It’s been a while but I only got back from my trip away late last night, so here is my review of the Newcastle show. Same setlist as Leeds. Tragically the same airport-like security as Leeds, this time with airport-like queues. A sad indictment of our times. To the show itself and I was hoping for BIA instead of Piper, or even OES for Silvertown but not to be. Not a fan of this venue. Not great acoustics, not well organised inside, ugly building and not a nice location. It’s the music you go to it for though and the sound from my seat was not very good. My seat was another aisle seat, however unlike in Leeds not centrally located but as far to the left of the stage as the floor area goes. Perhaps this had to do with the poor sound but Mark’s guitar sounded piercing sharp, losing its fine tone.
WAM played and I thought good, but not Leeds good. CBC and again I can’t understand the reception this gets from the audiences here in the UK - immensely popular. StP was a pretty poor version with Mark outshone by the sax playing I thought. Nice cheer when he sang the line “I am a Geordie boy.” I’m thinking this show is not as good as Leeds until Once Upon a Time which was the best I’ve heard from the tour. R&J was much the same (but no mistake this time). Nice versions both Leeds and Newcastle actually, although the outro solo is much shorter than it used to be. During his MM speech a lady kept shouting “Mark you’re wonderful” from the area just behind me to the left. He didn’t entertain her. Interestingly when he spoke to the audience he said: “you get that same old feeling every time you’re moving down the line.”
Bonaparte, just like in Leeds, I think Jim’s accordion is too high in the mix and he seems behind the rest of the band and playing away on his own! For the encores I didn’t run like a bull because from my seat it would’ve been pointless. Great MFN which received a terrific reception and the Toon Army anthem GH which they lapped up.
Overall I thought his playing wasn’t as intense as it was in Leeds but a couple of versions were better such as Once Upon a Time, R&J and GH.
Saying goodbye was difficult at Newcastle knowing it may be the last time some of us will see each other again. People who have become friends online and in person. I’m always overwhelmed whenever we meet up by the kindness of the regulars on here I’ve met over the years and I know that even if this is the last tour we will meet again. We have made an informal arrangement to have a AMIT meet somewhere (probably London) if he does call time on touring. Really sad today knowing I’ve only got Glasgow to do now.
