“From The Steppes To Buxton Opera House and beyond!” -
This year’s Steve Hackett UK tour report by our roving reporter Alan Hewitt.
Photographs by Alan Hewitt, Stuart Barnes, Kevin Fearn, David Roberts and Lee
Millward. Memorabilia: TWR Archive.
Well, a UK tour by Steve and of course, TWR had to be in attendance but even
by our normal standards, this year’s jaunt had more than its share of
drama as this review shall reveal.
The opening show of TWR’s part of the tour was at the show in London
at the Shepherds Bush Empire on 14th November. I had deliberately chosen not
to look at any of the spoilers from the preceding shows in Europe and the first
couple in the UK. Therefore I was ready to be surprised by Steve and the band.
And, surprised I certainly was. Even the intro music was a surprises, as we
were treated to the musical part of Last Train To Istanbul from the new album
to herald the band onstage. The show itself opened with Mechanical Bride, which,
I have to say is not my idea of a set opener but the crowd seemed to like it
and it served as an aperitif for the musical feast that we were about to be
served.
Fire On The Moon, already an onstage favourite from the shows earlier in the
year, has grown enormously in stature and kudos to Roger and Nick here who augmented
Steve to perfection on this one. Everyday took us back to the wintry days of
1979 and in fact, with the weather being as it was, it almost felt like we were
back there as Steve took us on this wonderful trip down memory lane - the crowd
greeted the song like a long lost friend and the band obviously were feeing
off the energy coming back to them from the crowd.
Emerald And Ash, without doubt one of the most emotional songs that Steve has
ever written was next, and the entire band, augmented by Amanda Lehmann on vocals
and guitar delivered this one in fine fashion. You could almost feel the emotion
as Steve delivered the vocals and this was a highlight of this and every other
show that I was to see on the tour. Rob’s sax has seldom sounded more
beautiful than it does here. Ghost In The Glass too came across infinitely better
live than it does on the album, Roger’s playing here was simply stunning
- shivers down the spine time!
Another trip back to the dank dark Seventies next, when
yours truly had a full head of hair and it was all the same colour (I
think?!) for Ace Of Wands, an evergreen classic that is not really showing
any signs of age - a bit like Steve himself really! The entire band really
let their hair down on this one. Pollution B continues to serve as the
segue into the marvellous aural evocation of the windswept Steppes and
in turn to the garish portrayal of propaganda and its proponents that
is Slogans.
The pace slowed down a bit for the magnificent tribute to Steve’s
father, Peter that is Serpentine Song, and I am not ashamed to say that
this one brought more than a tear to my eye, it is simply a beautiful
song and played to perfection tonight. Gary’s vocal delivery was
absolutely perfect. Tubehead picked the pace right up again and the band
really let themselves go on this one - who said Steve doesn’t know
how to rock??! |
|
A Hackett show without Spectral Mornings is unthinkable and here it was, once
again in all its glory. It is obvious that Steve never tires of playing this
one and I for one will never tire of listening to it either - still makes the
hairs on the back of my neck stand up every time! Then a trip even further “westward
- agriculturally speakin’” for Firth Of Fifth which was greeted
by rapturous applause from the crowd and deservedly so. Roger and Steve shone
here but so did the rest of the band especially Nick Beggs, whose bass playing
underpinned the song magnificently.
Then a surprise treat; as Steve announced his brother John on stage to accompany
him in an acoustic rendition of Jacuzzi which heralded the beginning of an extended
acoustic set which eventually took in not only Horizons but also Blood On The
Rooftops in all its glory and once again, honours to Gary for a fine performance
which had its usual effect on yours truly!
Even further back in time again for two heft slices from The Lamb… Fly
On A Windshield and Broadway Melody Of 74 both of which were simply superb.
Nick Beggs in particular threatened to bring down the roof with his bass playing
and the rest of the band were not far behind him in the aural vandalism stakes!
Back to the new stuff and a marvellous book ending of two totally contrasting
tracks; Sleepers, the aural “theatre of dreams” where daydreams
and nightmares all combine came first followed by a wonderful demonstration
of solo Chapman “Stick” playing by Nick which led into the raunchy
blues of Still Waters with an onstage show between Nick and Amanda that got
raunchier every night - marvellous stuff! Then the show proper ended and what
other way could you end a Hackett show these days? Well, with Los Endos of course.
This extended and revamped version threatened to devastate the theatre and left
everyone, band and audience alike, cheering for more.
It wasn’t long in coming and Gary’s metronome intro heralded Clocks
and another chance for all of us to ladder our tights in celebration of the
fact that the maestro had returned - better, stronger and more magnificent than
ever. One show, down - only another six to go!
After a couple of days’ well earned rest it was back on the road again
this time to Buxton, home of the famous spa and the equally famous Opera House.
This was a venue I was looking forward to seeing Steve play. I always think
that he comes across better in the more intimate setting of such places personally.
Tonight, however was not one of those nights. Nothing wrong with the performance,
which was top notch again, but rather the audience who were a little too reserved
in their appreciation of the spectacle that was unfolding in front of them.
I was even provoked to ask “Can we clap now?” at one point - but
hey, the band turned in another excellent performance with some fine individual
moments scattered throughout the gig.
I opted not to attend the show in Wolverhampton in view of the fact that the
following day I would have to travel to Glasgow and with the weather turning
increasingly nasty over the two or so preceding days, I played safe. Nonetheless,
the trip from Liverpool to Glasgow was not without its moments of drama - passing
over at least two rivers that had broken their banks was one thing, and on more
than one point the train looked like it was actually swimming but we still got
there - all credit to Virgin Trains for once! I arrived in Glasgow in plenty
of time to meet up with a few old friends and imbibe a few of Glasgow’s
finest non- alcoholic beverages (OK, so you got me - 70S and 80S respectively!)
Then off to the gig.
The Renfrew Ferry is an unlikely setting for a show - a roll-on-roll-off car
ferry “parked” on the banks of the River Clyde. Nonetheless, Steve
likes the place enough to keep on coming back, and indeed I had a thoroughly
enjoyable time there at the 2007 Genesis Convention. The crowd were certainly
much more up for it than they had been at Buxton and it showed, as Steve and
the band seemed much more relaxed and they turned in a superb performance which
had the crowd enthralled from the very start. For me, the highlights of the
show were definitely in the newer material, Emerald And Ash, Fire On The Moon
and simply grew in stature with each and every performance and here they were
given the kind of reception that they really deserve.
Back down to my part of the world next for another gig at the marvellous Pacific
Road Arts Centre. Sadly it looks like we may be losing this venue to Council
cutbacks (shame on you, Wirral Council!) but that didn’t stop the band
putting in another marvellous performance. Once again, the crowd seemed to give
Steve and the band just that extra lift to make the gig a bit out of the ordinary.
The partisan and knowledgeable crowd greeted old and new tracks like with the
kind of sustained enthusiasm that musicians must really relish and from where
I was standing, the band certainly seemed to be in their element.
Another favourite haunt next, the Quays Theatre, part of the Lowry Complex
on Salford Quays in Manchester - within sight of that place which as a true
Scouser, I am forbidden to name! This is a lovely little theatre and acoustically
perfect to and it showed tonight in an impeccable performance. Impeccable that
is except for problems which Steve was having with his amp throughout the first
half of the show which, like Buxton, was in two halves. Steve was obviously
getting more and more frustrated by this problem and he was certainly using
some industrial strength language which we cannot repeat in a family web site
like TWR! That didn’t prevent the rest of the band putting in marvellous
performances which even drew some praise from Chris Squire, who was stood next
to me at one point. In fact, it was quite an interesting night all round as
Chris had brought the new singer in Yes; Benoit David to the gig and I was lucky
enough to meet them both backstage after the show. Also present was Phil Henderson,
who had worked with Steve on the Quiet World album and a future TWR interview
was duly lined up with him as well!
A trip up to the land of “Last Of The Summer Wine” * next for a
gig at the Picturedome in Holmfirth. A strange place for a gig - bitterly cold
during the sound check but it soon warmed up once the audience arrived and once
again it was a delight to see John Hackett there along with his good lady; Katrin
and Steve’s dad; Peter, who was definitely enjoying himself throughout
the gig. The set was by now running like a finely tuned machine with everyone
having their chance to shine. Nick and Amanda’s antics during Still waters
were simply amazing, having a female vocalist in the line up certainly gives
the harmony vocals a great lift - not that the guys can’t carry a tune
because, between them, Steve, Gary and Nick acquitted themselves magnificently
each and every night. It was a treat once again to see John on stage with Steve
or the acoustic set, which by now also included a marvellous rendering of Walking
Away From Rainbows on which Roger shone. Other highlights included marvellous
performances of Spectral Mornings, Every Day as well as newer classics including
Emerald And Ash and Fire On The Moon both of which are destined to remain in
the set for many years to come, I am sure.
| Then it was over - or so I thought until I persuaded myself
(not that I really NEED any persuasion to attend a Hackett gig) to go to
the last show of the tour at Leamington Spa. Another venue I had never been
to before, and a lovely one at that. It was quite an emotional night for
a variety of reasons, not least being that my very good friend, and long
standing Hackett fan; Stuart Waby finally decided to ask his fiancee Di,
to marry him during Blood On The Rooftops. She said “yes” and
as a result, yours truly is to be best man at the wedding! Musically, the
gig was every bit as emotional with fine performances all round. Nick and
Amanda’s antics threatened to get the show X rated again and the rest
of the band were obviously having a great tine, as indeed were the audience
who gave them an enthusiastic reception throughout the show. It was nice
at the end of the gig as Steve announced on stage not only his new partner;
Joanna Lehnmann but also, his mum; June who had only just made it to the
gig in time for Clocks after having broken down on the motorway! |
The Hackett family... |
Then that really was it. Seven magnificent gigs. Why does time have to fly
so quickly when you are having fun, eh? Anyway, I am sure we will all do it
again next year at some point so until then, all that remains is for me to say
my thank you’s to the people who made in possible. So, in no particular
order, thank you to… Steve, Gary, Rob; Amanda; Nick and Roger who put
in stellar performances night after night. John and Katrin Hackett, June Leaney,
Peter Hackett, Nick Clabburn Nick Magnus and Dick Foster for all their help
and support. To Nathalie Pointer the new ( and infinitely better looking) merch
mistress for all her help and kindness. To “Mr” Brian Coles, the
obergruppentourfeuhrer without whom I would certainly be doing something else
instead of Hacketting! To Ben Fenner, “Tigger” Matthews, Richard
Buckland and Steve Barnett without whom we would all be sitting in the dark
and silence at these gigs. To Jo Lehmann for all her kindness and enthusiasm
and above all for her support of Steve during this tough period.
To the fans… Oh; alright then! To Kevin Fearn and Clive Beesley for fulfilling
this year’s chauffeur duties so impeccably. Steph Kennedy, Brian and Alison
Lancaster; Stuart Waby and Di; Kevin and Rachel “The Brat” Powell;
Steve Llewelyn; Steve Hammond and family; Richard Coppola; Paul Gibbon and Jade;
Stuart Barnes; Sarah Dean, Richard and Andrew Nagy and to the photographers
who have kindly given of their work to accompany this feature; Dave Roberts
and Lee Millward, and finally to the many fans who bought the book and were
kind in their comments about it to me at the gigs; see you all next time!
* Trivia Note: “Last Of The Summer Wine” is a BBC TV comedy series,
for our overseas readers.
