmingham
THE MARRAKESH EX-
PRESS Kitchen Garden
Cafe, Birmingham
THE WEDDING CRASHERS
The Jam House, B’ham
WED 4 JUN
THE SEARCHERS Tamworth
Assembly Rooms
JONNY COLE'S BLACK
COUNTRY BEACH PARTY
The Robin, Bilston
THEA GILMORE Artrix
Bromsgrove
ALPHA MALE TEA PARTY,
MOUNT FUJI, WAX FEA-
TURES & POCKET APOCA-
LYPSE The Flapper,
Birmingham
SAM BAKER Hare &
Hounds, Birmingham
THE BLUES BAND Solihull
Arts Complex
PUBLIC ENEMY The Assembly,
Leamington
Spa
UPRAWR 4TH BIRTHDAY
The Asylum, B’ham
FRANÇOIS THÉBERGE
Birmingham Conservatoire
ANTA The Tin Music And
Arts, Coventry
ABANDOMAN - MOON
ROCK BOOMBOX TOUR
Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton
WOODEN SHJIPS O2
Academy, Birmingham
ALLUSONDRUGS, MILK
TEETH & FIZZY BLOOD
The Actress & Bishop,
Birmingham
THE SPEAKEASY Kitchen
Garden Cafe, B’ham
LAURENCE JONES BAND
The Assembly, Leamington
Spa
THE FAMILY RAIN Hare &
Hounds, Birmingham
LUCAS D & THE GROOVE
GHETTO The Jam
House, Birmingham
HANSU-TORI Ort Cafe,
Birmingham
THU 5 JUN
THE BEE GEES SATURDAY
NIGHT FEVER PARTY WITH
STAYIN' ALIVE Crewe
Lyceum
THE MOVE The Robin,
Bilston
THE BOHEMIANS - A
NIGHT OF QUEEN Solihull
Arts Complex
BIG WOLF BAND The
Roadhouse, B’ham
ANGEL OLSEN Hare &
Hounds, Birmingham
MONKATHON FINALE The
Yardbird Jazz Club,
Birmingham
WARREN SMITH WITH
SPECIAL GUESTS Hare &
Hounds, Birmingham
REMI HARRIS TRIO & TG
COLLECTIVE Warwick
Arts Centre, Coventry
JILL AND KATE The Actress
& Bishop, B’ham
MR BEN The Jam
House, Birmingham
MJ HIBBETT, GRACE
PETRIE & GAVIN OSBORN
Ort Cafe, Birmingham
FRI 6 JUN
CBSO HEROES AND SU-
PERHEROES Symphony
Hall, Birmingham
THE INTENTIONS The
Jam House, B’ham
MOSTLY AUTUMN The
Robin, Bilston
HENRY PRIESTMAN Huntingdon
Hall, Worcester
LONDON GRAMMAR Civic
Hall, Wolverhampton
NICK MULVEY Civic Hall,
Wolverhampton
VOODOO ROOM Artrix,
Bromsgrove
THEA GILMORE The Assembly,
Leamington
Spa
HOZIER O2 Academy,
Birmingham
PUTTING ON THE RITZ
Upton House & Gardens,
Warwickshire
FOREST Hare & Hounds,
Birmingham
PIAF IN CABARET Theatre
Severn, Shrewsbury
THE RONALDOS Fleet
Street Kitchen, B’ham
MISTY'S BIG ADVENTURE
Hare & Hounds, B’ham
FRAN THE MAN Irish
Centre, Birmingham
JOHNNY 2 BAD Irish Centre,
Birmingham
HOT RED CHILI PEPPERS
The Marr's Bar,
Worcester
THE SUPERSKAS
Newhampton Arts Centre,
Wolverhampton
MELLOW PEACHES, CHRIS
CLEVERLEY & ELLIS TAL-
BOT Ort Cafe, B’ham
THE DESERT MONKEYS
The River Rooms,
Stourbridge
THE QUO The Roadhouse,
Birmingham
THE SHAPES, DOMESTIC
BLESS & HUFFY Route
44, Birmingham
BLUES BOY DAN OWEN
The Tin Music And Arts,
Coventry
THE YAMAHA SCHOLARS
Symphony Hall, B’ham
JACQUI DANKWORTH The
Roses Theatre,
Tewkesbury
THE JAKE LEG JUG BAND
The Water’s Edge
Bandstand, B’ham
MILOS Malvern Theatres
SAT 7 JUN
THE INTENTIONS The
Jam House, B’ham
THE JENTS The Slug and
Lettuce, Birmingham
LIMEHOUSE LIZZY The
Robin, Bilston
THE TREORCHY MALE
VOICE CHOIR Royal Spa
Centre, Leamington
Spa
CARLTON MALE VOICE
CHOIR Huntingdon Hall,
Worcester
RHYS CHATHAM'S A SE-
CRET ROSE Birmingham
Town Hall
ROCK ‘N’ ROLL PARADISE
The Roses Theatre,
Tewkesbury
SYMPHONY SOUNDS
Symphony Hall, B’ham
NICK OLIVERI The Institute,
Birmingham
NICK MALCOLM QUARTET
The Hive, Shrewsbury
DRENGE Kasbah,
Coventry
FABIO, BRYAN G & LENZ-
MAN Hare & Hounds,
Birmingham
WHOLE LOTTA LED Ludlow
Assembly Rooms,
Shropshire
MAETLOAF The River
Rooms, Stourbridge
SWEET BABOO Warwick
Arts Centre, Coventry
FOLLOW YOU HOME O2
Academy, Birmingham
THE ELO EXPERIENCE Artrix,
Bromsgrove
BBC BIG BAND Bedworth
Civic Hall
TASKERS, THE MONICAS
& SIERRA HOTEL The
Flapper, Birmingham
THE FATHER TEDS Irish
Centre, Birmingham
BROOKE SHARKEY, ADAM
BEATTIE & LEANDER
JONES Ort Cafe, B’ham
BLOODSTOCK FESTIVAL'S
METAL TO THE MASSES
SEMI FINAL The Roadhouse,
Birmingham
DAVID COSLETT & JOSH
KEMP Hare & Hounds,
Birmingham
THE CLONED STONES
Route 44, Birmingham
For full music listings in the West Midlands, visit. www.whatsonlive.co.uk 17