TCT Sessions, Royal Albert Hall
Amy Macdonald, Newton Faulkner, David Gray and Joan Armatrading - four artists that made the Teenage Cancer Trust's last 2008 concert seem like a great idea for Clare's Birthday this year.
It was a brilliant night - with Holly Rose, Sandy Thom, and The Who thrown in for good measure as well. The last three were a surprise for us - but on the TCT website the billing had changed, and the concert had become "The Who - Acoustic - with guests".
Highlights for me were Sandy Thom (amazing voice, with "Punk Rocker" sung partly a capella - stunningly), Amy MacDonald (great set of favourites from the CD - I love "Run", and it was brilliant - thanks Amy!! - Loved the drummer's kit: a box he sat on), and Newton Faulkner (mind blowing guitar playing, and brilliant voice - acoustic "Bohemian Rhapsody" was cool / hilarious). TBH, you could have put those three on again for me.
David Gray was OK (poor guy had problems with a descending mike on his piano...). Joan Armatrading was good (but I didn't know her new blues stuff, and it wasn't catchy). The Who were really good, with some really energetic stuff from Pete Townshend.
The audience were intriguing - average age us+, and I got the feeling that on average they didn't know any of the acts?!!! While Amy MacDonald got the tempo really stomping, everyone was just sitting still in their seats. HOW? K+G would have been well embarrassed with me Also - at 7.30, loads of seats were empty. It did seem full by the interval, but you'd missed two of the best acts by then?!
Mind you, to be fair, three weeks ago I wasn't exactly a world expert on AM and NF - but Clare got their CDs for her birthday as well, so we were singing along happily
So - thanks TCT for a great evening!
Got home 1.30am - zzzzzzz