"The Forty Year MoT" - Mike + the Mechanics celebrate forty years on the road. Concert review and images by Alan Hewitt. Memorabilia: TWR Archive.

TWR was back on the road with the Mechanics earlier this year, taking in a couple of venues we had never been to before…change is as good as a rest isn't it?

First stop, Stockton On Tees and a beautiful venue; The Globe which is one of those rarities these days a fully restored vintage theatre, gorgeous both inside and out. I was not expecting such a lovely venue.

Our seats were excellent, centrally placed about half way back and ideal for viewing and taking a few photographs to accompany the review (more on that subject later!). The band took to the stage and it was surprising to see Mike hobble on on crutches. Apparently he had broken his hip whilst skiing a few weeks before the tour and had had a hip replacement. All credit to him as you can imagine the amount of discomfort he must have been suffering!

With a forty year year catalogue to choose from the band opted to get under way with Beggar On A Beach Of Gold always a favourite and tonight was no exception. The band always plays to it's strengths and the set list drew heavily on the material which the band knew the fans would want to hear. Even so, a couple of songs did take me by surprise including a rocky Get Up which was way too early in the set for my liking. Other surprises were in the shape of new songs beginning with Song For You, Song For Me, a beautiful ballad delivered with passion by Andrew Roachford. The tour advertising promised “a drift into Genesis” and it wasn't long in coming as Land Of Confusion made it's appearance. I admit this isn't my favourite song by any stretch but here it gave the entire band a chance to flex their muscles especially young Mr Nic Collins on drums along with a suitably over the top performance from Tim Howar.

It was roughly at this juncture that something happened which has NEVER happened to me at a Mechanics gig before: a member of the security staff approached me and asked me to put my camera away. This took me unawares as pre show enquiries to no less than three members of staff had indicated that photography was OK. Nor were there any “No photography” signs on display at the venue. I duly complied, only for another member of staff to approach me barely five minutes later to confiscate the camera! Let's just say that rather spoilt the rest of what should have been a very enjoyable evening.

The rest of the set included many familiar favourites and I was delighted to hear Silent Running restored to its original dramatic version. East And West Of The Sun was the other new offering and it bodes well for a new album with another superb vocal from Tim.

The ubiquitous acoustic medley went down very well too featuring snippets from Nobody Knows, Invisible Touch and Everybody Gets A Second Chance with the full band in acoustic mode. Out Of The Blue was one of the stand out tracks this time round; a latter day Mechanics classic. Follow You Follow Me and Living Years brought a few tears to my eye for personal reasons.

Roachford antics during Cuddly Toy were hilarious and the show was rounded off in fine form by All I Need Is A Miracle and Over My Shoulder (featuring a fine whistling solo from Luke Juby) and finally the audience participation number that is Word Of Mouth.

Musically and visually this was a band fully on their game. Lit tastefully but simply the emphasis as always for the Mechanics was on the music and the songs and these were there in spades!

Oh, and I retrieved my camera at the end of the gig, photos intact as you can see!

Next stop my home town; Liverpool. Now to ensure no repetition of the above scenario once again I checked on the photography situation pre gig and was told that photography on a mobile phone was fine but no cameras - didn't make sense to me but I complied.

The show was a carbon copy of the one at Stockton minus the fight which had broken out there in the audience during the second half which was another (unwelcome) first at a Mechanics gig. Mike was evidently making a full recovery from his surgery and there was nothing wrong with his guitar playing, he traded off some impressive licks with Anto Drennan throughout the evening.

The band were once again playing to the strength in depth of their back catalogue with pretty much the whole card of hits played. For me the highlights included the two new songs : Song For Me, Song For You and East And West Of The Sun both of which are good indications of the quality a new Mechanics album will bring. They showcased the talents of both singers who shone throughout the evening.

But they weren't the only ones though. Luke Juby is a veritable tour de force on both bass and keyboards and is no slouch in the vocal department either. Young Mr Collins propelled the band throughout the entire evening with a drumming display which would have made his old man proud. Anto Drennan too maintained a solid presence throughout, swapping from electric to acoustic guitar and bass when the need arose.

Most of the set was greeted like an old friend by the partisan crowd, many of whom, like myself, have been following the band since they started all those many years ago but even so, some songs still make you shiver. Silent Running was one such for me and as soon as the keyboard intro started, the goosebumps made their presence felt. Living Years too hit the mark, especially as it had been the anniversary of my own father’ s death a few weeks before.

The acoustic medley was another delight and I even liked the slice of Invisible Touch (!) and the final run through of Cuddly Toy including both Roachford and Collins's antics and All I Need Is A Miracle should have been enough to send is us all away happy. But of course, there was the small matter of the encores wasn't there?

The ubiquitous Mr Juby got another chance to shine with his whistling solo during Over My Shoulder and the entire audience got theirs during the finale of Word Of Mouth, a rabble rousing ending to send everyone home on a high.

A few weeks to recharge the batteries and then off to the Big Smoke for the band's final UK show at what is affectionately known as the Albert Pub or the Kensington Working Men’s Club or The Royal Albert Hall to the rest of you. Another favourite stomping ground of mine although I had never seen the Mechanics here before.

Word (of mouth) had got around beforehand that both Phil Collins and Tony Banks were present although I didn't catch a glimpse of them but Mike did confirm their presence from the stage later in the gig.

Not that this detracted from the band although I am sure Nic must have been determined to up his already phenomenal game in the presence of his old man.

Taking our excellent seats with a great view across the stage I was anticipating another excellent evening’s entertainment. First of all, gone were the ludicrous restrictions on photography and I was free to try and capture some moments for posterity which I did I think - you can judge for yourselves folks.

Musically the show didn't alter from the one I had seen in Stockton and Liverpool. The band were at the top of their game, totally match fit after almost a month on the road. Mike was relaxed and comfortable cracking jokes about his accident.

Once again the new songs went down very well with the London audience, one which is normally reluctant to embrace new material - a very good sign indeed! The band didn't really put a foot wrong in terms of song selection and presentation. Hit followed hit and even the “drift into Genesis” was well delivered. I admit I am no fan of Land Of Confusion but you couldn't fault the gusto with which it was delivered by Tim Howar. Invisible Touch stripped back to acoustic elements worked surprisingly well too.

The band appeared totally relaxed and enjoying themselves and why not? They certainly deserve it as they put in 100% every night. By the time we got to the encores the band had the audience in the palm of their hand - two hours had just flown by which is always a sign of enjoyment and I certainly enjoyed myself tonight.

My thanks to my partner in crime on this tour: Sara Bridgman. Thanks as always to the band and crew and also to “She Who Must Be Obeyed”, Jo Greenwood for making much of this possible. Here's to the next one!