You can have a dark side...

About three years ago one of the family told us about a fairly unknown artist who was appearing at the Memorial Hall, and suggested we got tickets. Apparently he played piano, sang funny songs, and told jokes. Well, several of us got tickets, and had the privilege of seeing Tim Minchin perform to a couple of hundred people for the first time. I was smitten, and spent the night alternatively laughing and being amazed at his musicality. Since then we've seen him again in the Memorial Hall, and at the City Hall, and then the other night at the Sheffield Arena, playing to many thousands. This post is just an opportunity to post some pictures of the great man, which is no substitute for being at a gig.

From the moment he came on, apparently in a cage (singing "I'm in a Cage" of course), and then magically appeeared a split second later at his trademark grand piano and launched into Rock and Roll Nerd we knew we were in for a great night.

He had a 50 piece orchestra with him, which I was a bit concerned might be too overpowering, but it wasn't, the arrangements were great, and the sound good enough to catch most if not all of his witty lyrics.

He is irreverent to say the least, an there was definitely a sharp intake of breath around the place when he placed a copy of the Holy Koran next to a copy of Harry Potter to discuss what made a book sacred.  His virtually one work expletive lyric to The Pope Song is best looked up, and is definitely not suitable for work!

The lighting was fantastic, and the show featured some new stuff, my favorite being "Cont" which had all of us cringing until he discovered the missing half of the lyrics which put it all into "Context". You'll have to see him to get that one!

Dark Side provided a spectacular finale with the poor piano getting a lot of hammer from his feet as well as his hands,  and after a standing ovation we got the now traditional encore of the very simple and beautifully cheesy  White Wine in the Sun.

A great night!

Santana at the MEN

Last night went to see Carlos Santana at the MEN Arena in Manchester. Never seen him before so didn't know what to expect, but it was a great show. Lots of Latin rhythms, and some great covers of rock classics. "Sunshine of Your Love took me back to being a teenager - we'd taken the 13 year old son of a friend of mine with us, and I realised that when I was his age, that's what I was listening to. Still a classic. It was his first rock concert - and what an experience. 



 Stuart had his camera confiscated because it was "a huge one" according to the woman who searched his bag, but I sneaked my small one in and got some great pictures, and some video. Not sure what they've got against big cameras, when everyone has a phone - you could see lights on all over the Arena from people taking pictures and video - and small cameras these days can take very high quality pictures and video.Wouldn't even let you take bottles of water in with you  - presumably to make you pay their exhorbitant prices.

Love the way Santana can go from playing very melodic tunes like "many a tear has to fall", to heavy rock. Great night. Ears still ringing this morning.