Nottingham Sep 30th Show

[David Martin]

A quick one before I go to get my head drilled... (dentist)

What a show! If you don't have a ticket yet, do what it takes to get one and go...

Slick, mega powerful sound, Cliff in great voice (and boy is he still energetic and fit), and the Shads an absolute powerhouse of vocal and instrumental energy... so good to see everyone back together and happy!

If you want to hear an accurate rendition of all the old stuff, then play the cd, but if you want an exciting and dynamic reinterpretation 50 years on... go for this and if you can't, buy the DVD when it emerges...

A more detailed comment (if you want to read it) later... just let me know.

(A special word of appreciation for Warren and Keith who added vocal power on occasions and subtle embellishments on percussion, harmonica, accordion, a strings/brass... really really good. Listen out for them... And Mark solid and powerful as ever.)

[StuartD]

Hi David

Couldn't agree more. Excellent show; full of energy, professionalism and quality. Cliff in fine voice- I can't believe some people doubted he would be - and the Shads just as good as ever. I am off again to Sheffield on 14th and can't wait. The Tour Brochure is very well put together and a well worth the money. I just wish it was 1959 and i had 50 years to come rather than this being the last time.

Brilliant

Regards

Stuart

[steve.t]

hi david,great to hear you enjoyed the show,cant wait for oct 15th sheff.looking forward to the rest of your comments but dont give too much away till we see for ourselves.cliff`s world tour concert was on bio channell last night but only caught last 10mins or so due to watching footy & wasn`t aware it on,but the old voice still sounded good.
there`s been a few threads from people not wanting to go to the live shows but in my view you cant beat good live shows.cd`s etc are fine for the house or in the car but there`s no bigger buzz than a live show.

steve.

[cdma1014]

Hi David,

I am glad to hear that you enjoyed the concert. I am very very sorry that I missed Cliff and The Shadows in Nottingham
on 30th Sept.
I really wanted to go there and had a ticket Block AB A 24 and have dreamed to see Cliff and The Shadows
from front row in England for 48 years.
However, I live on welfare now and my case worker did not let me go to England to see Cliff and The Shadows.
He visited me to tell me that I could go to England by using my mileage air ticket between Tokyo and London
on Monday afternoon(29th).
It was too late to go and I could not get to Nottingham on time for the performance.
Very very disappointed and sad.

Regards,
Yaeko

[David Martin]

Oh Yaeko I am so sorry to hear that...

[drakula63]

Well, what can I possibly say that probably hasn't been said already? What I can say is, thank goodness; I can now read all the other reviews and comments and look at the online photos and video clips!!!! It can only mean one thing: yes, last night I went to see Cliff and the Shadows at the Nottingham Arena. I am going to write this without having read any other reviews or comments, as I don't want to be influenced. Sorry, by the way, if this isn't up to my usual high literary standard (?!!!), as I've only had four hours' sleep and those were on a sofa. Nice comfy sofa, mind.

Anyway...

The concert. ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!!!!!! In thirty years of concert-going, last night's was one of the best I have ever attended. Almost didn't get there on time, due to massive traffic congestion going in to Nottingham to the Goose Fair. But, with ten minutes to spare, we made it. Good seats, quite near the front on the floor. Loved the intro, good build-up and then they were off. We Say Yeah was a brilliant opening number. The sound, the screens. Amazing. The rapport on stage was absolutely classic.

Bruce: There's a hell of a sound coming out of my amp.
Hank: Quick someone, record it!

They should have been comedians!

From a distance, Cliff looked 30. Even close up he could have been a man in his early 50s - not almost 70!!!! The voice is still great too. Hitting some high notes near the end of the gig that must have surprised many! The Shads; incredible. Bruce using the acoustic more on stage than he has in the past 40 years. All in the name of authenticity. Hank playing better than ever - switching to a grey/white Strat at one point and the green 12 string Burns for On The Beach. Brian, what can I say? The man just gets better. He makes it look so effortless, so easy. Which it is. For him. he really is the Guv'nor. He plays with the fluidity and dexterity of someone half his age and the skill and feel and grace of a mature musician. His sound was unbelievable - you could FEEL those drums! Warren, probably the most understated and subtle of all the Shadows keyboard players, hidden behind his music stand for most of the show, but emerging to play harmonica, accordian, percussion, acoustic guitar, ship's bell. As Hank quipped: "A man who clearly hasn't made his mind up!" Fantasic. As was the other on-stage keyboard player. Keith Hayman, who helped fill out the sound. And Griff, as reliable and melodic as ever. What a band!!!!!

Of all of their reunions, I think this was the best. The perfect choice of material, all in the perfect order and played perfectly. Perfect. What an incredible evening and great to see hundreds of people getting up and dancing in the aisles and at the front for the last three songs. Cliff and the Shadows 2009. Absolutely brilliant. I really cannot imagine how or why anyone could be disappointed. It was fantastic. And we're doing it all again in two weeks!!

Thanks to all the Shadows, their associates and Cliff. A truly memorable night. Now I shall go and read all the other reviews and comments. Anyone who has chosen not to go to this tour, a shame. But buy the live DVD and see what you missed.

Bye for now...

[gogarrio]

I like these posts.

[AlanMcKillop]

Great stuff, looking forward to next Friday in Glasgow.

[kittycph]

It's good to hear, that the standard still is as high as it was Friday 25th at TheO2. As I read the reviews, they even get better and better.
Look forward to see them again 21st November in Copenhagen.

[dave robinson]

It's good to read a review like that, thanks for posting.