[ladpinblack]

If so, I will see you there.

[gizzard]

[ladpinblack]

Ok, dont think its gonna be a big turnout, only got my ticket this week and im number 30 !!! Full report in the morning.

[Ian9331]

[gizzard]

[The Strangler]

[ladpinblack]

I was there and a very interesting night it was. Small venue, upstairs in a Golf club !! Probably about 50-60 people there. Show started just after 8.30pm with Paul and his guitarist (Andy Ellis) taking to the stage. The first half was a mixture of songs (Golden Boy, Money, Still Life, Sinister, plus some more I cant remember). He also talked briefly about his time with the Stranglers and asked for questions from the floor. Think most were too shy to ask so not much was forthcoming. After the break he did a few more songs (She's Slipping Away, Valley of Birds, Here, a couple of songs that he wrote for Suite 16 that didnt make the final album and he finished with Golden Brown). Lots more questions from the floor this time mostly relating to his relationship with JJ, Baz, John Ellis etc etc and his split from the group. He mentioned Hugh several times during this session and even hinted at a possible collaboration with Hugh at some stage in the future. The show finally finished at about 11.15. An enjoyable evening, some intersting chat and some good songs, I thought Sinister and Here were particularly good.
This is a quick review, its 1.30am and im knackered. There is lots more to tell but I cant be bothered to type it right now. Any questions - dont be shy !!!

[yellowcakeuf6]

[Little Miss Mess]

[ladpinblack]

No wood block i'm afraid.

[gizzard]

Were there any special guests- JJ

[50millionwatches]

Nice one Andy

01.30am - why so tired? Theres a 4 day bender in Italy to come yet!!

Sounds like a good Q & A session - tell us more!!

[Alias]

[The Strangler]

[mctownie]

[ladpinblack]

I cant see Hugh being interested myself but you never know. Cant remember the specific questions apart from the one I asked. The general idea I got was that Paul left the band because he felt he could not fully express himself as a songwriter. He clearly felt that his songs had not featured as much as they should have done during the live performances, he particularly mentioned Golden Boy in this respect. He thought it was sad that many great songs from the mk 2 era would not be played at Stranglers gigs again. I thought he believed that more of his songs should have been chosen for Suite 16, he made a point of saying that he wrote She's Slipping Away and he also sang 2 other songs (Desert Soul being one of them) that were rejected for the album.
He certainly gave the impression that, despite being with the band for 16 years, he always felt on the outside. I asked if he had felt a change in the fans attitude towards him during his time with the band. He didnt really reply to this fully but said that, when on stage, he always felt isolated.
Think that prety much sums it up but ask away if you wanna know more.
One other point - I chatted to a guy in the crowd (didnt catch his name) who seemed very clued up on the band, bit of a Stranglers brainiac. He told me that the band were working on a shortened version of Relentless which would soon be released as a single.

[ladpinblack]

[munnsie]

[gizzard]

[50millionwatches]

[Frank Castle]

Good review sounded like a good evening.

Hugh and Paul together that would put the cat amongst the pigeons,would be interesting all the same.

[paulinblack]

[ladpinblack]

[adam_neil]

Thank you for the review Andy. A good read.

I am going to the Black In Town gig next week with Pigeon at the 100 Club and I'm looking forward to it I must say. I never thought I would ever say I am excited about seeing a Paul Roberts gig but listening back now to the Mk2 albums, there is indeed some quality material and Paul played a big part in that. Vocals in my opinion are what make a record and when the songs Paul sang suited him then it worked very well indeed.

Adam

[ThruBeingCool]

Another interesting review HERE!

[gizzard]

and Paul's version of "Slipping Away" - I certainly wasn't expecting any Mk 4 material!. Paul is clearly proud that he wrote that song, and wanted us to hear it "as it should be sung".



He's not impressed with the Suite XVI version then

Sounds a tad bitter to me does Paul.

[paulinblack]

Am hoping that this gig turns up somewhere as a bootleg. Think it would have been very interesting for a number of reasons.

Paul

[The Sewer The Sewer]

Well I can quite happily say I'm glad I didn't go

Is it me or did it sound a bit dull??

[ladpinblack]

It wasn't dull so it must be you. The whole gig was filmed by the organiser. They asked that no-one record anything themselves and the reasons for this would become clear during the evening. I must have missed something because it never became clear to me !
I dont remember Paul saying 'this is how it should be sung'. He simply said that he had written the song but now someone else was singing it. He sung it with one guy playing acoustic guitar so of course it sounded different.

[PeteL]

I does sound an interesing evening - am now very tempted to go to the Back to Black gig

[The Sewer The Sewer]

[munnsie]